Newcastle United will return to the Champions League next season despite a 1–0 home defeat to Everton on the Premier League’s final day.
A tense afternoon at St James’ Park ended with relief after Manchester United’s 2–0 win over Aston Villa ensured Newcastle held onto fifth place.
Everton’s Carlos Alcaraz scored the decisive goal at SJP in the 65th minute, ending Newcastle’s unbeaten home run in the league that stretched back to February.
At that point, with Villa still drawing at Old Trafford, Newcastle had briefly dropped out of the top five and risked missing out on Europe’s top competition.
Moments after Alcaraz’s goal, however, cheers broke out as Amad Diallo put United ahead.
When Christian Eriksen added a second goal for the Red Devils, it pretty much confirmed that Villa would finish behind Newcastle on goal difference.
The Magpies entered the match in control of their fate, but failed to generate much attacking threat despite the return of Alexander Isak. The striker appeared far from full fitness and struggled to influence the match as is usually the case.
Everton defended well and had chances of their own to extend the lead through Beto and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but couldn’t do it.
The mood in the stadium shifted after United’s second goal, and chants about the Champions League began to ring out before the final whistle.
At full-time, with qualification secured, Newcastle’s players formed a circle on the pitch to celebrate in front of a crowd that had spent much of the match in anxious silence.
_**Howay!**_