Nottingham Forest v Chelsea LIVE: Premier League final day results and reaction after Levi Colwill strikes
Chelsea, Man City and Newcastle secured places in the Champions League on a day devoid of drama
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:
Premier League top five permutations
3rd - Manchester City
Points: 68
Goal difference: +26
Final fixture: Fulham (A)
What they need: After picking up a crucial win in their game in hand against Bournemouth, a solitary point on the final day should be enough for City to finish in the top five, due to the fact they possess a far superior goal difference to Villa.
If City lose, their fate will not be in their hands. But they could still qualify on 68 points if Chelsea and Nottingham Forest draw on the final day.
An easy job for City?
Manchester City have beaten Fulham in each of the last 17 encounters in all competitions.
It's the longest winning run one English league side has had against another in history.
Should City extend that run today they’ll easily finish third and secure their place in Europe’s top flight.
Mohamed Salah named Premier League Player of the Season
Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah has been named the Premier League Player of the Season.
The Egyptian brings home the award after a stunning individual campaign, propelling the Reds to title glory by notching 28 goals and 18 assists in 37 Premier League games.
It is the second time Salah, 32, has claimed the accolade, which is decided by combining public votes with those from a panel of football experts, having also won it after his spellbinding debut season at Anfield in 2017/18.
Mohamed Salah named Premier League Player of the Season
How can Villa reach the Champions League?
Aston Villa will secure Champions League qualification if they win and either Manchester City lose or Newcastle or Chelsea fail to win.
A Villa draw would be enough to finish in the top five if Newcastle lose to Everton.
United's worst season in half a century
Manchester United's tally of 20 defeats in all competitions is their most in a season since 1973-74, when they lost 22 times and were relegated from the top flight.
They have conceded the opening goal in 31 games this season, more than any other Premier League side.
Is a famous Old Trafford win on the cards for Villa?
Manchester United have beaten Aston Villa in 40 Premier League games. It's the second most one-sided fixture in Premier League history, behind United's 42 wins over Everton.
Villa have only won twice in their past 39 competitive matches at Old Trafford, both by 1-0 in the league in 2009 and 2021.
However, eight points from the last seven league meetings is as many as Aston Villa managed in the previous 31.
Cody Gakpo: ‘If I want to keep growing in football, I’ve got to keep my mind open’
It’s a big week for Cody Gakpo and there is a lot on his mind. On Sunday, Liverpool will lift the Premier League title at Anfield, the culmination of a season’s work that will result in a party that’s been 35 years in the making.
It will last all night long, into the next day when hundreds of thousands of supporters, from around the country and across the world, will congregate to light the city red and experience the title parade.
Gakpo has seen the clips from 2019, when Liverpool won the Champions League. “I’m expecting a lot,” he smiles. “These will be memories for a lifetime.”
Cody Gakpo, Liverpool’s family bond and faith
Chelsea's poor away form
Chelsea won six of their first eight away league games under Enzo Maresca but have taken just six points from a possible 30 on the road since with just one win from those 10 games.
The only sides to have taken fewer away points in that period are Leicester and Southampton, with five each.
Where will Forest finish?
Nottingham Forest have won 19 Premier League matches this season, one more than their combined tally in the two previous campaigns. They have never won 20 or more fixtures in a 38-game top-flight season.
They are assured of a top-seven finish, making this their most successful Premier League campaign since ending third in 1994-95.
If they finish sixth they’ll end up in the Europa League, seventh will put them in the Conference League and any higher will send them into the Champions League.
Forest's record versus Chelsea
Nottingham Forest have not beaten Chelsea at home since a 2-0 victory at the City Ground in January 1997, when Stuart Pearce and Chris Bart-Williams scored.
The Reds' only win in the past 12 meetings in league and cup came at Stamford Bridge in September 2023 courtesy of a goal from Anthony Elanga (three draws, eight defeats).
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