The 2024/25 Premier League season officially ended on May 25, with Liverpool lifting the trophy after securing the title weeks ahead of schedule. While the Reds celebrated their 20th English top-flight crown, the race for European qualification came down to a dramatic final matchday, and it didn’t disappoint.
Six Teams, Three Champions League Spots: City and Chelsea Deliver, Villa and Forest Fall Short
With Liverpool, Arsenal, and Europa League champions Tottenham Hotspur already assured of their spots in next season’s UEFA Champions League, the final day saw five teams: Manchester City, Newcastle United, Chelsea, Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest, battling for the remaining three coveted places.
Chelsea did their part with a gritty 1-0 away win over Forest, thanks to a crucial 50th-minute header from Levi Colwill. Manchester City, meanwhile, was doing business as usual, cruising to a 2-0 victory away at Fulham to seal third place.
Newcastle stumbled at home with a surprising 0-1 defeat to Everton but narrowly edged out Villa by a single point to claim fifth and the final Champions League ticket. Villa’s 0-2 loss at Old Trafford against Manchester United proved costly, relegating them to a Europa League spot alongside FA Cup winners Crystal Palace.
Despite losing to Chelsea, Forest finished seventh and secured a place in the Europa Conference League. This marked their return to European competition for the first time in 29 years, a milestone moment for the storied club.
Reds Celebrate in Style at Anfield as Salah Secures Treble of Individual Awards
The final table saw Liverpool finish with 84 points, a full 10 points ahead of second-placed Arsenal (74 points), followed by Manchester City (71), Chelsea (69), and Newcastle (66) in the top five.
On the final day, Liverpool hosted Crystal Palace at Anfield. Down to 10 men and trailing, the Reds rallied with a second-half equaliser from Mohamed Salah to finish 1-1. The final whistle sparked jubilation as Jürgen Klopp’s men lifted the Premier League trophy, their second in the modern era and 20th in club history.
Salah’s contribution was nothing short of spectacular. The Egyptian talisman ended the season with 29 goals and 18 assists, topping both charts to claim the Golden Boot, Playmaker of the Season, and Premier League Player of the Year award. This historic personal treble underlined his influence on Liverpool’s title run.
Arsenal ended their campaign with a 2-1 win over Southampton, thanks to goals from Kieran Tierney and Martin Ødegaard. But they had to settle for second place for the third season. Despite the disappointment, Mikel Arteta’s young side showed further signs of growth and resilience, promising more to come in future campaigns.
Up and Down: Three Teams Relegated, Three Historic Clubs Set to Return
At the bottom of the table, all three newly promoted teams, Leicester City, Ipswich Town, and Southampton, were relegated straight back to the Championship, and their dream seasons in the top flight ended in heartbreak.
Three well-known names will replace them for the 2025/26 season: Leeds United (The White Roses), Burnley (The Clarets), and Sunderland (The Black Cats). Their return promises fresh narratives and renewed rivalries in what’s shaping up to be another thrilling Premier League campaign.
