Arsenal lifted the Premier League trophy. West Ham were relegated. Sunderland reached Europe for the first time in over five decades. And Pep Guardiola said his goodbyes. The final day of the 2025/26 Premier League season had it all, with drama, tears, and a few farewells across all ten stadiums.
Crystal Palace 1-2 Arsenal
Arsenal began life as Premier League champions with a routine win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, officially kicking off their title celebrations in south London.
Gabriel Jesus gave the Gunners the lead just before half-time, finishing neatly after missing two earlier chances. Noni Madueke then doubled the advantage shortly after the break from a corner, making it 26 league wins for Arsenal across the season. Crystal Palace substitute Jean-Philippe Mateta pulled one back in the 89th minute, and Yeremy Pino thought he had grabbed a late draw in stoppage time, but the goal was ruled out because Evann Guessand, in an offside position, touched the ball on its way in. Palace finished 15th, six points clear of the relegation zone.
The match had a pre-season feel, with both sides resting players ahead of major European finals. Mikel Arteta made nine changes, and 16-year-old Max Dowman became the youngest player ever to start a Premier League match, at just 16 years and 144 days old.
It was also the first time Eberechi Eze had returned to his former club since his £67m move to Arsenal, and he was given a warm welcome by the Palace fans, having scored the winning goal in last season's FA Cup final. The only slight worry for Arsenal was Madueke leaving the pitch with what appeared to be a hamstring problem, though he did not look too distressed.
The travelling Arsenal fans were there for one reason: to see their team lift the title, ending a 22-year wait. Arsenal finished seven points clear of second-placed Manchester City, and Arteta will now shift his focus to the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain.
For Palace, it was the last league match under Oliver Glasner, whose contract expires this summer. He leaves with an FA Cup and Community Shield to his name, and with his side in the Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig.
Manchester City 1-2 Aston Villa
Pep Guardiola's 593rd and final match in charge of Manchester City ended in a home defeat, as Ollie Watkins scored twice to give Aston Villa a memorable win.
Antoine Semenyo, who had been a January signing from Bournemouth, gave City the lead in the first half with a volley after a corner was flicked on. But Watkins levelled immediately after the restart, poking home after a poor clearance from England defender John Stones. Watkins then turned the game on its head in the 60th minute, running clear and finishing past James Trafford. The goal was briefly ruled out for offside before VAR overturned the decision.
Phil Foden thought he had rescued a point with a thumping finish in the final minutes, but the goal was chalked off for offside. Guardiola slumped back in his seat.
The final whistle brought an emotional send-off for one of the greatest managers the game has ever seen. Guardiola confirmed his departure on Friday after collecting 20 trophies during a decade at the club. Both Bernardo Silva and Stones, who are leaving this summer, were given guards of honour when substituted. Guardiola and Silva embraced in tears on the touchline.
Erling Haaland was absent from the squad to rest ahead of the World Cup with Norway. He ends the season as the Premier League's top scorer with 27 goals.
For Aston Villa, it was a fine ending to an already excellent week. Unai Emery's side had beaten Freiburg on Wednesday to win the Europa League, their first major trophy in 30 years. The result confirmed fourth place for Villa and ended any lingering hope Bournemouth had of reaching the Champions League. Watkins, who scored eight goals in his last 10 league games, heads to the World Cup in fine form as England's backup to Harry Kane.
Liverpool 1-1 Brentford
Liverpool confirmed fifth place and a return to Champions League football, but the day at Anfield belonged to two farewells: Mohamed Salah's 442nd appearance and Andy Robertson's 275th, both in their final match for the club after nine years.
Curtis Jones put Liverpool ahead in the 58th minute, with Salah picking up the 120th assist of his Liverpool career to set up the goal. But Brentford levelled through Kevin Schade five minutes later, and Liverpool could not find a winner.
Salah had come close to the dream send-off when a curling free-kick struck the post in the 19th minute. He was replaced in the 74th minute to a standing ovation, before getting down on his knees and kissing the Anfield turf. Robertson followed in the 83rd minute to similar scenes. After full-time, both players returned to the pitch for a guard of honour, where they were embraced by club legends Sir Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush.
The draw was enough for Liverpool to secure the point they needed for Champions League qualification, though the season as a whole has been a major disappointment for the defending champions. It was a dour campaign capped by mixed messages, including a social media post from Salah after a defeat to Aston Villa that appeared to question Arne Slot's management.
Brentford finished 10th in Keith Andrews' first season in charge, missing out on Europe on goal difference to Brighton. Both clubs ended on 53 points, but Brighton's goal difference of plus six edged out Brentford's plus three. After being widely tipped for relegation at the start of the season, the Bees beat Aston Villa, Manchester United, and Liverpool along the way.
Sunderland 2-1 Chelsea
Sunderland qualified for European competition for the first time in 53 years, finishing seventh to secure a place in the Europa League, while Chelsea finished tenth and missed out on Europe entirely.
Defender Trai Hume opened the scoring with a first-time volley that caught goalkeeper Robert Sanchez off guard in the first half. Chelsea's Malo Gusto then turned a shot from Brian Brobbey into his own net in the second half. Cole Palmer pulled one back with a long-range strike, but Sunderland held on comfortably, helped significantly when Wesley Fofana picked up two yellow cards in quick succession. It was Chelsea's eighth red card of the season, the most dismissals by any single club in a Premier League campaign.
For Sunderland, this was a result of staggering significance. Only four years ago they were in League One. Head coach Regis le Bris, backed by owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and a £163m summer recruitment drive, guided them past the predictions of many who had expected a straightforward relegation. Captain Granit Xhaka and new arrivals Brobbey, Lutsharel Geertruida, and Robin Roefs were key figures throughout the campaign. Sunderland became only the fifth promoted club in the Premier League era to reach Europe in the following season.
For Chelsea, the result was a fitting end to a shambolic campaign. Enzo Maresca left on New Year's Day following a falling-out with the club's hierarchy. His replacement Liam Rosenior lasted less than four months before being sacked after six straight defeats without scoring. Interim boss Calum McFarlane could not win the FA Cup or qualify for Europe, finishing the season with just two wins across 13 league matches under himself and Rosenior. The club spent £1.6bn on players since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital took over in 2022, yet finished with 52 points, their fifth lowest return in the Premier League era. Incoming manager Xabi Alonso, who takes over on July 1, will need time and patience to turn things around.
Brighton 0-3 Manchester United
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes set a new outright assist record for a Premier League season as Michael Carrick's first match in permanent charge ended in a comfortable win at Brighton.
Patrick Dorgu powered home Fernandes' corner in the first half to claim the record that had previously been jointly held by Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne. Bryan Mbeumo then scored a second after a clever one-two between Amad Diallo and Mason Mount, before Fernandes added a third just after half-time with a driven finish. Fernandes also collected the Premier League's player of the year and Football Writers' player of the year awards earlier in the season.
The win confirmed United's place in next season's Champions League after a two-year absence, a remarkable recovery from their position in January when Carrick took over mid-season. He won 12 of his 17 games from that point, and the run earned him the permanent job. He also gave youth team players Shea Lacey and Tyler Fletcher minutes in this game, and restored Kobbie Mainoo to the starting line-up. Central midfield remains United's stated priority for the summer transfer window, with Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson reported as a top target.
Brighton's day ended in mixed feelings. They finished eighth, which means a place in the Conference League despite losing this game, but only because Brentford failed to win at Liverpool. The Seagulls' supporters had to wait for the full-time whistle from Anfield before their fate was confirmed, with muted relief replacing what had been a flat afternoon at the Amex. Boss Fabian Hurzeler has signed a new three-year deal and will now turn his attention to balancing European football with Premier League commitments.
Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Everton
Tottenham avoided what would have been the most embarrassing relegation in recent Premier League history, beating Everton 1-0 to send West Ham down instead.
The only goal came from Joao Palhinha in the 43rd minute, reacting first after his own header hit the post, with Everton striker Thierno Barry unable to prevent the ball crossing the line. Goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky produced a superb late save from substitute Tyrique George in the dying seconds to keep the lead intact.
Spurs needed a point to survive, with West Ham two points behind and needing a win and a Spurs slip-up to have any chance. Roberto de Zerbi, who took charge late in the season after Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor had both left the club, picked up enough points to keep Spurs up, with three wins from his final games in charge. There were scenes of celebration at the final whistle, but underneath the relief sits a serious question about how this club came so close to the Championship. Spurs have had three managers this season and only managed three home league wins all year, finishing 17th for the second year running.
Everton's season ended without purpose, with seven games without a win leading into this match. David Moyes' side finishes 13th, the same position as last season, with 49 points. It has been a missed opportunity according to many Everton supporters, particularly after a 3-0 win over Chelsea in late March had briefly raised hopes of a European push.
West Ham United 3-0 Leeds United
West Ham's 14-year stay in the Premier League came to an end despite a comfortable win over Leeds, as Tottenham's victory over Everton made their efforts irrelevant.
The Hammers needed to win and hope Spurs slipped up. They did their part, but the other result did not go their way. Taty Castellano headed in from Jarrod Bowen's corner in the 67th minute to end a lifeless first half. Bowen then drove in a second 11 minutes later, and substitute Callum Wilson added a third in stoppage time. But news of Tottenham's lead had already filtered through, and the celebrations in the stands turned to anger, with chants directed at chairman David Sullivan.
West Ham will play Championship football for the first time since 2011-12. Just three years ago they won the Europa Conference League under David Moyes. Nuno Espirito Santo, their current manager, faces an uncertain summer with key players likely to attract offers from Premier League clubs.
For Leeds, it was a stress-free afternoon having already secured safety a couple of weeks earlier. Daniel Farke's side had gone eight games without a defeat before this one, and the loss was arguably a sign that players had mentally checked out in the heat. Dominic Calvert-Lewin had a chance saved in the first half, but once West Ham took the lead, Leeds had little reason to chase anything. They finish 14th.
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Bournemouth
Morgan Gibbs-White used the final day to send an unmistakable message to England manager Thomas Tuchel, scoring his 18th goal of the season just days after being left out of the World Cup squad.
Gibbs-White curled in a superb free-kick in the first half, pointing to his chest and holding up both hands to signal the number 10, a direct response to Tuchel's decision to leave him at home. Marcus Tavernier levelled for Bournemouth after the break.
The result confirmed Forest in 16th after a turbulent campaign that saw four different managers take charge. They secured survival two games before the end of the season. Gibbs-White's 15 Premier League goals this season make him the second-highest English scorer in the division, behind only Watkins.
For Bournemouth, the draw meant they could not overhaul the clubs above them in the table, with only the top five qualifying for the Champions League this season. They finish sixth and will play in the Europa League next season, becoming the first club in their history to reach European football. Manager Andoni Iraola, who leaves after three years, takes his bow having transformed the Cherries from a club fighting Premier League survival to one competing for the top four. German coach Marco Rose, appointed in April, now takes over with European football to look forward to and a growing infrastructure behind him.
Fulham 2-0 Newcastle United
Fulham ended their season in style with a 2-0 win over Newcastle, with all eyes on the future of manager Marco Silva, who has entered the final weeks of his contract.
Issa Diop, who had not scored since a League Cup semi-final in January 2024, headed in the rebound after a free-kick struck the crossbar. Substitute Thomas Cairney then drilled a long-range strike into the top corner late on to seal it. Fulham move above Newcastle in the final standings, finishing 11th while Newcastle drop to 12th.
Fulham were organised and professional throughout, and Silva's position ahead of the summer is very much the talking point. Chairman Shahid Khan wrote warmly about Silva in the matchday programme without making any concrete commitment, leaving the situation unresolved.
For Newcastle, it was a flat end to a frustrating campaign. Twelve months ago they were chasing Champions League football. This time, Eddie Howe's side had no European stake going into the final day and failed to trouble Fulham in any meaningful way. They kept only a single clean sheet since February. Howe made several changes, including dropping Harvey Barnes despite the winger scoring in each of his previous two games. Newcastle head into the summer with serious questions to answer about their defensive organisation and squad depth.
Burnley 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Two already-relegated clubs shared the points in a match that had no bearing on anything other than pride, as the Premier League's bottom two played out a 1-1 draw.
Wolves took the lead inside five minutes through Adam Armstrong's penalty, awarded after a VAR review spotted Florentino's arm blocking a header in the box. Zian Flemming equalised two minutes into the second half, exchanging passes with Loum Tchaouna before finishing low into the corner. It was Flemming's 11th goal of the season, a fine return for a player in a struggling side.
Wolves had the better of the first half but faded badly after the break, managing only one shot on target in the second half while goalkeeper Jose Sa was kept busy by a resurgent Burnley, who had 11 shots after the interval. Burnley finished 19th with 22 points. Wolves ended 20th with 20.
Burnley had the worst home record in the Premier League this season, taking only 13 points from 19 home matches and going 15 games without a home win. They are now searching for a permanent manager after parting ways with Scott Parker last month. Wales boss Craig Bellamy, Steven Gerrard, and Cardiff's Brian Barry-Murphy have all been linked with the vacancy.
Wolves face a significant rebuild under Rob Edwards, preparing for their first season back in the Championship since 2017-18.
The 2025/26 Premier League season is over. Arsenal are champions. Sunderland go to Europe. West Ham drop into the Championship. And Pep Guardiola is no longer a Premier League manager.
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