The title race will go to the last day of the season, Cardiff were officially relegated and Chelsea secured a top-four place in the expense of Arsenal and Manchester United. Here are the Winners and Losers from the Premier League: Match Day 37. Bet on the Premier League here.
Winners
Chelsea
Chelsea secured their place in the Champions League next season with an important victory over Watford at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. The win, combined with Arsenal’s disappointing 1-1 draw against Brighton, means the Blues are guaranteed a top-four finish in the Premier League. The win moves the Blues to third, one point ahead of Tottenham Hotspur and four points clear of the fifth-placed and arch-rivals Arsenal. Chelsea will be the lucky one among the other teams chasing top four who have all been poor this campaign compared to the top two who have been different class.
Wolves
Following Leicester’s defeat on Monday against Manchester City, Wolves are guaranteed to finish seventh in the Premier League. If City beat Watford in the FA Cup final, then Wolves will land a Europa League spot, returning to European competition for the first time in 39 years.
Manchester City and Liverpool
Manchester City inched closer to a second straight league title with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Leicester, inspired by a thunderbolt from captain Vincent Kompany. The win sent them back to the top of the table, knocking off Liverpool who dramatically beat Newcastle on Saturday. However, it is quite incredible that one of the teams will finish with over 90 points and not win the league, such is the high standards set by the two. The title will now be decided on the last day of the season. A domestic treble remains in City’s sights and could become the first team since Manchester United in 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 to win back-to-back titles.
Losers
Manchester United
United will play in the Europa League next season following a frustrating draw away at already relegated Huddersfield Town. The Terriers had managed just four points in their previous 23 games but had United rattled. With that stalemate, United have now gone five games without a win, their worst run since they went eight matches without a win under Louis van Gaal between November and December 2015. United looked like they had regained some swagger a few months ago but it has dissipated with players looking jaded and disinterested. If Watford win the FA Cup to get a spot in the Europa League group phase, United’s pre-season tour will need to be cut short as they will have to start in the second qualifying round.
Arsenal
Arsenal’s failure to beat Brighton on Sunday means their top four hopes have effectively ended. The Gunners are three points behind Spurs in fourth and with one game remaining, Arsenal will need to score eight goals and hope other results go their way, whose chances are very remote. However, they take a 3-1 lead away to Valencia on Thursday in the Europa League semi-final second leg and this could be their only genuine chance of playing in the Champions League.
Cardiff
Cardiff failed to defend their Premier League status and will immediately head back to the Championship following a painful 3-2 loss to Crystal Palace. Relegation was always inevitable for the Bluebirds whose quality couldn’t quite cut it against competitive and better-equipped sides in the top flight. Cardiff are now the only team to play in more than one Premier League season and be relegated every time including the 2013/2014.