Arsenal secured the 2025-26 Premier League title, their first in 22 years, confirming their return to England’s top in style [1]. Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Aston Villa have clinched the top four places and Champions League qualification ahead of the final matches [1, 2, 3]. Aston Villa also won the Europa League final against Freiburg on Wednesday, giving England an extra Champions League slot if Villa finish fifth [1, 2, 3].
Aston Villa currently sit fourth, three points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool [1, 2, 3]. Liverpool need at least a draw against Brentford today to confirm fifth place and Champions League qualification [2, 3]. Sixth-placed Bournemouth, on a 17-game unbeaten streak, are also in contention but must beat Nottingham Forest and hope Liverpool lose to claim fifth, although they have inferior goal difference [2, 3]. Brighton aim to secure a European spot for only the second time in club history with a win against Manchester United [4]. Veteran Brighton striker Danny Welbeck, with 13 league goals this season, could finish as the highest-scoring English player if he scores today [4].
At the bottom, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley are already relegated [1, 4]. Tottenham Hotspur (17th with 38 points) and West Ham United (18th with 36 points) fight to avoid the final relegation spot [1, 2, 3]. Spurs will be relegated only if they lose at home to Everton and West Ham beat Leeds United [2, 3]. West Ham need a win plus Spurs to lose, also relying on goal difference and other results to survive [2, 3]. Spurs manager Roberto de Zerbi said, “When you fight for the relegation, you have to stay inside of the league until the last minute of the last game of the season. We have to stay alive… The most important is to keep the dignity, to keep the pride” [2].
The final round of 10 simultaneous Premier League matches kicked off today, Sunday, May 21, 2026, deciding the final European qualification places and who will drop to the Championship [1, 2, 3, 4].
