Key events
Barney Ronay
With 20 minutes gone at Craven Cottage, and with Fulham yet to muster anything even the most creative observer could describe as an attack, Ilkay Gündogan scored a thrillingly explosive goal to draw any real sense of sting from this final-day stroll in the south-west London sun.
A fun fact for you, Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo is the first player for the club’s men’s team to start every Premier League game since Cesar Azpilicueta in the 2018/19 campaign.
Ed Aarons
This was the kind of end‑of‑season match where there was almost as much interest in what was happening in the stands as on the pitch. Banned from the touchline after picking up a suspension against Newcastle last week, Mikel Arteta was seen deep in conversation with the Arsenal co-chair Josh Kroenke throughout as Kieran Tierney signed off with a goal before he returns to Celtic and Martin Ødegaard broke Southampton’s hearts with a late winner. Read the full report:
Ben Fisher
Before kick-off, a giant banner dangled from the upper tier of the Trent End. It was an oversized brown tourist sign. “Destination: Europe,” it read. Below that, a flag of a camper van with Nottingham Forest scarves flickering out of the windows. For Forest, all roads from here lead to the Europa Conference League and not the Champions League, which Chelsea will play in next season after two years away. First, however, for Enzo Maresca and Chelsea, is a trip to Wroclaw, a final against Real Betis, in the competition Forest will grace for the first time next season. Read the full report:
Wolves manager Vitor Pereira told the BBC: “Very proud of my players, the club and our supporters.
“We wanted to finish with a win, but it was not possible in a good game with chances for both sides. It was a game we could win, but [Brentford] could have won also.
“We lost two positions [in the table]. I’m not happy with this, but I’m very happy with what we’ve achieved this season since we arrived.
“After the City game, we committed some mistakes that were not usual. Sometimes it looks like we’re not focused in those moments. We’ve conceded some goals that we cannot concede.”
David Hytner
Brighton wanted to lock down eighth place to give themselves hope of a Uefa Conference League finish. They got the result thanks to a pair of Jack Hinshelwood goals, a penalty from the substitute, Matt O’Riley, and a cracker from another replacement, Diego Gómez. Sadly for them, it would not be enough in terms of the European picture, results elsewhere not falling for them. Read the report:
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has reacted to his team securing third and he speaks in the third person as he does so: “This club has to play in the Champions League, I have to play in the Champions League, Pep has to manage the team in the Champions League, so it’s important and we’re relieved now to be there because it’s been a hard and difficult season. We’re really happy.
“We came back after a really difficult period and we’ve been working through it together. It’s not been easy but we’ve shown great character. In the end we’ve come third and we’re relieved, we’re really happy. We’re focused on going into the Club World Cup in good shape and to attack that.”
Louise Taylor
For quite a while the defiant brilliance of Everton’s Jordan Pickford and the attacking excellence of Carlos Alcaraz threatened to derail Newcastle’s Champions League ambitions. Ultimately, Aston Villa’s defeat at Manchester United enabled Eddie Howe’s team to stumble into Europe’s showpiece competition on goal difference but this reminder of their fallibility served as a warning that the St James’ Park squad could do with some significant reinforcement. Read full report:
Norwich City identify Manning as manager target
Ben Fisher
Norwich City have identified Liam Manning as their No 1 target and are hopeful of appointing the Bristol City head coach in the coming days.
Norwich are confident of completing a deal for Manning, who has a release clause in his contract with the Robins. The 39-year-old played and coached at Ipswich before joining West Ham’s academy in 2015. He has since worked at Lommel, MK Dons and Oxford United.
Manning has impressed at Bristol City, whom he led to the playoffs this season, the club finishing in the Championship top six for the first time in 17 years. Norwich’s sporting director, Ben Knapper, is thought to be an admirer of Manning.
Norwich are also thought to have interviewed their former player and the former Wolves and Bournemouth manager Gary O’Neil about succeeding Johannes Hoff Thorup, who was sacked after a disappointing end to the season.
The former Arsenal player and coach Jack Wilshere took interim charge for Norwich’s final two matches of the season but this week he announced his departure from the club.
This is Bournemouth’s best-ever Premier League season, but somehow it has not felt like it lately. As recently as the end of February, they were fifth in the league, eyes firmly fixed on the Champions League places. But just two wins from 12 games before the visit of relegated Leicester extinguished any hope of a first European campaign for the Cherries next season. Read the full report:
Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes told Sky on finding out the club had secured Champions League football: “I realised that we were going with the supporters. We celebrated and then I asked the bench and it was 2-0 to Manchester United. It’s a strange feeling because for me, we should win this game, we should win. It was not beautiful, but everything you work for is when you get Champions League.”
Ipswich bid farewell to their Premier League status after just one year back in the top flight with defeat against West Ham in the final game of the season at Portman Road… It was Ipswich’s ninth consecutive defeat in their dismal season and they won just four games, three away – at Tottenham, Wolves and Bournemouth – and just one at home against Chelsea. Meanwhile, West Ham’s season finished with them in 14th place. Read the full report:
We have a winner on the quiz question and I have to admit I did try and throw you off. I said Mo Salah equalled a player’s record but it was players. Kurt, with the winning answer, says: “The only other players to equal Salah for most goal contributions in a Premier League season are Andrew Cole in 1993/94 with Newcastle United and Alan Shearer om 1994/95 with Blackburn Rovers.”
Villa to lodge complaint
Ben Fisher
Aston Villa intend to lodge an official complaint with the Premier League after they missed out on Champions League qualification following the controversy at Old Trafford. The club are livid the referee Thomas Bramall blew his whistle before Morgan Rogers scored, preventing VAR from intervening, and Villa believed a more experienced referee should have been selected to officiate such an important match.
“Was it the Southampton or Ipswich keeper?” Will Cook jokes in response to the Salah record-equalling question. “Honk! Thanks as ever for you and your colleagues excellent work this season. Same again in 75 days or so?”
Very good Will, very good. But yes we will see you again for the league action. But the football season isn’t yet over, there is more European titles to be decided.
Trent Alexander-Arnold reaction
“I didn’t know what to expect after what happened a few weeks ago, stepping out at Anfield. I wanted to play for the club one more time. I said that to the manager and he trusted me to go in there at half-time.
“The reaction that I got means everything to me. I’ve played hundreds of games for the club. I’ve never felt so loved and cared for than today. From the bottom of my heart, I hope that one day the fans and supporters of this club will be able to recognise the hard work and everything that I have done for the team. There wasn’t a day, a minute, when I didn’t think about the team. From six years old, to 26 years now. Twenty years is a very long time. I have loved every single minute of it, the ups and downs. It has been an honour and a privilege for me to be a part of this club.
“This is all I’ve ever known. I’ll remember these moments for the rest of my life, especially a day like today. It goes down as the best day for me in my life. A very special day and a very special achievement for the team and for the club.”
Mo Salah hasn’t had a bad season, has he? As well as winning the Premier League and collecting the Golden Boot he has also equalled the record for the most goal involvements across a 38-game season with 47. Can anyone name the other player to achieve the feat? Let me know via email – sarah.rendell.casual@guardian.co.uk
But speaking of the Golden Boot, winner Mo Salah has been speaking after the Reds lifted the Premier League trophy earlier today. He told Sky: “It’s incredible. Last time we did not have the chance to lift the [Premier League] trophy in front of the Kop, today we have the chance.
“It is an incredible feeling. For this club it is incredible. Winning the second one with the fans in Anfield, especially the Spurs game [when the title was sealed], you can see [what it means].
A lot of chat has been focused on the Golden Boot today with Mo Salah adding another goal to his tally for this season before lifting the trophy. But the Golden Glove was also decided and it was shared. Arsenal’s David Raya and Nottingham Forest’s Matz Sels both won the accolade, both keeping 13 clean sheets this season. Selz told Sky: “It’s a big achievement so I’m really happy but not only for me but for the team. it means we had a great season, almost the whole season on a Champions League spot. Sadly we couldn’t finish it today but we need to be proud of the season we’ve had. We will play in Europe.
“When I came last year, I came in a difficult situation. This kind of achievement is always from the team. It’s the same if a striker scorers a lot of goals.”
Leicester City’s Ruud van Nistelrooy has had the rumour mill whirring with question marks over his future at the club. After the club’s 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth, their final game in the Premier League for now with their relegation confirmed earlier this season, the manager said he hopes to speak to club bosses next week.
When asked if he wanted to stay, he told the BBC: “I would like to talk and that’s the first thing that needs to happen. It’s been silent and it’s something towards the end of the season and get things done with and then I expect to hear something.”
Nuno Espirito Santo reaction
Nottingham Forest missed out on Champions and Europa League football but they will compete in the Conference League next season – their first European action in 30 years. Here was manager Nuno Espirito Santo’s reaction to missing out on the top six, telling the BBC: “I have to thank the players for their commitment, when you give everything you have, you cannot say anything about it.
“We started well and controlled the game. Second half, we rushed and the anxiety didn’t help us. It was not enough.
“They were good chances for us. It was there, we didn’t achieve it. It’s hard when it was in your hands in the end and it doesn’t go your way.
“There are many things that happen during the season. It is not always possible to be better than the other teams. We wanted to go for the game today so the boys did well. It is a tough competition.
“All the circumstances that happened didn’t help, but that is not an excuse. I felt we were there. I’m very proud of the boys and all I can do is thank them.
“We are in good place and now it’s time to reflect and focus on the future. This is not a moment to speak about me. It’s about the club.”
Thank you Rob, another impressive innings for the 2024/25 Premier League season. Your watch is over… until next Saturday. As Rob says, I’ll be bringing you more reaction from today’s games and taking you through Gary Lineker’s final Match of the Day. Let’s start with some Nottingham Forest quotes shall we…
Time for me to hand over to Sarah Rendell, who will continue our coverage of events at Anfield and Old Trafford before switching to BBC Studios for Gary Lineker’s final Match of the Day.
Thanks again for your company and emails throughout the season. See you in August! (Or next Saturday for the Champions League final build-up.)
Unai Emery’s reaction
Good evening. The TV is clear [on the disallowed goal] but we have to accept it. It was a mistake, a big mistake. It was the key moment. Overall, Manchester United deserved it more but we showed resilience with 10 men and we could [gone 1-0 up]. We didn’t perform well enough today but we could still have got a result.
I spoke with the referee after and he knows it. [Asked if the ref admitted it was a mistake, Emery nods, then says ‘The next one’ as in ‘Next question!’]
[Do the VAR protocols need changing?] I don’t want to speak about VAR now, okay? I don’t want to speak about VAR.
We made a big effort in the second part of the season. We lost the opportunity to be in the top five in the first half of the season. But I’m so, so proud of how we progressed and how we got this close. We go into the Europa League and we should be happy and proud about this achievement. But we were close to the Champions League.
Arne Slot speaks to Sky Sports
It’s always special to win something. And at certain clubs maybe it means more. I experienced this at Feyenoord, where the fans are so passionate, and it’s the same and more over here.
[Did you expect the season to be smooth] No no no, you don’t expect something like this, not in the Premier League.
[When will your mind turn to next season?] Probably four weeks ago! It never stops. The targets we have this summer have been there for a long time.
There are so many arresting images on the pitch at Anfield. Trent Alexander-Arnold sitting alone, lost in thought; Virgil van Dijk parading the trophy with his spiritual ancestor, Alan Hansen. Jeez, imagine those two as a centre-back pairing!
Liverpool’s players and staff have lined up, arm in arm, to sing You’ll Never Walk Alone in front of the Kop. It’s quite a scene, unique to Anfield, and Arne Slot almost has a look of wonder of his face.
Match reports
John McGinn’s reaction
It’s tough to take in the circumstances. Man Utd deserved to win, they were the better team, but the decision [to disallow Morgan Rogers’ goal at 0-0] is incredible. I know this is the rule [that if the whistle is blown, VAR can’t get involved], I’ve seen it a couple of times, but it’s so, so hard to take, especially when the impact is so big. For Thomas to blow his whistle at that point… phwoar, it’s really tough to handle.
We didn’t deserve to win the game but at that point you’re 1-0 up with 20 to go, and all you need is a point to get in the Champions League. It’s a really costly one. I think moving forward-
At this point the interview cuts out, no idea why.
Trent Alexander-Arnold gets one of the loudest cheers as he goes up to collect his medal. He pats the badge, then kisses it after receiving his medal. Jurgen Klopp looks really emotional; I wonder how much today’s reception is down to him.
No time to dwell on that because the biggest cheer of all is imminent. Virgil van Dijk collects the Premier League trophy and lifts it skyward. Liverpool are the champions of England again!
Liverpool’s players are back on the field, ready to get their hands on 25.4kg of job satisfaction: the Premier League trophy. They started superbly, went up a gear around Christmas and won the title at a canter.
Premier League top scorers 2024-25
Spoiler alert…
Amorim: The good days are coming
We’ll stay at Old Trafford, mainly to hear Unai Emery’s reaction. For now Ruben Amorim has the mic and is apologising to the Man Utd fans.
I want to apologise for this season. I also want to say thank you – we are very grateful for your support during the season. I know it was really hard to support us in many games. But now we have to make a choice. We either stay stuck in the past – because this season is in the past, it’s over – or we stick together and move forward.
Six months ago, after two victories and one draw in my first three games, I said to you: ‘The storm is coming’.
Today, after this disastrous season, I want to tell you: ‘The good days are coming’. If there is one club in the world that has proved in the past it can overcome any situation, any disaster, it is our club. It is Manchester United Football Club.
Now I want to say sorry to my players. Sometimes I was not fair, but I always tried to be honest with you guys. Thank you very much, see you next season.
Christian Eriksen has confirmed that he’s leaving Man Utd this summer. “I’m still fit to play, so we’ll see where.”
England’s European representatives in 2025-26
Champions League Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle, Tottenham Hotspur
Europa League Aston Villa, Crystal Palacee
Conference League Nottingham Forest
The final Premier League table
In decades to come, people will look at the 2024-25 table and think, “Cor, Liverpool won that comfortably.” They have no idea; a 15-point margin would have been a fairer reflection of the season.
Emery waits by the tunnel for the referee, then begins a walk-and-talk into the bowels of Old Trafford. Actually it’s more of a walk-and-stalk by the looks of things.
The 2024-25 Premier League season is over
As I type Unai Emery is expressionless on the touchline, lasers in his peepers as he stares at the referee Thomas Bramall.
These are the final scores.
90+5 min Villa have had a couple of near misses in injury time. Newcastle’s defeat to Everton at St James’ Park means a draw would have been good enough for Villa, who would have taken the lead after 73 minutes but for a refereeing howler.
Given his understandable mood on the touchline, there are no guarantees that Unai Emery’s post-match interview will begin with a cheery “Good evening”.
