London, UK – The Premier League 2024-2025 season reaches its dramatic conclusion this Sunday, with all matches kicking off simultaneously at 16:00 BST. While Liverpool have long been crowned champions and the relegation battle concluded some time ago, the final day is packed with intrigue, primarily focused on the desperate scramble for European places, individual accolades, and a series of poignant goodbyes.
The main drama centres on the chase for European qualification. While champions Liverpool, second-placed Arsenal, and remarkably, 17th-placed Europa League winners Tottenham have already secured their Champions League berths, five teams are vying for the three remaining spots.
Manchester City, Newcastle United, and Chelsea, currently occupying third to fifth, know a victory will guarantee their place in Europe’s elite competition. City can secure theirs with just a draw at Fulham, barring an extraordinary goal difference swing. However, a tantalising clash sees seventh-placed Nottingham Forest host fifth-placed Chelsea; a Forest win could see the Blues miss out, depending on goal difference and other results. Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest remain in contention but require results elsewhere to go their way.
The sixth-placed team will earn a Europa League spot, joining FA Cup winners Crystal Palace. Newcastle United have already secured at least a Conference League place thanks to their Carabao Cup triumph. Brighton and Brentford are also in the hunt for a Conference League spot. Albion need just a point to seal eighth, while the Bees must win and hope Brighton lose. However, this eighth-place entry is contingent on Chelsea finishing outside the European spots (either seventh, or sixth if Newcastle are seventh) and winning their upcoming Conference League final against Real Betis.
Key fixtures impacting the European race include:
- Fulham v Manchester City
- Manchester United v Aston Villa
- Newcastle v Everton
- Nottingham Forest v Chelsea
- Tottenham v Brighton
- Wolves v Brentford
He had scored 27 goals in the first 28 league games – which had him on course to break Erling Haaland’s 36-goal record from two seasons ago.
Individually, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah is set to claim his fourth Premier League Golden Boot. He currently boasts 28 goals, five ahead of Newcastle’s Alexander Isak. Salah is also tantalisingly close to the record for most goal involvements in a Premier League season; with 28 goals and 18 assists (46 total contributions), he is just one behind Alan Shearer and Andrew Cole’s record of 47. He also has an outside chance for the European Golden Shoe, needing four goals to surpass Kylian Mbappe.
Nottingham Forest’s Matz Sels and Arsenal’s David Raya are the pair left standing in the race for the most Premier League clean sheets.
The Golden Glove race is a straight shootout between Nottingham Forest’s Matz Sels and Arsenal’s David Raya, both on 13 clean sheets. They will share the award if they both keep clean sheets or both concede. This year could see the fewest clean sheets required to win the award, with Joe Hart’s 14 in 2014-15 being the current record low.
At the other end of the spectrum, Southampton, despite avoiding the unwanted tag of the Premier League’s worst-ever team (Derby’s 11 points in 2007-08 remains the record), could set a grim milestone. A loss at home to Arsenal would mark their 30th league defeat of the campaign, an unprecedented low.
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur, fresh from their Europa League triumph over Manchester United, could make history as the lowest-finishing English team (currently 17th) to win a European trophy. If they finish below 14th, it will be a new record; 14th would equal West Ham’s 2022-23 Conference League campaign.
The final day will also be tinged with emotion as several high-profile players bid farewell. Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold is reportedly Real Madrid-bound, and his participation against Crystal Palace is uncertain after being booed in his last Anfield appearance. Manchester City legend Kevin De Bruyne will also depart, having indicated he won’t stay for the FIFA Club World Cup. Reports also suggest Jack Grealish could leave City.
Other notable confirmed departures include Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney (rejoining Celtic) and Jorginho; Crystal Palace captain Joel Ward (after 364 games); West Ham’s Aaron Cresswell, Lukasz Fabianski, Danny Ings, and Vladimir Coufal; and Everton’s Ashley Young and Abdoulaye Doucoure. Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen will play his final game before a £50m move to Real Madrid, while teammate Milos Kerkez is linked with Liverpool.
While no managerial changes are confirmed for the summer, speculation continues to surround the futures of Tottenham’s Ange Postecoglou, despite delivering their first trophy in 17 years, and Leicester City’s Ruud van Nistelrooy.
