Premier League final day scenarios: The games that really matter on May 24 as EPL season closes
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Premier League final day scenarios: The games that really matter on May 24 as EPL season closes originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Sometimes, there is very little to play for on the final day of the Premier League season, as the 38-game format often leaves a host of dead-rubber games at the end of the campaign.
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This year, that is not the case, as there are important places to be gained or lost at both ends of the table, even though the title race may be over.
All games have at least something at stake, as clubs fight for a few extra millions in prize money depending on their final table position. Yet some have much more on the line, as there are still tangible competitive outcomes for many up and down the Premier League table.
The Sporting News details what is on the line across the final 10 fixtures of the 2025/26 Premier League season, to be played at 4 p.m. local time on Sunday, May 24.
MORE:Tracking European places in the Premier League for the 2025/26 season
Premier League table, standings
Here is how the Premier League table looks coming into the final matchday of the 2025/26 season.
Arsenal have confirmed their place atop the standings, meaning they have already clinched the title, while four of the five Champions League places have been mathematically secured as well.
At the other end of the table, two of the three relegation spots have been begrudgingly claimed, but one is still uncertain as two teams battle to secure Premier League safety.
MORE:All clubs qualified for the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League tournament
PosClubGPPtsW-D-LGD1.Arsenal — C378225-7-5+432.Man City — UCL377823-9-5+433.Man United — UCL376819-11-7+164.Aston Villa — UCL376218-8-11+65.Liverpool375917-8-12+106.Bournemouth375613-17-7+47.Brighton375314-11-12+98.Chelsea375214-10-13+79.Brentford375214-10-13+310.Sunderland375113-12-12-711.Newcastle374914-7-16012.Everton374913-10-14-213.Fulham374914-7-16-614.Leeds United374711-14-12-415.Crystal Palace374511-12-14-916.Nottingham Forest374311-10-16-317.Tottenham Hotspur37389-11-17-1018.West Ham37369-9-19-2219.Burnley — R37214-9-24-3720.Wolves — R37193-10-24-41C = Champions
R = Relegated
UCL = Champions League qualification secured
Games that matter on final Premier League matchday
Tottenham vs. Everton
Why it matters: Tottenham could be relegated
Spurs are in the thick of the relegation battle, and while they are in a stronger position than West Ham, they have not yet secured mathematical safety.
Currently holding a two-point advantage over the Hammers, Tottenham simply need to draw at home against a reeling Everton on the final day to ensure their spot in the top flight next season, given their effectively unassailable goal-differential advantage. If they lose at home — where they have been extremely poor this season — and West Ham win, they are doomed to the Championship.
West Ham vs. Leeds
Why it matters: West Ham could be relegated
West Ham are in a real spot of bother on the final day of the season. They are not in control of their own destiny, needing both a win against Leeds and a Tottenham defeat to stay safe.
The Hammers are two points back of Spurs but have vastly inferior goal difference, so they realistically need to win and also have Tottenham lose in order to stay up. Pulling level with Spurs on points would still see them dumped to the Championship, unless Spurs draw and West Ham win by 12 goals or more.
Liverpool vs. Brentford
Why it matters: Champions League race
Liverpool have, somehow, not managed to secure Champions League football next season. It would take a cataclysmic set of results to see them left out, but it's still not secured just yet.
The Reds sit fifth, three points clear of Bournemouth in sixth, and they hold a six-goal differential lead over the Cherries. Therefore, the only way Liverpool could miss out on Europe's top competition next season would be if they lose, Bournemouth win, and that goal-difference advantage is overturned. For example, if Liverpool lose by three, and Bournemouth run riot over Forest and win by four, then it would see them out.
Still, this one feels all but wrapped up.
This will also be a chance for Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson to play for Liverpool at Anfield for the final time before leaving at the end of the season. There is also the possibility that manager Arne Slot could be taking charge of his last game, with his future still the subject of much speculation.
Nottingham Forest vs. Bournemouth
Why it matters: Champions League race
Bournemouth are assured of at least Europa League football next season, but if they wish to position themselves for a chance at Champions League qualification, they have to at least lock down sixth place, and even make a potential (albeit unlikely) run at fifth.
Fifth place is, admittedly, a pipe dream. The most plausible way for the Cherries to reach the Champions League is to finish sixth and have Aston Villa finish fifth, extending the Premier League's qualifying places by one.
Because Aston Villa won the Europa League title, if Liverpool leap-frog them into fourth on the final day, and Bournemouth finish sixth, the Cherries would be the lucky recipients of a spot in the Champions League league phase next season. The intricacies of this weird quirk are explained here.
Brighton vs. Man United
Why it matters: Champions League race
As explained above, there is a fairly plausible scenario where sixth place in the Premier League table earns a Champions League spot.
Bournemouth pretty much have it wrapped up, but if Brighton and Hove Albion beat Manchester United while the Cherries lose, then the Seagulls would move into sixth on goal difference and position themselves to be in Europe's top competition next season.
Sunderland vs. Chelsea
Why it matters: Europa League/Conference League qualification
Chelsea are teetering on the edge of European qualification, sitting eighth in the Premier League table.
As it stands, that spot would be the last European place in the English top flight, earning the Blues a spot in the Conference League. They can only finish as high as seventh, as Brighton one point above are the only team within reach on the final day.
Seventh would earn Chelsea a guaranteed spot in the Europa League, but they could also finish eighth and earn a place in the second tier of UEFA football if the aforementioned scenario comes to pass where sixth earns Champions League play, moving everything down a peg.
An interesting wrinkle in all of this is that Chelsea may not want a place in Europe next season. As per their brokered deal with UEFA last summer after triggering financial sanctions, they must comply with certain restrictions while involved in European play, and reports suggest they are not well positioned to fulfill those requirements next season. A spot in Europe might bring with it harsher punishments, while missing out could see them avoid the European governing body's ire.
Man City vs. Aston Villa
Why it matters: Champions League race
Pep Guardiola will take charge of his final Man City match this weekend, so the occasion is likely to be an emotional one for everyone connected to the club.
This game also matters from a sporting perspective, but weirdly, not for either of these teams in question. Both City and Aston Villa have secured a spot in the Champions League next season, one way or another, and neither can gain anything more than that, as Arsenal have already clinched the Premier League title.
Yet for Aston Villa in particular, this match, alongside Liverpool's result, will determine who finishes fourth and who gets fifth.
That matters a lot for two other teams below them, who could conceivably earn Champions League football next season with a few very specific results. If Aston Villa finish fifth in the table, sixth in the Premier League becomes a Champions League qualifying position, which Bournemouth currently occupy and Brighton are chasing. Whoever finishes sixth will earn at least a Europa League spot next season, but a place in the Champions League would be a thrilling prize for one of those two clubs.