The 2023/24 Premier League campaign has come to an end. And as per usual, Manchester City claimed the title. There weren’t any real upsets on the final day, but it was still one you aren’t likely to forget anytime soon. Here’s your roundup of all of the action for Matchday 38.
By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert
Manchester City make it four in row
Manchester City became the first team in Premier League history to win four titles on the spin, beating West Ham United 3-1 on the final day of the season to claim the title.
Phil Foden put Pep Guardiola’s side ahead inside of two minutes and City never looked troubled. The England midfielder then made it 19 goals for the season when he doubled the lead after just 18 minutes.
The hosts looked fairly comfortable, even when Mohammed Kudus halved the deficit before the break. For a brief moment, Arsenal would’ve had belief. But then Rodri killed off any hope just before the hour mark when he added a third for Guardiola’s men. It was fitting that Foden and Rodri were the goalscorers given these two have been integral to this title success.
It was a deserved win for the home side as they racked up an Expected Goals total on 2.01 having taken 28 shots. West Ham didn’t offer up much in David Moyes’ final game of the season, mustering just three shots at the Etihad on their way to a ninth place finish.
So close yet so far for Arsenal
The Gunners finished the season with a win at home to Everton but it wasn’t enough to secure the title. Still, it should be viewed as a successful season.
Arsenal finished with a points haul of 89 and their win against the Toffees was their 28th of the season, a club record. And the hosts had to show great mentality to pick up those final three points having found themselves 1-0 down in the 40th minute after Idrissa Gueye found the back of the net. However, the home side hit back just three minutes later when Takehiro Tomoyasu, in at left-back, levelled things up.
Mikel Arteta’s men really ramped it up after the break and had 70% possession, 14 shots, five big chances and an xG of 1.99 in the second half. Eventually, they got their winner as Kai Havertz managed to extend his fine form in front of goal.
A Europa League place for Spurs
After a difficult few weeks, Tottenham managed to end their season on a high with a 3-0 win away to Sheffield United. It booked their place in the Europa League and rounded off Ange Postecoglou’s debut season in charge.
This game was a potential banana skin for Spurs who knew a loss, if results went against them elsewhere, could’ve seen them playing in the Europa Conference League next season.
Dejan Kulusevski calmed the nerves after 14 minutes with his first goal since February.
After the break, it was all Tottenham as the Blades had just 20% possession and managed just one effort on goal. Pedro Porro added a second for the visitors just before the hour and then Kulusevski added his second just six minutes later.
In the end, it was a routine win for Postecoglou’s side.
It all clicks for Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace ended the season with six wins from seven after dismantling Aston Villa 5-0 on the final day.
Oliver Glasner’s side have been one of the form teams in the English top-flight since their surprise win over Liverpool in mid-April.
The five goals at Selhurst Park against the fourth placed team made it 21 goals in seven outings. Key to their increase in output in the final third has been Jean-Philippe Mateta, Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise. And all three played their part against Unai Emery’s men on Sunday afternoon.
Mateta claimed a hat-trick and an assist, Eze found the back of the net on two occasions while adding to his assists haul for the season and Olise made it 16 goal involvements for the season with an assist.
Villa will feel aggrieved. It was never a 5-0 sort of game but they won’t care given they had secured Champions League football earlier in the week.
Jürgen Klopp’s farewell tour comes to an end
And just like that, Klopp has managed Liverpool for the final time. The Reds played host to Wolves on the final match of the 2023/24 campaign and fans used it as an opportunity to serenade their departing manager, rolling out some of the all-time classic songs from throughout his time at Anfield.
On the pitch, it was just as fun. The Reds claimed a 2-0 win in what was an utterly dominant display.
Nelson Semedo’s early red card for a foul on Alexis Mac Allister changed the dynamic of the game and the hosts capitalised on their one-man superiority just six minutes later as the Argentine maestro converted a header from close range. Jarell Quansah made it two goals in two games as he tapped in from close range before the break.
It should’ve been a bigger scoreline as the hosts missed five big chances on their way to an xG score of 4.74. They got the job done though and Klopp departed with a win.
(Cover Image from IMAGO)
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