Chelsea, Manchester City and Newcastle United all secured places in the Champions League on a lacklustre final day in the Premier League that offered little drama.
Given the easiest task ahead of kick off Pep Guardiola’s City ensured they breezed into Europe’s top-flight after Ilkay Gundogan’s scissor kick sent them ahead against Fulham and Erling Haaland secured the points from the spot.
Things were slightly more tricky at the City Ground where Chelsea defeated Nottingham Forest 1-0. It took until the second half for the breakthrough to come as Neco Williams failed to deal with an aerial ball into the box and set Pedro Neto free. He squared a pass to the back post and Levi Colwill netted the winning goal. Forest offered little threat with Chris Wood missing their best chances.
Newcastle, meanwhile, owe their Champions League spot to Aston Villa after losing at home to Everton. Villa needed to defeat Man Utd at Old Trafford to leapfrog the magpies but went down 2-0 and ended up sixth. Forest’s seventh place finish sends them into the Conference League.
Follow the latest updates from the Premier League’s final day in our live blog below:
Why was Morgan Rogers’ goal disallowed and did it cost Aston Villa Champions League football?
Morgan Rogers was denied a goal in Aston Villa’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester United after a controversial decision ruled out his opener for a foul on goalkeeper Altay Bayindir.
Villa came into the match knowing they needed to defeat Ruben Amorim’s men to secure a spot in the Champions League next season and thought they had gone ahead, following Emiliano Martinez’s red card, only for Rogers’ effort to be chalked off.
Mike Jones25 May 2025 18:52
Matz Sels wins the golden glove
The Nottingham Forest goalkeeper has had a superb season and has helped his team secure European football.
It is not the Champions League like they wanted at the start of the day but the Conference League instead.
Forest will have a great chance of winning that tournament next season especially if Sels can repeat his performances.
He is the Premier League golden glove winner, shared with Arsenal’s David Raya, after 13 clean sheets in 38 games.
Mike Jones25 May 2025 18:28
Amorim apologises to fans
Ruben Amorim spoke to the Manchester United fans after a 2-0 win over Aston Villa and apologised for their dreadful season.
“First of all, I want to apologise for this season,” he said after taking the microphone in the centre circle.
“I know you are very disappointment with me and with the team. I want secondly to say thank you. We are very grateful for your support during the season. Now we have to make a choice or we stay stuck in the past because this season is in the past. We fight each other or we stick together and move forward.
“Six months ago in my first three games in charge, with two victories and one draw I said the storm is coming. Today, after this disaster season, I want to tell you the good days are coming. If there is one club that prove in the past that can overcome any situation, any disaster, it is our club it is Manchester United. Now I want to say also to my players that sometimes I was not fair but I try always to be honest to you guys.”
Mike Jones25 May 2025 18:25
Nottingham Forest v Chelsea player ratings as wasteful Chris Wood leaves hosts frustrated
Chelsea held on to clinch Champions League football for next season after a hard-fought victory over Nottingham Forest to conclude the 2025/26 Premier League campaign.
The Blues took the lead in the second half when Levi Colwill converted from close range at the back post after Pedro Neto’s square pass.
Here’s our player ratings from the City Ground after a nervy final day of the Premier League season:
Mike Jones25 May 2025 18:14
Nine English teams in Europe next season
There’s a mammoth nine English teams going to be in Europe next season.
Six in the Champions League, two in the Europa League and one in the Conference League.
Here’s who has qualified for each competition:
Champions League: Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle and Tottenham (Europa League winners).
Europa League: Aston Villa and Crystal Palace (FA Cup winners).
Conference League: Nottingham Forest.
Mike Jones25 May 2025 18:09
Premier League full-time scores
Bournemouth 2-0 Leicester
Fulham 0-2 Man City
Ipswich 1-3 West Ham
Liverpool 1-1 Crystal Palace
Man Utd 2-0 Aston Villa
Newcastle 0-1 Everton
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Chelsea
Southampton 1-2 Arsenal
Tottenham 1-4 Brighton
Wolves 1-1 Brentford
Mike Jones25 May 2025 18:06
FT Man Utd 2-0 Aston Villa
Anticlimax and anguish at the end of the season for Villa.
They can lament one decision, to disallow Rogers’ goal, but they should rue Martinez’s decision-making and lament their own performance today.
They made Manchester United look good. And United rarely make themselves look good.
Richard Jolly at Old Trafford25 May 2025 18:04
Who has qualified for the Champions League?
Manchester City defeated Fulham at Craven Cottage easily securing their place in the European top-flight.
Chelsea did the same at the City Ground to ensure they’re fighting for the Champions League trophy in Enzo Maresca’s second season.
Finally, Newcastle were beaten at St. James’ Park but results elsewhere mean their defeat to Everton doesn’t matter and Eddie Howe’s men add a Champions League campaign to their Carabao Cup win.
Mike Jones25 May 2025 18:03
Full-time! Nottingham Forest 0-1 Chelsea
90+8 mins: There goes the whistle. Chelsea are heading into the Champions League.
As are Manchester City, as are Newcastle United.
Nottingham Forest will finish seventh and that means a place in the Europa Conference League.
A poor end to the season for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men, especially given they spent so long inside the top four this year.
Mike Jones25 May 2025 18:01
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Chelsea
90+5 mins: Chris Wood gets another great opportunity as the ball drops to him in the box. He snaps a shot at goal and hooks it well over the top.
Those chances were going in earlier this season. Not to be today.
Mike Jones25 May 2025 17:58
