Sunday May 24 marks the end of one of the most dramatic Premier League seasons in years. Arsenal have already wrapped up the title, their first since 2004, but everything else is still alive. One club will be relegated from the top flight. Champions League spots are still being decided. And Pep Guardiola will walk out of the Etihad Stadium tunnel for the final time as Manchester City manager. Here is everything you need to know about the final day.
Final Day Fixtures and Kickoff Times
All ten matches kick off simultaneously on Sunday at 16:00 BST, as is tradition on the final day. Here are the fixtures that matter:
- Manchester City vs Aston Villa (Etihad Stadium) - Guardiola's farewell, Villa's CL hopes
- Tottenham vs Everton (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium) - Relegation decider
- West Ham vs Leeds United (London Stadium) - Relegation decider
- Liverpool vs Brentford (Anfield) - Champions League qualification
- Bournemouth vs Nottingham Forest (Vitality Stadium) - European qualification
- Brighton vs Manchester United (Amex Stadium) - European qualification
- Crystal Palace vs Wolves
- Fulham vs Newcastle
- Arsenal vs Chelsea
- Southampton vs Ipswich
The simultaneous kickoff is designed to prevent any team gaining an advantage from knowing other results. Every club will be playing for something, even those with nothing to lose in the table, because final-day pride and the atmosphere around these matches produce unpredictable results.
Relegation: Tottenham or West Ham?
This is the headline act. Southampton and Ipswich are already down, but the third relegated club will be decided on Sunday, and it is between two clubs who would have considered themselves safely mid-table at the start of the season.
Tottenham (38 points) host Everton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. A draw would almost certainly be enough to survive because their goal difference is superior to West Ham's by a significant margin. Win, and they are absolutely safe. The scenario is in their hands.
West Ham (36 points) are two points behind and must beat Leeds United at the London Stadium. Even that might not be enough. If Spurs draw against Everton, West Ham would need to win and overcome a goal difference deficit that currently sits at six goals. It is a steep mountain to climb.
The mathematical scenarios are straightforward:
- If Spurs win or draw: Tottenham survive regardless of West Ham's result
- If Spurs lose AND West Ham win: West Ham survive, Tottenham relegated
- If Spurs lose AND West Ham draw or lose: Tottenham survive on goal difference
So Tottenham need to lose and West Ham need to win for there to be any relegation drama. The odds favor Spurs, but final-day football has a habit of producing chaos.
The financial implications are enormous. Relegation costs a club at least 100 million pounds in lost broadcast revenue, sponsorship income and player sales. For Tottenham, who have debts related to their stadium build and a wage bill built for Champions League football, dropping into the Championship would be a financial catastrophe. For West Ham, it would be equally devastating after years of consolidation in the top flight.
Both clubs have already begun contingency planning. Tottenham are reported to have a relegation clause in several key player contracts that would reduce wages by 40-50 percent. West Ham's ownership has publicly stated that the manager will remain regardless of the outcome, a show of stability that may or may not prove genuine if the worst happens.
Champions League Qualification Scenarios
The Champions League picture has been clarified by Aston Villa's Europa League triumph on Wednesday. Villa beat Freiburg in the final, which means they have qualified for the Champions League regardless of their league position. But where they finish in the Premier League determines how many English teams get into Europe's top competition.
England has won one of two Elite Performance Spots for next season, which guarantees five Premier League clubs a place in the Champions League. Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Aston Villa are already confirmed as four of those five.
The fifth spot goes to the highest-placed eligible team that has not already qualified. Currently, that is Liverpool, who sit fifth and need just a point at home to Brentford to guarantee their place. If Liverpool lose, Bournemouth could theoretically overtake them, but only by overturning a six-goal deficit in goal difference, which is extremely unlikely.
Can England Get Six Champions League Teams?
Yes, and this is where it gets interesting. For England to have six teams in the Champions League, Aston Villa would need to finish fifth in the Premier League. Villa currently sit fourth, three points ahead of Liverpool. For Liverpool to overtake them, the Reds need to beat Brentford at Anfield and hope Villa lose at Manchester City.
If that happens, Villa would qualify for the Champions League as Europa League winners (which is a separate qualifying route), and Liverpool would qualify through their league position. That opens up an additional spot for a sixth English team.
The beneficiaries would be Bournemouth or Brighton:
- Bournemouth need just a point at Nottingham Forest to guarantee a top-six finish and the extra Champions League spot
- Brighton would need to beat Manchester United AND have Bournemouth lose at Forest
The idea of Bournemouth, a club that was in the fourth tier of English football as recently as 2010, playing in the Champions League is remarkable. Their season under Andoni Iraola has been one of the stories of the campaign, built on intelligent recruitment, tactical discipline and a playing style that has won admirers across Europe.
Guardiola's Final Match in the Premier League
Sunday will be the last time Pep Guardiola manages a Premier League match. After 10 years, 17 major trophies, and a tactical revolution that changed English football forever, the most successful manager in Manchester City's history is expected to confirm his departure after the final whistle.
Guardiola's record at City is staggering. Six Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies, four League Cups, two FA Cups, one Club World Cup, and two Community Shields. He has won the league in six of his ten seasons, a rate of success that will probably never be matched in English football.
The farewell match against Aston Villa adds an extra layer of narrative. Villa are fighting for Champions League positioning, so this will not be a gentle exhibition. Guardiola will want to win, as he always does, and City's players will want to send him off with a victory. Expect a sell-out crowd, emotional scenes before and after the match, and a guard of honor from both sets of players.
Enzo Maresca, currently managing elsewhere, is the heavy favorite to replace Guardiola. The Italian worked under Pep at City before branching out on his own and has built a reputation as one of the most tactically astute young managers in Europe. Whoever takes over faces the impossible task of following the greatest manager in Premier League history.
Golden Boot Race
The Golden Boot is still to be decided, adding another subplot to the final day. The race has been tight all season and could come down to the last 90 minutes. Check the latest standings on the Premier League's official page, but expect several strikers to be pushing for goals on Sunday knowing that one strike could be the difference.
Final-day Golden Boot drama is rare but not unprecedented. The prize often settles earlier in the season, but with the race this close, every chance matters. For neutrals, it adds another reason to watch all ten matches simultaneously.
Predictions and Betting Odds
Based on current form, home advantage and motivation, here is how the key matches shape up:
Manchester City vs Aston Villa: City will be emotional and motivated for Guardiola's farewell. Villa have already won the Europa League and might rotate. Prediction: City win 3-1. Odds: City 4/6, Draw 3/1, Villa 7/2.
Tottenham vs Everton: Spurs have the safety net of a draw and home advantage. Everton have nothing to play for. Prediction: Spurs win 2-0. Odds: Spurs 8/11, Draw 5/2, Everton 4/1.
West Ham vs Leeds: West Ham must go for it, which will leave them vulnerable. Leeds have been decent on the road this season. Prediction: West Ham win 2-1 in a nervy affair. Odds: West Ham 5/6, Draw 5/2, Leeds 3/1.
Liverpool vs Brentford: Liverpool only need a point and are at home. They will be cautious early and clinical late. Prediction: Liverpool win 2-0. Odds: Liverpool 1/2, Draw 3/1, Brentford 6/1.
Bournemouth vs Nottingham Forest: Bournemouth need a point for a historic top-six finish. Forest have been inconsistent. Prediction: Bournemouth win 2-1. Odds: Bournemouth 6/5, Draw 5/2, Forest 5/2.
How to Follow Final Day Live
The final day of the Premier League season is one of the most dramatic events in football. Every goal in every match can change the picture. The relegation battle could swing on a single moment. Champions League places could be decided by a goal in the 94th minute. Guardiola's farewell adds a historic dimension to an already compelling day of football.
Follow every match live with real-time scores, stats and tactical analysis on iScore.ai. Get instant notifications for goals, red cards and key moments across all ten fixtures. The final day only comes once a season. Make sure you do not miss a thing.
For the full Premier League table, fixtures and live match commentary, bookmark iScore.ai and follow along from kickoff at 16:00 BST on Sunday May 24.