As the Premier League season draws to a close this Sunday at 16:00 BST, the title and relegation battles are already settled—but the drama is far from over.
The race for European qualification, player milestones, and emotional goodbyes set the stage for a thrilling finale.
Race for Europe: Seven Teams, One Dream
While Liverpool, Arsenal, and Tottenham are guaranteed Champions League football next season, seven clubs are locked in a tense battle for the remaining European places.
Manchester City, Newcastle United, and Chelsea currently occupy the coveted third to fifth spots.
A win for any of them on Sunday would confirm Champions League qualification—barring a goal difference catastrophe. Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest are still in with a shout but need favourable results elsewhere.
The spotlight, however, falls on Forest’s clash with Chelsea. A win for Forest would see them leapfrog the Blues—possibly knocking Chelsea out of Europe depending on other results.
Meanwhile, Brighton and Brentford are eyeing the final Conference League slot. Brighton need just a draw against Spurs to secure eighth, while Brentford must beat Wolves and hope Brighton falters.
The puzzle becomes even more complex with Chelsea’s potential to qualify via the Conference League—only if they drop to seventh and go on to win the final against Real Betis on Wednesday.
Salah Eyes Historic Finish
Though the goals have dried up for Mohamed Salah in recent weeks, the Egyptian king could still make history.
With 28 goals and 18 assists, he is one goal involvement away from breaking the all-time Premier League record set by Alan Shearer and Andrew Cole (47 each).
Salah is also set to claim his fourth Golden Boot, five goals ahead of Alexander Isak, and stands an outside chance of clinching the European Golden Shoe—though he’d need four goals to overtake Kylian Mbappe.
Whatever the outcome, Salah will lift the Premier League trophy on Sunday with Liverpool.
Golden Glove and Historic Lows
The Golden Glove race is neck and neck between David Raya (Arsenal) and Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest), both with 13 clean sheets. If neither keeps one more, this will mark the fewest clean sheets required to win the award since Joe Hart’s 14 in 2014-15.
At the other end of the spectrum, Southampton could set a grim record of 30 defeats in a Premier League season if they lose to Arsenal—surpassing even Derby’s infamous 2007-08 campaign.
Spurs Make History… Differently
Tottenham Hotspur, fresh off their dramatic Europa League triumph, could become the lowest-ever league finishers to win a European trophy.
Sitting 17th, only a result against Brighton can lift them as high as 14th to match West Ham’s 2023 Conference League record.
Farewells and Final Bows
The final day also serves as a curtain call for several club legends. Trent Alexander-Arnold is likely to play his last game for Liverpool before a move to Real Madrid. Kevin De Bruyne and possibly Jack Grealish will bid farewell to Manchester City.
Elsewhere, Kieran Tierney (Arsenal), Joel Ward (Palace), and Aaron Cresswell, Fabianski, and Ings (West Ham) will all wave goodbye. Dean Huijsen is off to Madrid, while Villa’s Emiliano Martinez may also be on his way out.
