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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
John Ashdown

Klopp wins final game as Liverpool manager, Luton relegation confirmed: Premier League final day – as it happened

Jürgen Klopp heads out on to the pitch at Anfield to say goodbye to Liverpool fans.
Jürgen Klopp heads out on to the pitch at Anfield to say goodbye to Liverpool fans. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images

Right, that’s it from him and that’s it from me. I’ll leave you with the report from Anfield today:

“There’s no overhaul needed,” he adds. “This team developed so quickly. We’re ahead of schedule – coming third is a statement in this strong league.

“I’ve had my bad moments as well, but not today.”

One last word from Jürgen as he heads over to the Sky cameras. “I expected to more or less a breakdown, but I enjoyed it so much … I’m standing here and I’m somehow over the moon, I can’t explain it.”

Families and friends time on the pitch now as the players mill about with their kids and partners on the pitch, with Klopp still beeming, doing the rounds, posing for a snap with Alexis Mac Allister’s family.

Alisson comes over to Kelly Cates and Jamie Carragher for a chat with Sky Sports, bringing his tiny toddling son with him. “I will have so many good memories,” says the keeper. “I’m so grateful to have been able to play under Jürgen Klopp.”

Klopp is back out, standing with Van Dijk, who still has his camera strapped around his body. Anfield is nine-tenths empty now.

As Klopp, his staff and his players head back down the tunnel, at the Etihad Kyle Walker is about to lift the trophy:

Trent Alexander-Arnold has tears in his eyes, and though the camera keeps zooming in on Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk looking for a trace of wistfulness perhaps, a glint in the eye to say “this is goodbye from me too”, they’ve instead been pretty poker-faced through it all.

Indeed in Hulk Hogan-esque fashion he’s giving all four sides of the ground the full treatment.

“I love you to bits,” Klopp tells Anfield. “Thank you, you are the best people in the world. Thank you.”

And with that he sprints towards the Kop one last time and punches the air as the crowd roars. Good stuff.

“Don’t stop believing,” he tells the Anfield crowd, describing the fans as “the superpower of world football”.

“We decide if we are worried or excited. We decide if we believe or don’t believe. And today I am one of you, and I keep believing in you. I’m a believer, 100%.”

And then he starts chanting Arne Slot’s name. Which felt a bit awkward. “Go all in from the first day,” he tells the crowd.

“I’m so happy, I can’t believe it,” says Klopp. “I’m so happy about the game, the atmosphere, about us, how we celebrated this day. Thank you.”

“For whatever reason, it doesn’t feel like an end, it feels like a start. Today I saw a football team playing full of youth and full of talent and desire.”

Updated

And he gets a selection of miniature trophies of his various Anfield honours. Nice.

Out comes Jürgen Klopp. He doffs his cap, taps his hand to his heart, then waves to all four sides of the ground, a huge smile on his face.

Red Bull Salzburg-bound Pep Lijnders gets a big ovation as he walks out. One to go.

Updated

I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like this before, certainly not in English football. All the Liverpool players are out there lined up to applaud Klopp’s backroom staff, one-by-one, onto the pitch. No one has left the stands, even a fair few Wolves fans have stuck around. It’s quite the scene.

As more coaches get their farewells, Klopp is left alone briefly in the Anfield tunnel.

Next up it’s Joel Matip, who is clearly much-loved by his teammates. Followed soon afterwards by head of fitness and conditioning Andreas Kornmayer, which could be a first. General manager of first team operations Ray Haughan, a club servant of 16 years, is next. We could be here a while …

First out through the guard of honour to receive an Anfield farewell is Thiago Alcantara. He hugs Virgil van Dijk, who I now notice has his own SLR camera strapped around him.

At Anfield there’s a plinth set up in the centre circle. John Henry is out there, as is Kenny Dalglish. Out come the players to form a guard of honour. Klopp comes out wearing a red hoodie emblazoned with the words: “I’LL NEVER WALK ALONE AGAIN.”

Roberto De Zerbi gets a warm send-off at the Amex as he bids goodbye to Albion’s fans. Where he will rock up next is anyone’s guess …

And the final Premier League table:

Pos Team P GD Pts
1 Man City 38 62 91
2 Arsenal 38 62 89
3 Liverpool 38 45 82
4 Aston Villa 38 15 68
5 Tottenham Hotspur 38 13 66
6 Chelsea 38 14 63
7 Newcastle 38 23 60
8 Man Utd 38 -1 60
9 West Ham 38 -14 52
10 Crystal Palace 38 -1 49
11 Brighton 38 -7 48
12 AFC Bournemouth 38 -13 48
13 Fulham 38 -6 47
14 Wolverhampton 38 -15 46
15 Everton 38 -11 40
16 Brentford 38 -9 39
17 Nottm Forest 38 -18 32
18 Luton 38 -33 26
19 Burnley 38 -37 24
20 Sheff Utd 38 -69 16

Full-time scores

Arsenal 2-1 Everton
Brentford 2-4 Newcastle
Brighton 0-2 Man Utd
Burnley 1-2 Nottm Forest
C Palace 5-0 Aston Villa
Chelsea 2-1 Bournemouth
Liverpool 2-0 Wolves
Luton 2-4 Fulham
Man City 3-1 West Ham
Sheff Utd 0-4 Spurs

Updated

But back to Anfield, where Jürgen Klopp is embracing every member of Liverpool staff he can find. John Henry gets a quick hug too.

“I’ve got no words,” Virgil van Dijk tells Sky Sports. “It’s been an emotional day. It was always going to be a tough afternoon.

“You can’t prepare for these situations, these moments. He deserves every bit of the love that he is getting at the moment.”

Luton are relegated

Full-time at Kenilworth Road and confirmation of what was already basically confirmed before kick-off, Luton are down.

Manchester City are champions!

It’s all over at the Etihad and Manchester City are Premier League champions for a fourth time in a row.

Updated

A weird delay at the Etihad as Bernardo Silva and Haaland attempt to convince some pitch-invasion-ready fans to return to their seats. Unsuccessfully.

Klopp signs off with a win

As the chants ripple around Anfield the referee blows his whistle and brings the Klopp era to an end. Liverpool have finished it off with a comfortable 2-0 win over Wolves.

Updated

That was a strange one. Again, given the score at City, it’s a footnote. But that would’ve gone down as a famously controversial decision had West Ham surprised City.

GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Everton

It stands, despite what looked to be a handball from Jesus in the buildup.

GOAL? Arsenal 2-1 Everton

Havertz pokes home an 89th-minute winner for Arsenal. How dramatic that might’ve been in other circumstances. Instead it’s a footnote. And VAR is now getting involved. Oh good.

West Ham briefly think they have a goal back … but Soucek has extremely obviously handballed before bundling home. That might’ve made the final few seconds a little tense.

Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe hits the bar with a volley as the Gunners look for a winner.

GOAL! Brighton 0-2 Man Utd

Unlike Klopp, De Zerbi isn’t going to get a winning farewell at the Amex. Rasmus Højlund makes it 2-0 to the visitors.

Updated

Ten minutes to go in the 2023-24 Premier League season. Tissues at the ready at Anfield, champagne on ice at the Etihad.

Updated

Key event

A bit of confusion at Bramall Lane. Trusty the process – he’s not in fact been sent off.

GOAL! Brentford 2-4 Newcastle

Bruno Guimaraes restores Newcastle’s two-goal lead and solidifies their grip on seventh spot.

Updated

Red card! Auston Trusty proves anything but at Bramall Lane – he’s been sent off.

Updated

GOAL! Burnley 1-2 Nottm Forest

Josh Cullen gives the Clarets hope at Turf Moor.

GOAL! Crystal Palace 5-0 Aston Villa

Eze with his second – this is turning into a pretty miserable day for Unai Emery’s side.

GOAL! Brentford 2-3 Newcastle

Yoane Wissa brings Brentford back into it – and Newcastle’s grip on European football is looking a little looser.

Updated

GOAL! Brighton 0-1 Man Utd

United have had a bit of a pasting at the Amex by all accounts but Diego Dalot has given Erik ten Hag’s side the lead.

Updated

Havertz hitz the bar with a header at the Emirates. Arsenal need a miracle now, though.

GOAL! Luton 2-4 Fulham

Harry Wilson makes it four for the visitors.

Salah is briefly through on goal at Anfield but Wolves get enough players back to smother the chance. At the Emirates, David Raya pulls off a fine save to keep Arsenal in with at least a smidgeon of a shout.

GOAL! Sheffield Utd 0-3 Tottenham

Kulusevski scores the 104th goal Sheffield United have conceded this season.

GOAL! Crystal Palace 4-0 Aston Villa

It’s a final-day hat-trick for Jean-Philippe Mateta. As it stands, Palace are leapfrogging Brighton into a top-half finish.

GOAL! Manchester City 3-1 West Ham

THAT COULD BE THAT! Rodri slots home from the edge of the area but Areola will be very disappointed in the West Ham goal. The Etihad erupts, Pep Guardiola punches the air in delight and an unprecedented four in a row is within sight.

GOAL! Sheffield United 0-2 Tottenham

Pedro Porro hammers Spurs into a two-goal lead and more or less wraps up a fifth-place finish for Ange Postecoglou’s side.

Updated

35 minutes of the season to go … and just two goals will change the destination of the title. City look much the more likely against West Ham, while Arsenal are on top against Everton without carving much out.

GOAL! Luton 2-3 Fulham

Alfie Doughty keeps Luton in the match (if not in the Premier League) .

GOAL! Crystal Palace 3-0 Aston Villa

Eberechi Eze makes it 3-0 at Selhurst. What a way to sign off for the summer.

Updated

GOAL! Luton 1-3 Fulham

Raul Jimenez has another and Fulham have a 3-1 lead at Kenilworth Road.

Updated

GOAL! Chelsea 2-1 Bournemouth

Just 28 seconds after Sterling’s effort, Badiashile deflects Enes Unal’s shot past his own goalkeeper.

GOAL! Brentford 1-3 Newcastle

Vitaly Janelt pulls one back from Brentford. And there’s more!

Updated

GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Bournemouth

We’re back under way and we’re back amongst the goals. Raheem Sterling doubles Chelsea’s lead from close range.

Updated

Half-time email dept. Here’s Simon McMahon: “Afternoon John. All the drama would appear to be happening in Scotland today. Ross County’s failure to beat Aberdeen in Dingwall, coupled with St Johnstone’s win in Motherwell, means that the Highlanders finish in the relegation playoff spot on goal difference. Aberdeen played the last half hour with 10 men, and County hit the woodwork twice as they sought the winner that would have guaranteed their safety, but it finished 2-2. Ross County will now face Raith Rovers home and away to determine who plays in the Scottish Premier next season. Oh, and Celtic scored a 90th minute winner against Hibs to secure the Scottish Women’s Premier League title on goal difference from, you guessed it, Rangers.”

And just to balance things out I should point out one goal I missed amid the madness in the first half – Nottingham Forest are 2-0 up at Burnley, Chris Wood with his second of the afternoon.

Not to blow my own trumpet or anything but …called it:

Half-time scores

The whistles are a-blowing around the grounds. And, as so often it seems on the final day, it’s been a bit of a goal-fest – 18 by my count across the 10 first halves.

Arsenal 1-1 Everton
Brentford 0-3 Newcastle
Brighton 0-0 Man Utd
Burnley 0-2 Nottm Forest
C Palace 2-0 Aston Villa
Chelsea 1-0 Bournemouth
Liverpool 2-0 Wolves
Luton 1-2 Fulham
Man City 2-1 West Ham
Sheff Utd 0-1 Spurs

Updated

GOAL! Luton 1-2 Fulham

Three goals in six minutes at Old Lady Kenilworth. Raul Jimenez restores Fulham’s lead with his first goal since December.

At the Emirates, Hope is marauding through the stands, cackling as it does so, weaving its dangerous spell. Meanwhile at the Etihad, Haaland scoops over from close range.

GOALS! Luton 1-1 Fulham

Adama Traoré gives Fulham the lead, but seconds later Carlton Morris equalises from the penalty spot. It’s all happening.

GOAL! Man City 2-1 West Ham

What a goal this is! Mohammed Kudus has brought West Ham back into it at the Etihad with an utterly ludicrous overhead kick.

Updated

GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Everton

Smiles on a few faces at the Emirates again, Tomiyasu thumps an effort home from 12 yards to draw Arsenal level.

Updated

GOAL! Crystal Palace 2-0 Aston Villa

Palace fans seem set to go into the summer with a real spring in their step – Mateta has his second of the game and Oliver Glasner’s side have a 2-0 lead.

Updated

GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Wolves

Liverpool double their lead against 10-man Wolves. Quansah pokes in on the line to make sure’s Salah’s effort makes it way home, after Wolves failed to clear a corner.

Updated

GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Everton

Ah, it’s not going to be Arsenal’s day is it? Gueye’s free-kick takes a huge deflection, wrongfooting David Raya, and Everton lead at the Emirates!

GOAL! Brentford 0-3 Newcastle

Newcastle are running riot in west London. Alexander Isak makes it 3-0 inside the first 40 minutes.

GOAL! Brentford 0-2 Newcastle

It’s been a good weekend for the Murphy family. Josh scored a couple at Wembley for Oxford on Saturday and now Jacob has put Newcastle two up at Brentford.

GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Wolves

Alexis Mac Allister nods home Harvey Elliott’s cross to boost the party atmosphere at Anfield. It had been coming.

Updated

Brighton – saying farewell to Roberto De Zerbi today – are knocking on the door against Manchester United.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin comes close to really bursting what’s left of the celebratory bubble at the Emirates, but his effort from close range finds the side-netting.

Red card!

A VAR check at Anfield as Semedo goes over the top of the ball in a challenge with Mac Allister. He’s initially booked but a quick look at the screen and it’s upgraded to a red. Wolves and VAR haven’t exactly been friends this season, though I don’t think they can have too many complaints about that one. If it wasn’t a red it’s at least a very deep orange.

Updated

“It’s completely over. I might as well go and watch Neighbours on my phone,” says a dejected Paul Merson on Sky Sports News.

Updated

Midway through the first half, time for a quick As It Stands?

As it stands, Manchester City are champions, Luton are relegated, and Tottenham and Chelsea have secured European football.

GOAL! Brentford 0-1 Newcastle

Harvey Barnes gives Newcastle the lead and keeps the pressure on Chelsea.

Updated

GOAL! Man City 2-0 West Ham

And as if by magic! Foden pings in his second of the day, City’s second of the day, and that, surely, is that. Doku rolled the ball across the box for his teammate, who sweeps home to give City a cushion they didn’t have in 2012 or 2022.

Updated

Rodri is yard away from doubling City’s lead against West Ham, poking just wide at the near post. A 2-0 lead would surely be curtains.

“Party atmosphere at Anfield even at 0-0,” writes my colleague Philip Cornwall, “with fans rattling through the songs honouring not only the current players but past Klopp stars including Sadio Mané, Bobby Firmino and of course Divock Origi.”

GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Bournemouth

Caicedo has scored from the halfway line! What a strike! Neto rushed out to slide into Sterling but then saw his clearance blocked and break loose to the centre circle where the Ecuadorian took a touch and then thumped a superb effort into the unguarded net.

Updated

GOAL! Sheff Utd 0-1 Tottenham

Against the run of play Dejan Kulusevski has given Spurs the lead at Beautiful Downtown Bramall Lane.

Updated

Pickford denies Trossard from close range as Arsenal look to raise spirits in north London.

The goal stands, Palace lead. This isn’t a very hot take – not even lukewarm really – but their record whenever Eze and Olise are able to start together is really something.

Updated

GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-0 Aston Villa

Jean-Philippe Mateta has given the flying Eagles the lead at Selhurst Park. Or has he? VAR has risen out of its casket and is setting its teeth in to the neck of all that is joy and light …

Updated

Takehiro Tomiyasu has just nodded a fine chance wide from close range at the Emirates as Arsenal look to at least get their part of the equation done against Everton.

Key event

Brentford thought they were ahead against Newcastle but Ivan Toney has seen his goal ruled out for offside by VAR.

GOAL! Man City 1-0 West Ham

Well that didn’t take long! Phil Foden has scored an absolute screamer to give City the lead against West Ham. What. A. Strike.

Updated

GOAL! Burnley 0-1 Nottm Forest

Bad news for Luton fans. Well, bad news for wildly optimistic Luton fans. Chris Wood has given Forest the lead at Turf Moor.

It may just be the various delays on the TV feeds but it looks like Manchester City have kicked off a couple of minutes later than the rest …

PEEP! Off we go then. At the Etihad, the Emirates, Anfield, Stamford Bridge, Bramall Lane, the Amex, Kenilworth Road, Turf Moor, Selhurst Park and, of course, the Gtech Community Stadium. A day of drama awaits.

The players are in the tunnel at Anfield, Klopp smiling and looking relaxed now. He emerges into the Liverpool sunshine, waves to the stands and taps his hand to his chest. J U R G E N is picked out in red and white in the stands. Anfield looks absolutely terrific.

So can Liverpool send Jürgen Klopp on his way with a resounding victory? Will Wolves spoil the party? Either way, it’s sure to be an emotional few hours an Anfield. Meanwhile, Tottenham, Chelsea, Newcastle and Manchester United have European ambitions to sort out.

And, of course, at the summit the title is heading to Manchester City or to Arsenal. To follow every twist and turn in the big games in Manchester and north London, join Rob Smyth for Manchester City v West Ham and join Daniel Harris for Arsenal v Everton.

A final-day prediction: despite (or possibly because of) modern technology that means jamming an ear into a transistor radio is a thing of the past, at some point this afternoon rumours of Manchester City falling behind/conceding an equaliser will ripple round the Emirates.

A bit of news from the Football League: Crawley have beaten Crewe in the League Two playoff final. Simon Burnton saw the action:

We have had all manner of fine pieces looking back at Klopp’s reign over the past few days:

How have the fans seen this season? Always one of the most fascinating pieces of the year – we speak to fans of all 20 clubs to find out how they’re really feeling.

Anfield is still filling up but Jürgen Klopp has stepped out on to the turf to oversee a bit of the warmup. The reception is predictably rapturous from those in the ground.

Jürgen Klopp – already looking and sounding a little emotional – has been talking to Sky Sports about the scenes as the team bus made its way to Anfield: “Fantastic. If it wasn’t about me I could enjoy it a lot more. I hope we can put in a proper performance out there and be ourselves.”

Updated

Team news: today's lineups

Man City v West Ham
Man City:
Ortega, Walker, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol, Rodri, Doku, Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne, Foden, Haaland. Subs: Stones, Ake, Kovacic, Grealish, Alvarez, Matheus Luiz, Carson, Bobb, Lewis.
West Ham: Areola, Zouma, Mavropanos, Cresswell, Coufal, Ward-Prowse, Soucek, Emerson Palmieri, Kudus, Antonio, Lucas Paqueta. Subs: Fabianski, Johnson, Cornet, Ings, Alvarez, Ogbonna, Earthy, Casey, Mubama.
Referee: John Brooks (Leicestershire)

Arsenal v Everton
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu, Odegaard, Partey, Rice, Trossard, Havertz, Martinelli. Subs: Ramsdale, Gabriel Jesus, Smith Rowe, Timber, Nketiah, Kiwior, Jorginho, Vieira, Zinchenko.
Everton: Pickford, Coleman, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Young, Garner, Gueye, Onana, McNeil, Doucoure, Calvert-Lewin. Subs: Keane, Virginia, Beto, Godfrey, Chermiti, Crellin, Warrington, Hunt, Dobbin.
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)

Liverpool v Wolverhampton
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, van Dijk, Robertson, Elliott, Endo, Mac Allister, Salah, Gakpo, Diaz. Subs: Gomez, Konate, Szoboszlai, Nunez, Jones, Jota, Gravenberch, Kelleher, Bradley.
Wolves: Jose Sa, Santiago Bueno, Kilman, Gomes, Nelson Semedo, Joao Gomes, Mario Lemina, Bellegarde, Ait Nouri, Matheus Cunha, Hwang. Subs: Doherty, Traore, Pedro Neto, Hugo Bueno, Doyle, Bentley, Gonzalez, Chirewa, Fraser.
Referee: Chris Kavanagh (Lancashire)

Sheff Utd v Tottenham
Sheff Utd:
Foderingham, Ahmedhodzic, Trusty, Robinson, Bogle, Hamer, Arblaster, Osborn, Lowe, Archer, Brereton. Subs: Adam Davies, Brewster, McBurnie, Vinicius Souza, Larouci, McAtee, Holgate, Brooks, Jebbison.
Tottenham Hotspur: Vicario, Porro, Romero, Dragusin, van de Ven, Sarr, Bentancur, Kulusevski, Maddison, Johnson, Son. Subs: Skipp, Hojbjerg, Gil Salvatierra, Emerson, Austin, Whiteman, Scarlett, Moore, Donley.
Referee: Andrew Madley (West Yorkshire)

Brighton v Man Utd
Brighton:
Steele, Gross, Webster, Igor, Barco, Baleba, Moder, Adingra, Lallana, Joao Pedro, Welbeck. Subs: Verbruggen, Lamptey, Enciso, Gilmour, Fati, Buonanotte, Offiah, Peupion, Baker-Boaitey.
Man Utd: Onana, Wan-Bissaka, Casemiro, Martinez, Dalot, Mainoo, Amrabat, Diallo, Garnacho, McTominay, Bruno Fernandes. Subs: Bayindir, Rashford, Hojlund, Eriksen, Varane, Antony, Evans, Kambwala, Collyer.
Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)

Brentford v Newcastle
Brentford:
Flekken, Roerslev, Jorgensen, Pinnock, Reguilon, Jensen, Norgaard, Janelt, Mbeumo, Toney, Wissa. Subs: Konak, Maupay, Schade, Ghoddos, Lewis-Potter, Damsgaard, Valdimarsson, Trevitt, Yarmolyuk.
Newcastle: Pope, Krafth, Schar, Burn, Hall, Longstaff, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Jacob Murphy, Isak, Barnes. Subs: Dubravka, Trippier, Dummett, Wilson, Ritchie, Almiron, Anderson, White, Alex Murphy.
Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire)

Luton v Fulham
Luton:
Kaminski, Hashioka, Mengi, Osho, Ogbene, Sambi Lokonga, Clark, Doughty, Morris, Adebayo, Chong. Subs: Shea, Berry, Woodrow, Mpanzu, Krul, Townsend, Onyedinma, Johnson, Piesold.
Fulham: Leno, Tete, Ream, Bassey, Robinson, Reed, Joao Palhinha, Wilson, Iwobi, Traore, Jimenez. Subs: Rodak, Broja, Cairney, Ballo-Toure, De Cordova-Reid, Andreas Pereira, Rodrigo Muniz, Willian, Castagne.
Referee: Matthew Donohue (Lancashire)

Burnley v Nottm Forest
Burnley:
Muric, Assignon, O’Shea, Esteve, Taylor, Bruun Larsen, Cullen, Berge, Amdouni, Odobert, Foster. Subs: Trafford, Cork, Gudmundsson, Brownhill, Rodriguez, Ekdal, Vitinho, Fofana, Massengo.
Nottm Forest: Sels, Montiel, Boly, Murillo, Toffolo, Yates, Danilo, Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Wood. Subs: Turner, Sangare, Kouyate, Awoniyi, Niakhate, Reyna, Origi, Omobamidele, Duarte Ribeiro.
Referee: Scott Graham (Oxfordshire)

Chelsea v Bournemouth
Chelsea:
Petrovic, Chalobah, Thiago Silva, Badiashile, Cucurella, Caicedo, Gallagher, Madueke, Palmer, Sterling, Jackson. Subs: Disasi, Bettinelli, Ugochukwu, Chukwuemeka, Nkunku, Colwill, Gusto, Casadei, Gilchrist.
Bournemouth: Neto, Aarons, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez,
Christie, Cook, Semenyo, Kluivert, Tavernier, Unal. Subs: Kelly, Faivre, Solanke, Ouattara, Scott, Smith, Hill, Billing, Travers.
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)

Crystal Palace v Aston Villa
Crystal Palace: Henderson, Clyne, Andersen, Guehi, Munoz, Wharton, Richards, Mitchell, Olise, Eze, Mateta. Subs: Ward, Tomkins, Lerma, Ayew, Schlupp, Edouard, Matthews, Riedewald, Ozoh.
Aston Villa: Olsen, Konsa, Diego Carlos, Lenglet, Digne, Diaby, Douglas Luiz, Chambers, McGinn, Duran, Watkins. Subs: Torres, Gauci, Kesler-Hayden, Iroegbunam, Munroe, Kellyman, Young, Emery.
Referee: Darren Bond (Lancashire)

Updated

Liverpool’s team bus has been making it’s way to Anfield and the scenes are quite something:

And the rest …

Nine out of the 10 games today have something (in theory at least) riding on them, leaving Crystal Palace v Aston Villa as the official deadest rubber, where all that is at stake is Palace’s finishing position – it could be as high as 10th or as low as 14th. Selhurst might be one of the happiest grounds on the final day – those are two sets of fans feeling pretty good with the world at the moment.

Full final-day fixtures

Arsenal v Everton
Brentford v Newcastle
Brighton v Man Utd
Burnley v Nottm Forest
C Palace v Aston Villa
Chelsea v Bournemouth
Liverpool v Wolves
Luton v Fulham
Man City v West Ham
Sheff Utd v Spurs

Updated

The European race

Tottenham, Newcastle, Manchester United and Chelsea are vying for spots in the Europa and Europa Conference League.

Pos Team P GD Pts
5 Tottenham Hotspur 37 10 63
6 Chelsea 37 13 60
7 Newcastle 37 21 57
8 Man Utd 37 -3 57

It’s all a bit complicated and compounded by Manchester United’s Wembley date with City in the FA Cup final next weekend. But in short (ish) Spurs need a point at Sheffield United to seal fifth and a Europa League spot. If the Blades spring a big surprise at Bramall Lane, Chelsea can pip them with a win at Stamford Bridge against Bournemouth.

But if the Cherries win in west London then Newcastle can nab sixth with a win down the road at Brentford. Sixth will mean the Europa League if Manchester City win the FA Cup and the Conference League if United are victorious at Wembley.

If Newcastle fail to win, Manchester United can go past them into seventh if they better Newcastle’s result away at Brighton, guaranteeing Erik ten Hag’s side European football next season.

Still following? Good. Now if I tug the bill of my cap like so it means the signal is a fake. However, I can take that off by dusting my hands thusly. And if I want you to bunt, I’ll touch my belt buckle not once, not twice, but thrice …

Preamble

Stop all the clocks. Cut off the telephone. Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy overpriced half-time sausage roll. It’s time for Anfield to say goodbye to Jürgen Klopp. Had a few results gone differently down the stretch – Palace (h) and Everton (a) in particular – this big send-off could well have been part of the final-day title mixup. Instead, Liverpool can concentrate on paying homage to the man who brought back the glory days. Gary O’Neil’s Wolves have the chance to play party poopers.

Elsewhere Nottingham Forest need a point against Burnley to be absolutely sure of survival, though in reality it would take a Forest defeat coupled with a Luton win at Fulham and a gigantic goal difference swing, with Nuno Espírito Santo’s team 12 goals better off. And having scored more. So Burnley 6-0 Forest, Luton 7-0 Fulham would make things interesting but otherwise less so …

And of course we’ll be keeping a close eye on events at Manchester City and Arsenal. Though if you want to keep up with exactly what’s happening in those two fixtures you can follow them live with Rob Smyth and Daniel Harris.

Updated

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