Man City make history with fourth title in a row

Manchester City claimed a record fourth Premier League title in a row on a dramatic final day of the 2023/24 season.

A 3-1 home win over West Ham United clinched a sixth title for Pep Guardiola and Man City in seven seasons, a level of unprecedented domination in the competition’s history.

City knew that a win at the Etihad Stadium was all they needed to stay ahead of title rivals Arsenal and they got the job done thanks to two early goals from Phil Foden, the first a stunner. Mohammed Kudus's spectacular overhead-kick gave the leaders a scare but Rodri struck 14 minutes into the second half to restore City's two-goal lead. 

"It's so hard to put into words what we've done today," said Foden, who at 23 is the youngest player to claim six league titles. "No team's ever done it [four in a row]. You see what it means to the fans and us, working all year for this moment. This Premier League means a little bit more. We're the first team to do it. I'm lost for words.

"I thought today we looked confident and just played our football, in the end it paid off. Almost the perfect start, sometimes I believe in scoring a bit too early. I got the second, which helped us a little bit. I want this feeling all the time, there's no better feeling, I just want to keep winning as much as I can."

Arsenal struggled to claim the win they needed, going behind to a deflected free-kick from Idrissa Gana Gueye to put Everton in front. Takehiro Tomiyasu sent the two teams in level at half-time and Kai Havertz scored a late winner, but it was ultimately in vain for the Gunners as City eased to a 3-1 victory.

"All this is happening because you started believing, you started to be patient, you started to understand what we were trying to do," Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told the fans after the match. "All the credit has to go to the players and the staff, who are unbelievable."

Arteta vowed that his team would go one better soon. "I think now it’s time to have a break, think, reflect, keep pushing, keep inspiring this team'" he said. "Don’t be satisfied because we want much more than that and we’re going to get it."

Race for Europe

In the race for European places, Tottenham Hotspur assured themselves of fifth place and a spot in the UEFA Europa League by beating Sheffield United 3-0.

Chelsea kept hold of sixth with a 2-1 home win over AFC Bournemouth, which is worth at least a spot in the UEFA Conference League next season, although it could bring qualification to the UEFA Europa League if Man City beat Man Utd in Saturday’s FA Cup final.

Such a result would mean that Newcastle, who won 4-2 at Brentford to finish seventh, would qualify for the Europa Conference League.

Despite their 2-0 win at Brighton & Hove Albion Man Utd's eighth-placed finish is their lowest in Premier League history.

Luton relegation confirmed

At the bottom, the miraculous set of results required for Luton Town to stay up did not come to pass. The Hatters needed to win at home to Fulham and for Nottingham Forest to lose at Burnley with a 12-goal swing, but the Hatters went down to a 4-2 defeat while Forest secured a 2-1 victory.

This meant that all three promoted teams were relegated, only the second time that has happened in the 32 seasons of the Premier League. The other time came 26 years ago, in 1997/98.

Klopp's farewell

At Anfield there was an emotional farewell for Jurgen Klopp, who left Liverpool on a winning note with a 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. 

Goal record set

Meanwhile the record for the most goals scored in a Premier League season was easily broken. The record of 1,222 goals from the opening season of the competition in 1992/93 was beaten when Jarell Quansah scored Liverpool's second. In the end, the new highest total ended up at 1,246 goals.

Golden awards

In the race for the Castrol Golden Boot, Man City striker Erling Haaland retained the award, with 27 goals, despite missing a number of chances against West Ham.

The Castrol Playmaker of the Season award went to Ollie Watkins, for registering 13 assists in 2023/24.