The 2024–25 Premier League season concluded with high drama on the final day, as Liverpool lifted the title and the race for UEFA Champions League qualification saw Chelsea, Newcastle, and Aston Villa scrap to the final whistle for two remaining spots.
With the top five Premier League sides set to qualify for next season’s expanded Champions League, the final day produced heartbreak for some and jubilation for others. Here’s how the drama unfolded.
Liverpool reclaim the crown
Liverpool finished the campaign as Premier League champions with 84 points, sealing their title with games to spare. A 1–1 draw against Crystal Palace at Anfield wrapped up a dominant season under Arne Slot.
Arsenal and Man City follow close behind
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Arsenal secured second place with a hard-fought 2–1 win over Southampton, capping off another strong league campaign under Mikel Arteta. Although the Gunners fell short of the title again, their consistency keeps them firmly among Europe’s elite.
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Manchester City finished third on 71 points, comfortably seeing off Fulham 2–0 at Craven Cottage. While not quite hitting the heights of previous seasons, Pep Guardiola’s men remain a force in Europe and will head into the Champions League hoping for another deep run.
Chelsea and Newcastle Secure final UCL berths
The biggest drama unfolded in the battle for 4th and 5th. Four clubs — Chelsea, Newcastle, Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest — were separated by just a handful of points going into the final day.
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Chelsea, who had spent much of the season outside the top four, produced a crucial 1–0 away win against Nottingham Forest. While Forest dominated large portions of the game, Chelsea were rock-solid defensively and snatched the win with a clinical finish. That result saw them finish 4th on 69 points, sealing a Champions League return for the first time since 2022.
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Newcastle fell 1–0 at home to Everton, with Carlos Alcaraz scoring the only goal of the match in the 65th minute. It was a nervy evening at St James’ Park, but Eddie Howe’s men held on to 5th place on 66 points, edging out Aston Villa on goal difference to claim the final Champions League berth.
Heartbreak for Aston Villa and Forest
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Aston Villa, who had Champions League qualification in their grasp, stumbled to a 2–0 defeat against a struggling Manchester United side. Goals from Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes condemned Villa to 6th place, and they will now settle for Europa League football next season.
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Nottingham Forest, one of the surprise packages of the season, narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification but secured a UEFA Conference League spot. Their strong performance against Chelsea wasn’t enough on the day, but they finished 7th with 65 points, marking one of the club’s most successful campaigns in decades.
Final Premier League Top 7 – 2024/25
| Position | Club | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Liverpool | 84 |
| 2nd | Arsenal | 74 |
| 3rd | Manchester City | 71 |
| 4th | Chelsea | 69 |
| 5th | Newcastle United | 66 |
| 6th | Aston Villa | 66 |
| 7th | Nottingham Forest | 65 |
Note: Newcastle finish 5th above Aston Villa on superior goal difference.
Looking ahead
With five English clubs set to feature in next season’s Champions League thanks to the competition’s new format, the Premier League will be well-represented in Europe. Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Newcastle will all have their eyes on continental glory.
For Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest, the focus now shifts to preparing for the Europa League and Conference League respectively — and building on what has been a memorable season for both.
As the 2024–25 campaign closes, attention turns to the summer transfer window, managerial changes, and pre-season storylines. If this season was anything to go by, the next one promises even more fireworks.