Kickoff chronicles

It had all come down to this, the final weekend of the Premier League 2023/24 season with most eyes drawn to Manchester City vs West Ham United. This game was huge. If City won, they would be presented with the Premier League trophy. They draw or lose, and Arsenal beat Everton, Arsenal win. It was all set for an action packed hour and a half, the first goal coming at Turf Moor. Anthony Elanga, arguably Forest’s most exciting player this season, made a brilliant run down the right wing. The Swede crossed it over to the back post where Chris Wood smashed it into the roof of the net. Forest now almost confirmed safety, 5 points above Luton as it stood, and with a much higher goal difference. 

Eyes then turned to the Etihad stadium where Phil Foden found a spectacular opener inside 2 minutes. He had just been named the Premier League player of the season and the opening minutes of this game justified why. The Englishman received the ball outside the West Ham penalty area from Bernardo Silva and did what he had been doing all year. Foden leant back and cracked a shot, watching it soar into the top left corner and leaving West Ham keeper Alphonse Areola with no chance.

Over in the capital there had been a development in the Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa tie. Michael Olise received the ball and made a darting turn, progressing forwards at a speed. He spotted the run of Jean Phillppe-Mateta and played him through. The Frenchman was one-on-one and did what he had been doing all season under Oliver Glasner: score, making it 1-0 to the Eagles.

Ange Postucoglu’s Tottenham then found an early lead against Sheffield United in the 14th minute of this final day, almost confirming 5th place in the table. Son Heung-Min poked it to Dejan Kulusevski who was inside the Blades area. Kulusevski then drilled a shot towards the far corner, watching it spin across the turf and find the bottom corner.

Nottingham Forest then doubled their advantage in the 14th minute at Turf Moor when Wood completed his brace. Ryan Yates’ effort from outside the area flicked off the heel of the Kiwi, confusing Burnley keeper Arijanet Muric and finding the back of the net.

Attention then turned back to the capital, this time at Stamford Bridge where Chelsea were hosting Bournemouth. Chelsea went ahead in spectacular fashion, with their 115 million pound signing the player to give them the advantage. Nicholas Jackson played a brilliant through ball to Raheem Sterling who was just beaten to it by Cherries keeper, Neto. The Brazilian keeper was far off his line and panicked, blasting the ball away and into the Chelsea half. There to control it was Moises Caicedo who was right on the half way line. He looked up and thundered the ball towards the empty Bournemouth net, watching it drop in perfectly, marking his first Premier League goal for Chelsea in an amazing way.

Straight after Caicedo’s brilliant opener, heads turned back to the Etihad Stadium where Foden had scored his 19th Premier League goal of the season to make it 2-0 City. Jeremy Doku made a dancing run down the left wing and played the perfect pass into the middle of the West Ham penalty area. Phil Foden brilliantly wrapped his foot around the ball to find the side of the net and all but confirm their 8th Premier League trophy and 4th on the bounce, a new record.

The following goal of the final match week was at the Gtech Stadium where Brentford were hosting Newcastle. Newcastle did have something to play for, The Europa Conference League. They were still statistically in the runnings for the Europa League as well but the Magpies would need Chelsea to lose. The exceptional Bruno Guimaraes crossed a ball in from the right wing deep into the Bees penalty area. Inside was Harvey Barnes who headed in his first goal as a starting 11 player for Newcastle, with all his other Premier League goals scored this season coming from off the bench.

There was then multiple actions over the North of England where Liverpool were taking on Wolves in Jurgen Klopp’s final game in charge of Liverpool. Wolves defender Nelson Semedo was firstly shown a red card for a nasty studs up challenge on Alexis Mac Allister in the 28th minute. Then 6 minutes later, the Argentinian got his revenge, heading a cross from the right wing by Harvey Elliot.

Attention then turned back to Brentford vs Newcastle where the Magpies scored another 2 goals in 2 minutes to make it 0-3. The first came from a terrible mistake by Bees’ defender Ethan Pinnock, failing to control the ball and leaving Alexander Isak with acres of space to run down the left wing. With only 1 Brentford defender left and 2 Newcastle players sprinting forwards it always looked likely. Isak played a brilliant ball across the 6 yard area where Jacob Murphy slid in to smash the ball home. Brentford then lost the ball straight from kick off and Newcastle went on the attack once again. After a string of one touch passes, Guimaraes eventually found Isak inside the hosts penalty area who smashed the ball into the far corner.

Palace then doubled their advantage over at Selhurst Park, once again playing some brilliant football in the build up. Olise found Daniel Munoz who was placed outside the area down the right wing. He cut it back first time, finding Mateta inside the 6 yard area whose first time strike with the outside of his right boot smashed into the roof of the Villa net. 

Back over at Anfield, Klopp’s team doubled their advantage when Jarrel Quansah scored his second goal of the week. A Harvey Elliot corner came in and was headed across the box to Mohamed Salah by Coady Gakpo. Salah scuffed his shot, watching it bobble towards goal where Quansah made sure of it, smashing it home.

The title race then went from one extreme to the other. Everton shocked all Premier League fans by going ahead in the 40th minute through Idrissia Gueye. It came from a free kick which the Senegalese international drilled towards the far top corner, watching it catch a huge deflection off Declan Rice and bulge the Arsenal net, sinking their title hopes. 

Back over at the Etihad, West Ham gave Arsenal fans belief again when Mohammed Kudus scored his 8th Premier League goal of the season to make it 2-1. The Ghanaian has a knack of scoring out of this world goals, already converting a bicycle kick this season and a 60 metre solo run in the Europa League. A James Ward-Prowse corner was floated in, travelling all the way to the back post. Konstantinos Mavropanos brought it down for Kudus who then flicked it back up and acrobatically bicycle kicked the ball into the back of the City net.

Moments later, Arsenal drew Everton level when Takehiro Tomiyasu scored. Martin Odegaard made a powerful run from the right wing and cut the ball back into a dangerous area. The ball wasn’t met by any players and it ended up falling nicely to the Japanese international who was unmarked and free to smash the ball into the bottom corner. 

After all the title deciding matches drama finished for the moment, attention turned to Kenilworth Road where Luton Town were taking on Fulham. In the space of 5 minutes at the end of the half, 3 goals were scored making for another exciting final day tie. Adama Traore found the first of the fixture when he received the ball outside the Hatter’s area from Harry Wilson. He chopped it up with the outside of his right boot and then half volleyed the ball brilliantly into the far corner. Luton found a perfect opportunity to level when Chiedozie Ogbene won the hosts a penalty after being fouled by Calvin Bassey. Carton Morris stepped up and drew the game, placing his penalty into the bottom right corner. Wilson then registered his 2nd assist of the game when Fulham regained their lead in the 3rd minute of first half stoppage time. The Welshman cut the ball back from the right wing which was met by Raul Jimenez who passed the ball into the far corner to make it 1-2. 

This was the last action of the first half of the final day. This is how the results were panning out. 

Burnley 0-2 Nottingham Forest

Sheffield United 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur

Arsenal 1-1 Everton 

Crystal Palace 2-0 Aston Villa

Brighton 0-0 Manchester United

Brentford 0-3 Newcastle

Liverpool 2-0 Wolves 🟥

Luton Town 1-2 Fulham

Chelsea 1-0 Bournemouth

Manchester City 2-1 West Ham United

The first goal in the second half of the match week came at Stamford Bridge when Raheem Sterling doubled Chelsea’s advantage. He made an amazing run from the left wing, cutting in and then squeezing the ball in from an impossible angle. Almost instantly after Sterling’s intervention, The Cherries hit back in the 48th minute making it 2-1. Enes Unal received the ball from Milos Kerkez who switched the play to the Turkish international, waiting at the back post inside the Chelsea penalty area. Unal cracked a shot, watching it catch a huge deflection of Chelsea centre back Benoit Badiashile and finding the back of the net.

Brentford then started what they hoped could be a final day comeback when they scored also in the 48th minute to make it 1-3. Yoanne Wissa who was inside the Magpies penalty area played it into the path of Vitaly Janelt whose side footed finish found the bottom left corner.

35 miles away from the Gtech, Fulham scored at Kenilworth Road to make it 1-3. Harrison Reed’s inswinging free kick was met by a glancing header from Mexican international, Raul Jimenez who made it a brace for himself just before the 50 minute mark. Luton then made it 2-3 5 minutes later when Alfie Doughty scored. It came from another free kick, Doughty watching it travel through the crowd of players and into the far bottom corner.

Over at Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace made it 3-0 when Eberechi Eze scored his first of the afternoon. A deflected Aston Villa pass fell into the path of the Englishman who was just outside the penalty area. He had acres of space and cracked a shot, watching it fly past Villa keeper Robin Olsen. 

Tottenham then doubled their advantage at Bramall Lane when Pedro Porro scored his 2nd in 3 games. After Micky Van de Ven’s effort was saved, the ball rolled across the bi-line where Brennan Johnson cut it back to Porro who was just outside the area. The Spaniard smashed the ball back at goal, watching it rocket past Blades keeper Wes Foderingham and ripple the back of the net. 

Back at the Etihad, Manchester City made it 3-1, regaining their cushion and all but confirming the title in the 59th minute. Kevin De Bruyne found Bernardo Silva inside the West Ham area who poked it back to Rodri. The Spanish international proved once again why he was such a big game player, drilling the ball at the bottom corner with West Ham keeper Alphonse Areola disappointed he couldn’t make a stronger connection with the ball as it found the back of the net.

Crystal Palace continued to run riot at Selhurst Park when Mateta completed his hat trick to make it 4-0. Eze made a strong run forward and found Mateta inside the Villa area. It was a brilliant spin and finish from the Frenchman, but it has to be noted how lazy the away side’s defence was, almost giving up when he received the ball from Eze.

Spurs then made it 0-3 over at Bramall Lane when Kulusevski secured his brace and Tottenham’s 5th place position. Son’s brilliant ball with the outside of his right foot was chased down and won by James Maddison. Maddison played it across the Blades penalty area where the Swede was able to make first contact with the ball and find the back of the net.

Palace made it 5-0 five minutes after their 4th when Eze scored, earning a well deserved brace. Eze and Mateta have been on fire under new manager Oliver Glasner and they proved it with their latest goal. Eze passed it to the French No.9 who backheeled it to the Englishman who was just outside the Villa penalty area. It was a great 1-2 combination and Eze completed the move off with a brilliant finish into the bottom left corner. 

Over at Kenilworth Road, Fulham sealed the 3 points when Harry Wilson scored to make it 2-4. He had been superb all afternoon and when Adama played it to him outside the hosts penalty area, there was only one thought on his mind. He beautifully curled the ball into the top left corner, capping off a lovely afternoon for the spectating away fans.

Brentford gave Newcastle something to think about in the 70th minute when Yoanne Wissa scored to make it 2-3. Wissa held off a challenge from Dan Burn outside the Newcastle penalty area before turning him inside-out and dribbling towards the goal. He then bent his shot nicely, watching it roll down the side netting and giving the home fans hope of a final day comeback.

Back at Turf Moor, Burnley scored a goal in the 72nd minute to make it 1-2 against Forest. It was maybe too late in the game and much too late in terms of the season but the Clarets were hoping to end their last Premier League game on a high note. Josh Cullen decided to crack a shot from just outside the Forest penalty area, catching a lucky deflection and watching it nestle into the bottom left corner.

After 73 minutes, there was finally a goal down on the South Coast when Manchester United’s Diogo Dalot opened the scoring at the Amex. A long ball over the top of the Brighton defence from Casemiro fell kindly for Dalot who took a touch and smashed it into the back of the net.

Back over at the Gtech, Newcastle put any hopes of a Brentford comeback to bed when Guimaraes scored a fully deserved goal, all but securing Europa Conference League football for the Magpies next season. Alexander Isak’s free kick effort from just outside the Brentford penalty area was saved initially by Bees’ keeper Mark Flekken but the Brazilian midfielder was there to tap in the rebound.

Manchester United then scored to make it 0-2, wrapping up the 3 points but still failing to qualify for any European competition. Rasmus Hojland played a neat 1-2 with Scott McTominay before dancing through all the Brighton midfielders. Once he was in the penalty area, he looked up and blasted the ball at the Brighton goal, watching it find the back of the net before celebrating with the away end.

Arsenal then thought their title hopes were still alive when 2 events happened in the space of 2 minutes. In the 88th minute at the Etihad, West Ham’s Tomas Soucek thought he had scored off another James Ward-Prowse to Mavropanos corner combination. Meanwhile, while VAR was checking West Ham’s second goal, Kai Havertz scored in the 89th minute at the Emirates, winning the game late on for Arsenal. After dispossessing Everton with barely any defenders back, Gabriel Jesus played Odegaard. The Norwegian took it with him and looked destined to score but accidentally scuffed the ball. It ended up as a perfect unintentional pass to Kai Havetz who smashed the ball into the roof of the net. Unfortunately for the Gunners, Soucek’s goal back at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester was chalked off as it hit his thigh and then his wrist on its way into the back of the net, with the game ending 1-3.

That was the last action of the final day with Manchester City crowned champions for the 8th time in Premier League history and it was also their 4th in a row, never done before. It was heartbreak for the Gunners, doing almost everything in their power to stop the City charge. Ultimately, they lost the league in matchweek 34 when they dropped all 3 points to Villa, losing 0-2 when the title was in their hands. Liverpool finished 3rd and qualified for the Champions League in Klopp’s final stint as a Liverpool manager. Although Aston Villa were just thrashed by Crystal Palace, getting a late leveller against Liverpool midweek was enough to seal the final top 4 spot. This means they will compete in the Champions League next season under Unai Emery, playing in Europe’s top competition for the first time in 42 years when they famously won the old European cup in 1982.

Tottenham stayed 5th, winning their final game and stopping Chelsea from jumping over them. The Blues fired up for the final few months picking up 21 points from a possible 27 in April and May. Newcastle secure Conference League football, hoping they can do what West Ham did 1 year ago by going out and winning it. Manchester United won their last game of the season and will be looking forward to the FA Cup final but it is only paint over the cracks as they register their lowest ever finish in their Premier League history in 8th, missing out on all European competitions.

West Ham end their 3 year European journey as they finish 9th. It was a sad way for David Moyes to manage his final game at the club but fans will be positive about new manager Julen Lopetegui who is set to come in as a replacement. Crystal Palace creeped into the top half of the table after their 5-0 drumming of Villa, with Oliver Glasner having a very successful time at the club so far. Brighton finished 11th, a disappointing end to the season for manager Roberto De Zerbi’s final few months with the club. Bournemouth finished 12th and while it was a disappointing last few months, given their terrible start to the campaign most Cherries fans are feeling positive with manager Andoni Iraola. The Spaniard also helped Bournemouth break their Premier League point tally record.

Fulham finished 13th but were never in any danger of relegation, with the win over Luton a nice way to cap off the season. Wolves dropped all the way to 14th, after threatening a top half finish before the start of May. Again though, they were never in any threat of relegation. Everton finished 15th, (12th if it wasn’t for any point deductions) and there were many signs of progression in Sean Dyches first full campaign as Toffees manager. Brentford finished 16th and will probably put that down to key players being injured. Most fans will feel disappointed after their high finish of 9th last season but will feel confident for the 2024/25 campaign.

Forest just dodged relegation in the final few weeks and will hope to improve vastly for the 2024/25 season. Luton experienced their first ever season in the Premier League and gave it a good crack but ultimately finished 18th and will be playing in the Championship next season. Burnley will feel even more disappointed, with everyone expecting big things from Vincent Kompany’s team after they broke all sorts of records in the 2nd division of English football last term. They will hope to come straight back up into the Premier League. Sheffield United were never really in the conversation for staying up, conceding a record number of Premier League goals, 104, and the equal 3rd lowest points tally, 16.

It was a brilliant season overall with records being broken everywhere you looked with the main one being goals scored in a single season; 1246.

Here were some of the individual awards:

Golden Boot: Erling Haaland 27 goals

Golden Playmaker: Ollie Watkins 13 assists

Golden Glove: David Raya 16 clean sheets

Premier League Player of the Year: Phil Foden

Premier League Young Player of the Year: Cole Palmer

Goal of the Season: Alejandro Garnacho vs Everton 26th November Goodison Park

Written by Ollie Wade