The 2018/19 Premier League season has come to an end. We saw a vigorous title race from the very start, with Manchester City and Liverpool hot on each other’s heels throughout the season, but only one team could be crowned champions, and that team was MANCHESTER CITY!!!!!!!!
The final day was as exciting as always. We saw 36 goals scored, 23 players cautioned and one sent off.
Now on to the recap of all 10 games.
Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester City
1-4
Man City retained their Premier League title and ended Liverpool’s gallant effort after surviving a scare to come from behind and outplay Brighton at the Amex.
The visitors started the day knowing only victory would ensure they’d be the first team to retain the crown since rivals Man United 10 years ago – but any slip-up could let in their relentless pursuers, who were hosting Wolves at Anfield.
When Glen Murray gave the Seagulls the lead with a glancing header 27 minutes in, anxiety rose for City whilst hopes rose at Anfield that Liverpool might win their first title in 29 years.
That hope was short lived as Man City’s response was instant, emphatic and ruthless, as they swept Brighton aside to end the campaign with 14 consecutive league victories, making it 32 in all, equaling their record from last season.
Sergio Aguero pounced to equalize inside 83 seconds and Aymeric Laporte arrived unmarked from a corner to put City ahead before the break.
The hosts couldn’t find a way back as City completed the formalities in spectacular style with Riyad Mahez firing high past Mat Ryan just after the hour mark and Ilkay Gundogan‘s beautiful 72nd minute free kick sparking celebrations.
They may have not repeated the 100pts that won the title last year, but this was arguably an even sweeter victory, given their season-long battle with the Reds.
Pep Guardiola’s side now aim to complete the domestic treble when they face Watford in the FA Cup final at Wembley on May 18.
Up Next:
Brighton – Season Over
Man City – FA Cup Final – Saturday, May 18 (12pm – ESPN+)
Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers
2-0
Liverpool’s fire of hope for a first title in the Premier League era, and their first top-flight triumph in 29 years was put out despite a 2-0 victory over Wolves.
In the ‘as it stands’ table on BBC Sport, the Reds were top for 21 first half minutes, only for Man City to recover from falling behind at Brighton to record a 4-1 victory.
Sadio Mane scored from close range after 17 minutes and again after 81 to join teammate Mo Salah and Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as the Premier League’s top scorer with 22 goals.
Reds keeper Alisson was confirmed as the Golden Glove winner with 21 clean sheets.
The victory was the hosts’ ninth in succession and their 30th overall in the league. They finished on 97 points, the third-highest top-flight total in English soccer history. Trailing only City’s title triumphs this season (98) and last season (100).
Up Next:
Liverpool – Champions League Final – Saturday, June 1
(3pm – TNT/Hulu Live/Playstation Vue/Sling TV)
Wolves – Season Over
Leicester City v Chelsea
0-0
Leicester and Chelsea ended their season with a low-key goalless affair at the King Power Stadium.
The Blues began brightly despite the absence of Eden Hazard, who started on the bench. Pedro and Willian both carried a threat, but Gonzalo Higuain missed the pick of the chances from close range before the fight fizzled out.
The result ensured Chelsea finished their first League campaign under Italian manager Maurizio Sarri in third, and sees the Foxes, who have enjoyed a renaissance since Brendan Rodgers took over in February, collecting 17 points over the last nine games, end the season in ninth.
Up Next:
Leicester – Season Over
Chelsea – Europa League Final – Wednesday, May 29
(3pm – TNT/Hulu Live/Playstation Vue/Sling TV)
Tottenham Hotspur v Everton
2-2
Champions League finalists Tottenham secured a fourth-place finish, and a spot in Uefa’s top European competition next season, with an entertaining draw at home to Everton.
The Londoners knew a point would be enough to secure their Champions League spot for a fourth successive season under Mauricio Pochettino, but they missed the opportunity to record back-to-back third place finishes when Chelsea earned a point at Leicester.
Eric Dier capitalized on some poor Everton defending to open the scoring after just three minutes as he was given ample time and space to convert an Erik Lamela corner.
The Toffees recovered well from a slow start, but it took until the 69th minute to level through Theo Walcott‘s excellent finish.
Cenk Tosun then put Everton ahead three minutes later, but Christian Eriksen‘s wordly 75th minute free kick earned Spurs the required point.
Up Next:
Spurs – Champions League Final – Saturday, June 1
(3pm – TNT/Hulu Live/Playstation Vue/Sling TV)
Everton – Season Over
Burnley v Arsenal
1-3
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice as Arsenal beat Burnley at Turf Moor, but the Gunners failed to finish in the top four for the third successive season.
The win secured fifth place meaning they go straight into the Europa League group stage next season, unless they qualify for the Champions League by beating Chelsea in the Europa League Final on Wednesday, May 29 in Baku.
Aubameyang, who scored a hat trick on Thursday against Valencia to reach the final, finished the season with 22 league goals, tying him with Liverpool’s Sadio Mane and Mo Salah for the Premier League Golden Boot.
Ben Mee gifted the striker his first, misconrtolling a pass from Jack Cork, allowing the Gabon native to run in and slot past Tom Heaton on 52 minutes, before lashing in a volley from close range 11 minutes later.
Aubameyang should have had a hat trick, but with the goal at his mercy, he poked wide.
Burnley, who had already secured a fourth successive season in the League, pulled one back as Ashley Barnes met Johann Berg Gudmundsson‘s pass with a glancing header.
The Gunners’ third game from 19-year-old forward Eddie Nketiah, who with the last play of the game in the 95th minute, poked the ball through Heaton‘s legs.
Up Next:
Burnley – Season Over
Arsenal – Europa League Final – Wednesday, May 29
(3pm – TNT/Hulu Live/Playstation Vue/Sling TV)
Manchester United v Cardiff City
0-2
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing scored twice as relegated Cardiff City won on their final Premier League appearance, heaping more misery on Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Mendez-Laing opened the scoring from the penalty spot after being brought down by Diogo Dalot, before scoring his second shortly after the break.
Bluebirds goalie Neil Etheridge proved the visitors’ hero as he thwarted several United chances on a frustrating day for the hosts, who fielded six academy graduates.
Defeat means the Red Devils won just one of their final seven games of the season, as arch rivals Manchester City won the Premier League title for the second season running, painting the city of Manchester blue.
The Welsh side, who travelled to Old Trafford just a week after their relegation to the Championship was confirmed, looked set to bid farewell to top flight soccer with a whimper as United dominated the opening exchanges. But it would be the hosts who finished the match with their tails between their legs, unable to defy a resolute Bluebirds defense as they rained shot after shot on Etheridge‘s goal.
The victory was Cardiff’s first over Manchester United since April 3, 1954, when manager Neil Warnock was just five years old.
Up Next:
Man United – Season Over
Cardiff – Season Over – Relegated to Championship
Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth
5-3
Palace manager Roy Hodgson said his side’s victory over the Cherries was an “attacking party” after his side ended the season with an eight-goal thriller at Selhurst Park.
The Eagles, who scored three goals in the opening 37 minutes but were pegged back to 3-2, increased their lead to 4-2 only for Bournemouth to score again, before settling the game with a fifth goal in the 80th minute.
The enthralling affair saw 33 total shots – 17 by Palace and 16 by their visitors – both sides could have scored plenty more goals.
Michy Batshuayi, playing his last game for Palace before his loan spell from Chelsea ends, opened the scoring in the 24th minute, capitalizing on slack Bournemouth defending to volley home from close range.
The Belgian scored his second of the afternoon, sliding in to convert Aaron Wan-Bassaka‘s cross, again from close range, eight minutes later, before Wilfried Zaha‘s blocked shot by keeper Mark Travers rebounded in off Bournemouth defender Jack Simpson for an own goal.
Jefferson Lerma then smashed a stunning 30-yard shot in off the post just before the break and Jordan Ibe drilled into the bottom corner 10 minutes into the second half to give the visitors hope.
Patrick van Aanholt reinstated a two-goal lead for the hosts, only to see Joshua King bundle home from a 73rd minute corner.
However, with just 10 minutes remaining, Zaha set up Andros Townsend who swept home to secure the three points and cap off an excellent afternoon in south London.
Up Next:
Palace – Season Over
Bournemouth – Season Over
Fulham v Newcastle
0-4
With his future up in the air and under the gaze of owner Mike Ashley and managing director Lee Charley, Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez strengthened his position as the Magpies barley broke a sweat on their way to an astounding victory at Craven Cottage.
They were two goals up in a two-minute spell early on, with midfielder Jonjo Shelvey ending his year long goalless run with a thunderous half-volley from just inside the box, before Ayoze Perez grabbed his 13th of the season by followeing through after goalkeeper Sergio Rico failed to adequately deal with Christian Atsu‘s shot.
Defender Fabian Schar headed home the Magpies’ third just after the hour mark, and Salomon Rondon capped off his own brilliant display with an angled strike, producing the loudest cheer of the afternoon after making it 4-0.
Up Next:
Fulham – Season Over – Relegated to Championship
Newcastle – Season Over
Southampton v Huddersfield
1-1
Alex Pritchard capitalized on Southampton keeper Angus Gunn‘s mistake to rescue a point for Huddersfield in their final Premier League game before being relegated to the Championship.
The hosts were on cruise control after Nathan Redmond‘s opener but Gunn was too relaxed on the ball as Pritchard stole possession to roll in a second half equalizer.
James Ward-Prowse nearly doubled Southampton’s lead with an fierce strike after the break, but Premier League debutant Joel Coleman acrobatically tipped the ball over the bar.
Pritchard‘s goal saw the Terries claim just their seventh point on the road this season as they finished bottom of the table.
Whilst Huddersfield drop down a division after two season at the top, Southampton will have to eliminate their mistakes if they’re to avoid flirting with relegation again next season.
Up Next:
Southampton – Season Over
Huddersfield – Season Over – Relegated to Championship
Watford v West Ham United
1-4
Two goals from Mark Noble, plus ones from Manuel Lanzini and Marko Arnautovic sealed the points at Vicarage Road, with Watford struggling after Jose Holebas was sent off for tugging back Michail Antonio.
Hammers manager Manuel Pellegrini, whose team have won their final three games of the season, said “We have improved on points, goals scored and goals conceded. I think the fans have enjoyed it more than they did last season.”
Captain Noble got the hosts off to a perfect start when, against the run of play, the Englishman and Antonio swapped passes before dancing past Christian Kabasele to slot home the opener.
Lanzini doubled their lead five minutes before the break with a header after Antonio‘s effort had been turned on to the crossbar by Ben Foster.
Gerard Deulofeu gave the Hornets a brief glimpse of hope, scoring 11 seconds into the second half, but just two minutes later the hosts were reduced to 10 men as Holebas was dismissed.
From that moment on they looked visibly tired and Arnautovic took full advantage of it, sealing the three points after Foster had tipped Felipe Anderson‘s volley on to the post.
Even after all that, there was still time for Antonio to win a penalty for the visitors, and Mark Noble calmly slotted home after wrong footing Foster.
The result means Watford have managed just one win in six games heading into the FA Cup final with Premier League Champions Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday.
Up Next:
Watford – FA Cup Final – Saturday, May 18 (12pm – ESPN+)
West Ham – Season Over
Final Table
ALL TIMES U.S. EASTERN
Artistry of Sport 
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