THE Premier League’s European representatives have been decided after a tense final day wrapped up which clubs will be playing under the lights against Europe’s elite next season.
Manchester City, Newcastle United and Chelsea have secured spots alongside Arsenal and champions Liverpool in the Champions League next term.
The trio swooped up the remaining three spots amongst Europe’s top brass thanks to their last day efforts.
Manchester City wound up comfortable 2-0 winners over Fulham as Ilkay Gundogan and Erling Haaland found the back of the net in Kevin de Bruyne’s final game for the Cityzens.
The victory means that, despite a ‘disastrous’ campaign, City still finished third – just three points behind Arsenal.
Chelsea took home fourth spot thanks to their 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest, with Levi Colwill’s goal the difference between the two sides battling it out for a place in the top spots.
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It was the Chelsea defender’s own goal, while on loan at Huddersfield Town, which earned Forest promotion to the top flight in the Championship Play-Off Final of 2022.
But early in the second half, the England man scored only the fifth goal of his career to settle this final-day shoot-out for a place at European football’s top table.
Eddie Howe’s Newcastle appeared to stumble, losing 1-0 to Everton at St James’ Park and slipping out of the top five.
But Manchester United’s shock win over a 10-man Aston Villa side meant that the Magpies jumped back into the Champions League positions despite their own efforts – winding up as fifth place finishers.
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Villa finished sixth instead, meaning they will now compete in next season’s Europa League.
And it could have been very different at Old Trafford, with Villa having a controversial goal ruled out following VAR’s inability to intervene.
Morgan Rogers chased down Harry Maguire’s loose header back to goal and nicked the ball out of the Altay Bayindir’s grasp, rolling the ball into an open net to give Villa the lead.
But referee Thomas Bramall had blown for a foul by Rogers on Bayindir, only for replays to show the United stopper never had full control of the ball and the goal should therefore have stood.
Who made it into Europe?
Here’s a breakdown of which Premier League teams will be playing in Europe next season…
Champions League
- Liverpool – 1st place
- Arsenal – 2nd place
- Man City – 3rd place
- Chelsea – 4th place
- Newcastle – 5th place
- Tottenham – Europa League winners
Europa League
- Aston Villa – 6th place
- Crystal Palace – FA Cup winners
Conference League
- Nottingham Forest – 7th place
However, due to the official having already blown his whistle for a free-kick, VAR were unable to overturn the decision – Villa’s goal was calked off and United went on to bag two goals and win the match 2-0.
For Nottingham Forest, their dream of a return to the Champions League was snatched away as Chelsea earned a narrow 1-0 victory over Nuno Espirito Santo’s spirited team at the City Ground.
But their superb season won’t go entirely unrewarded as they will still return to Europe for the first time since 1996 – earning a place in the Conference League with their seventh placed finish.
Meanwhile Crystal Palace will also compete in the Europa League thanks to their FA Cup success over Man City, and Tottenham will return to the Champions League as a result of their Europa League glory over Man Utd.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
