The Premier League season has come to an end and one final bit of housekeeping had to be dealt with on the final day of the season - the European spots
18:07, 25 May 2025Updated 18:09, 25 May 2025
Manchester City's Erling Haaland celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game from a penalty during the Premier League match at Craven Cottage, London.
Manchester City booked their spot in the Champions League(Image: PA)
Nine months of madness all came down to one date, with European spots still up for grabs on the final day of the season.
Liverpool had long since crowned themselves as Premier League champions - trotting to the title at a canter. Meanwhile the bottom three had all been relegated so long ago they might as well have been playing in the second tier.
Arsenal had secured their spot last weekend - and all but confirmed their spot in second place, with quite a special turnaround required by Manchester City to leapfrog the Gunners.
Third, fourth and fifth could still join the champions, Arsenal and Tottenham (who qualified through the Europa League on Thursday evening).
City would finish third without any real drama, it has been a tough season for Pep Guardiola's side - and finishing in the top four, after where they were in winter, is quite the result for Guardiola's side.
Chelsea's Levi Colwill (centre) celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest FC and Chelsea FC at City Ground on May 25, 2025 in Nottingham, England.
Chelsea have qualified for the Champions League(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
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All eyes were on the City Ground with Newcastle and Chelsea, who have been battling for European spots all season, clashing with a spot at Europe's premier table on offer.
Enzo Maresca's side would take that spot, thanks to the only goal of the game courtesy of Levi Colwill.
Newcastle would also book their spot in the Champions League - with Aston Villa failing to beat a struggling Manchester United at Old Trafford. However, that wasn't without its controversy.
Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa reacts at half time during the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Aston Villa FC at Old Trafford on May 25, 2025 in Manchester, England.
Aston Villa missed out(Image: Getty Images)
The Red Devils had been the better side, but Villa thought they had taken the lead through Morgan Rogers, Rogers had nicked the ball from Bayındır, and turned it into an empty net - but before the ball crossed the line referee Thomas Bramall blew his whistle for a foul.
The images were looked at by VAR, with replays showing Bayındır didn't have control of the ball when Rogers nicked it from him.
However, VAR was unable to overturn the on-field decision as Bramall had blown his whistle the before the ball had gone into the net. Villa's consolation prize is the Europa League.
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Villa will be joined by Crystal Palace in the Europa League - thanks to their FA Cup win.
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While England's one spot in the Europa Conference League will be taken by Nottingham Forest - who finished seventh after their defeat to Chelsea.