On Sunday, a long Premier League season, one interrupted by the drama of a winter World Cup, comes to an end.
Manchester City already has been crowned champion for the fifth time in six years after a strong push from Arsenal, which sat atop the Premier League table for much of the season before a late-season decline.
Even with the title decided, there are plenty of fireworks left for the grand finale, especially when it comes to the relegation race. Meanwhile, there is still a pecking order to be fought over when it comes to the top half of the table, with three teams battling for seventh place and a berth in the Europa Conference League qualifiers.
(Refresh for latest updates throughout the day)
Relegation Race
With last-place Southampton already relegated and Nottingham Forest safe after upsetting Arsenal last week, the relegation race boils down to Everton, Leicester City and Leeds—only one will remain in the top flight.
Here’s what the table looks like entering the day:
| Position | Team | Pts | Goal Differential |
|---|---|---|---|
17 |
Everton |
33 |
-24 |
18 |
Leicester City |
31 |
-18 |
19 |
Leeds United |
31 |
-27 |
Here are the scenarios to remain in the Premier League:
- Everton can remain in the Premier League with a win against Bournemouth OR a draw and a Leicester draw/loss and a Leeds loss/draw/win by two goals or fewer OR a loss and a Leicester draw/loss and a Leeds loss/draw
- Leicester City can remain in the Premier League with a win against West Ham and an Everton draw/loss. It cannot stay up with a draw or loss.
- Leeds can remain in the Premier League with a win against Spurs and a Leicester loss/draw and an Everton loss OR a win by three or more goals and a Leicester draw/loss and Everton draw/loss. It cannot stay up with a draw or loss.
(Refresh for latest updates)
In just the second minute, Harry Kane scored to put Leeds down 1–0. It was a dream start for Spurs and a nightmare for Leeds, which needs win to have a chance at survival.
Leicester City scored a massive goal in the 34th minute thanks to Harvey Barnes. With Leeds trailing and the Everton match scoreless, Leicester jumped into 17th (and Premier League survival) for the time being.
Harvey Barnes scores the opening goal for Leicester City! As it stands, Leicester survives and Everton and Leeds will be relegated
— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) May 28, 2023
(via @NBCSportsSoccer)pic.twitter.com/Nk5xh4Zk6K
European Qualification
Liverpool has fifth place locked to qualify it for the Europa League while Brighton is fixed in sixth place and a Europa Conference League berth. But a place in the Europa Conference League qualifiers is still up for grabs with Aston Villa, Spurs and Brentford vying for seventh.
Here’s what the those spots look like entering the final day:
| Place | Team | Points | Goal Differential |
|---|---|---|---|
5 |
Liverpool |
66 |
+28 |
6 |
Brighton |
62 |
+20 |
7 |
Aston Villa |
58 |
+4 |
8 |
Spurs |
57 |
+4 |
9 |
Brentford |
56 |
+11 |
Aston Villa can clinch seventh with a win against Brighton or various scenarios with a draw/loss. Spurs cannot lose and will need a win against Leeds and some help from Brighton against Villa OR a draw and Villa loss and Brentford draw/loss). Brentford needs a win against Man City and some help.
(Refresh for latest updates)
The Kane goal gave Spurs an early lead in the second minute but Aston Villa struck right away against Brighton in the eighth minute thanks to Douglas Luiz. A win for both Spurs and Aston Villa would see Villa secure seventh.
Harry Kane scores in the second minute to put Spurs ahead of Leeds! Leeds must win to have a chance at avoiding relegation
— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) May 28, 2023
(via @NBCSportsSoccer)pic.twitter.com/qbs7TDthWL
But Deniz Undav followed up 11 minutes later for Brighton with an equalizer, throwing Spurs back into seventh place.
Aston Villa took the lead (and went into seventh place) in the 43rd minute behind a goal from striker Ollie Watkins.
Top Four
Manchester City finished first, and Arsenal is guaranteed second place. A Manchester United win Thursday against Chelsea, which finishes outside of the top 10 for the first time since the 1995-96 season, guaranteed it a Champions League spot alongside Newcastle to fill out the top four.
Man United currently sits in third on 72 points, while Newcastle is guaranteed at least fourth on 70 points. Man United needs a win against Fulham to seal third OR a draw and a Newcastle loss. To secure third, Newcastle needs a win against Chelsea and a Man United draw/loss since it holds a significant advantage over United in goal differential.
(Refresh for latest updates)
Newcastle took the lead early against Chelsea in the ninth minute after a goal from Anthony Gordon. For the time being, that puts Newcastle into third on goal differential.
A Kieran Trippier own goal in the 27th minute set the score at 1–1, but Manchester United then conceded a 29th minute goal to Kenny Tete to go down 1–0 to Fulham.
But Jadon Sancho answered for United with a goal in the 39th minute to make it 1–1. Still, a Newcastle win and United draw would see Newcastle clinch third on goal differential.
