Manchester United ended the season strongly and picked up their first win in six league games as they beat Crystal Palace 2-0 at Old Trafford. It was their first win at home since the mid-April win over Chelsea and means they finish seven points behind the top four. Palace confirmed their safety last week and finish 14th despite the defeat. In the end they finish closer to the top half than the bottom three.
Chelsea won their final home game of the season to take the Premier League crown in style. They fell behind early on to bottom of the table Sunderland but pulled it back quickly to win 5-1. It was Chelsea’s sixth win in a row and they finish seven points clear of second place. They end the season with 30 wins, four more than anyone else. Sunderland finish the season having lost 26 games, and in the end were 16 points short of safety.
Tottenham had their second big win in a week with a 7-1 win away at Hull. They scored 13 goals in the last week to end the season strongly. Ultimately it was Chelsea’s form which meant the Spurs didn’t have a shot at the title but they do finish six points ahead of third. Their goal difference of plus 60 is the best in the league this season. Hull finish 18th, six points away from safety having lost their final three games of the season. Their minus 43 goal difference is the worst in the league.
Manchester City end the league season with four straight wins to finish in 3rd in the table. They put five passed Watford to confirm Champions League football next season. Watford finish one place above the relegation zone thanks to six straight defeats. That run puts them bottom of the form table and although they didn’t have any real concerns of relegation they will be hoping for better next season.
Liverpool claim the final place inside the top four with a 3-0 home win against relegated Middlesbrough. It was their first win at home in four games and they finish a point ahead of 5th. Middlesbrough end the season three straight defeats and finish 12 points behind Watford. They won only 5 games in the league all season, the worst of everyone. After looking strong earlier in the campaign they won just 10 points since January began.
Arsenal finish the season with five wins on the bounce but it was not enough to finish inside the top four. Their previous form had seen them fall behind and although the final few games were excellent, the other sides didn’t drop enough points. Arsenal and Man City won the same number of games, but it was their three more defeats which cost them. Everton were the beaten visitors to the Emirates but the 3-1 loss didn’t affect their league finish. They have been safe in 7th for a number of weeks and end the season with one win in five games.
Southampton’s final day defeat to Stoke was not enough to stop them finishing in 8th place. Results for the sides around them means that they finish on 46 points and the highest of the mid table teams. Stokes first win in five moves them into 13th but it is their lowest league position for four years. The win over Southampton is the first time they have beaten a side from the top half this season.
Bournemouth claim 9th in the table and finish level on points with Southampton due to a 1-1 draw at Leicester. They picked up 11 points in the last five games and finish inside the top half of England’s top division for the first time in their recent history. Leicester end the season one points outside the top half. They did not win in the last three games of the season and lost more games than any side in the top 13.
West Brom picked up just one point in their final eight games of the season and fall to 10th. The 2-1 defeat to Swansea was their 17th of this campaign, 11 of which have come since Christmas. Since reaching 40 points at the end of February they have picked up just five more points. Swansea finish 15th in the table, breaking the 40 point barrier and seven points clear of the bottom three. They were unbeaten in their final five games, a run which pulled them to safety.
West Ham end the season outside the top half but on goal difference alone. The 2-1 win away at Burnley means they are the only side outside of the top six to win at Turf Moor since the opening day of the season. One defeat in seven is a good way to end what has been a disappointing season for West Ham and they would have hoped for more at the start of the season. Burnley drop to 16th in the table following a poor run which has seen them take just four points from their last six games. They survived comfortably in the end though and so the season as a whole should be counted as a success.
This season is only the second time since the Premier League began that United have finished with less than 70 points. Only two seasons ago when the club gained 64 points have they finished with a lower total than this season. All will be almost irrelevant however if they can win the Europa League final on Wednesday and qualify for the Champions League next season.