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Straits Times
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
From nearly men Arsenal to Manchester City: Team by team review of EPL season
From nearly men Arsenal to Manchester City: Team by team review of EPL season LONDON - With Liverpool lifting the Premier League trophy on May 25, here is a team by team review of the 2024-25 Premier League season. 1 - LIVERPOOL Arne Slot enjoyed a superb first season after replacing fan favourite Juergen Klopp, exceeding the hopes of supporters, many of whom would have been content with a top-four finish and a cup run. Liverpool had the league sewn up long ago, thanks to a 26-game unbeaten league run as Arsenal faltered and Manchester City imploded, though one March week when they were knocked out of Europe and lost the League Cup final took some of the shine off. The departure of local boy Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid also leaves big shoes to fill. But with the talismanic Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah tied down and further reinforcements to come, Liverpool are in a good position to prove this slightly surprising title was no one-off. 2 - ARSENAL Mikel Arteta's side are in danger of becoming the perennial nearly men as another season of rich promise slipped by without anything tangible to show for it. Manchester City's surprising decline should have opened the door for Arsenal to win a first league title since 2003, but instead a third successive runners-up spot, this time by a huge margin, felt like regression. They came close in the Champions League, losing a tight semi-final to Paris Saint-Germain. But those two ties highlighted what Arsenal must address in the summer, chiefly a world-class striker to get them over the line. 3 - MANCHESTER CITY City salvaged an otherwise poor season by clinching a Champions League berth with a 2-0 victory at Fulham on the final day. Their hopes of a fifth successive league title began well, but a mid-season nose-dive saw them fall off the pace and they missed a top-two spot for the first time since 2016-17. Ballon d'Or winner Rodri suffered a serious knee injury in late September and would not return until the season's penultimate game as they dropped as low as seventh in the table with manager Pep Guardiola saying the team's crisis was costing him sleep. They crashed out of the Champions League early and their FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace meant they ended the season with no silverware for the first time in eight years. 4 - CHELSEA Chelsea left it late to achieve their target for the season by qualifying on the final day for the 2025/26 Champions League, thanks to a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest. With more than £1 billion pounds (S$1.74 billion) spent on players by the club's American owners since 2022, Enzo Maresca faced pressure in his first season as coach to get Chelsea back into Europe's elite competition. The Blues were second in the Premier League in December before a poor run made a top-five finish a struggle. Chelsea finished fourth and could yet win silverware with a Uefa Conference League final to come against Spain's Real Betis on May 28. Failure to lift Europe's third-tier trophy would be an embarrassment for the two-time Champions League winners. 5 - NEWCASTLE UNITED Eddie Howe's side ended a memorable season with their first domestic silverware for 70 years and a return to the Champions League. Their 2-1 League Cup final win over Liverpool was a perfect representation of the Magpies this season, with the defence capping a fine collective performance with a goal from Dan Burn, and striker Alexander Isak showing the potency of their attack by notching the second. With the mercurial Isak attracting attention from Premier League rivals and clubs around Europe, Howe will have to convince the Swedish international that they can take another step next season and challenge for the title. 6 - ASTON VILLA Playing a swashbuckling style of football built on tough defence and fast attacks, Unai Emery's side have had their fans in raptures at times this season but it ended in disappointment. Runs to the Champions League quarter-finals and FA Cup semi-finals produced some great moments but they missed out on a top-five spot on the last day with defeat at Manchester United. Villa Park became a fortress in the Premier League with no defeats in their last 18 there and they also beat Bayern Munich and PSG on two famous European nights. Emery's squad oozes so much talent it is hard to pick out the main star: from charismatic World Cup-winning shot stopper Emiliano Martinez in goal to Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers up front with 17 and 14 goals respectively in all competitions. 7 - NOTTINGHAM FOREST Boosted by the goals of striker Chris Wood, Nottingham Forest mounted an unlikely challenge for Champions League football, putting behind them successive relegation battles. Despite being in the top three for much of the campaign, a late season slump in which they won two of their final eight games saw them finish in seventh to qualify for the Conference League, a return to European football for the first time since the 1995-96 campaign. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo found the right formula for success with a solid defensive structure and an attack built around the playmaking talent of Morgan Gibbs-White and 20 league goals from a rejuvenated Wood. 8 - BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION Brighton's 'Jekyll and Hyde' persona this season will have been frustrating for fans as while their eighth-place finish represents a solid return under 32-year-old manager Fabian Huerzeler, they would have been higher up the table without the inconsistency that dogged them all campaign. They managed wins against Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle United and Chelsea, and drew twice with Arsenal, but a 7-0 loss to Nottingham Forest was their worst league defeat in 67 years, and an eight-game winless run mid-season hurt their European chances. Winger Yankuba Minteh proved an astute signing from Newcastle, and Danny Welbeck, Kaoru Mitoma and Joao Pedro all reached double figures for goals but, as ever, their challenge in the next transfer window will be holding on to their leading players, with the latter tipped for an exit. 9 - BOURNEMOUTH Bournemouth missed out on Europe but Andoni Iraola's team achieved a club-record points tally for a Premier League campaign as they punched above their weight. In two years, Iraola has transformed the club, playing with a risky high-intensity pressing style which earned them memorable wins over Manchester City and Arsenal this season. Ryan Christie, Evanilson and Justin Kluivert have been central to Bournemouth's progress this season, but the rise of youngsters like Real Madrid-bound Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez has been equally vital. 10 - BRENTFORD The Bees flirted with a first foray into European club competition but eventually fell short after a season in which they proved unpredictable but highly entertaining. Relegated Southampton and Ipswich were the only sides to concede more than Brentford at home, with the 35 goals the most they have let in at home in the top flight since the 1946-47. But then only Manchester City, Newcastle, Arsenal and Liverpool scored more goals than Thomas Frank's team this season, seeing them to 10th place. Bryan Mbuemo netted 20 league goals and Yoan Wissa 19 while Danish international Mikkel Damsgaard was named both the Supporters' Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year at the club's end-of-season awards. 11 - FULHAM Another solid season for Marco Silva's side who spent the vast majority of the campaign in mid-table. An 11th-placed finish, after coming 13th and 10th in the two previous seasons since Silva took them back into the Premier League, represents stability after some yo-yo years. Losing to Crystal Palace at home in the FA Cup quarter-finals felt like a missed opportunity for the club and having established themselves in the top flight the key will be whether they can start aiming higher next season. Raul Jimenez (12) and Rodrigo Muniz (8) provided the goals while Emile Smith Rowe thrived in midfield after moving from Arsenal. 12 - CRYSTAL PALACE Palace's victory in the FA Cup final over Manchester City secured their first major trophy in the club's history and ensured this season will go down as their finest despite winning only one of their opening 13 league games. They ended up with a club-record 53 Premier League points as manager Oliver Glasner moulded his team around the goals of talisman Jean-Philippe Mateta, the guile of Eberechi Eze and the pace and power of Ismaila Sarr. Europa League football next season could help Palace keep a hold of their prized assets. 13 - EVERTON David Moyes and Beto proved the unlikely duo who turned around Everton's season as another battle against relegation loomed as they languished one point above the drop zone with three wins from 19 games under the cautious Sean Dyche. Moyes then returned after a 12-year absence and oversaw a remarkable nine-game unbeaten league run of four wins and five draws that ensured Everton would be in the top flight when they move into their new stadium next season. Beto somehow reached double figures in goals, with fans overlooking his rawness while celebrating his whole-hearted, battling approach. It helped that he scored against Liverpool, when James Tarkowski's 98th-minute top-corner rocket in front of the Gwladys Street End to secure a 2-2 draw was the club's moment of the season. There was still time for an emotional farewell to Goodison Park, the club's home for 133 years, as the Toffees signed off with a win against Southampton. 14 - WEST HAM UNITED A lacklustre season for the London club whose decision to part ways with David Moyes and replace him with Julen Lopetegui always looked like it would end unhappily. Despite West Ham spending £130 million (S$226.3 million) on signings, Lopetegui's style was bland and he was sacked after only 20 league games in charge, of which West Ham won only six. Graham Potter's impact has hardly been spectacular with five wins in 18 but he will be judged next season when he has been able to put his stamp on the team. Jarrod Bowen was again West Ham's outstanding player with 13 league goals. 15 - MANCHESTER UNITED United staggered through their worst season in the top-flight since they were relegated in 1974 and a massive rebuilding job awaits Ruben Amorim in the summer. They jettisoned manager Erik ten Hag in October with United in 14th place and if anything they got worse under Amorim who struggled to implement his style on a mediocre squad. Even the salvation of a Europa League title was denied them as they lost to Tottenham Hotspur in a poor final in Bilbao and the lack of Champions League revenue will be a huge financial blow to a club already reeling from co-owner Jim Ratcliffe's cost-cutting measures. 16 - WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS Vitor Pereira secured top-flight status with five games to spare, overseeing a massive improvement after taking charge of the Midlands club in December when they were second-bottom. In contrast to his predecessor Gary O'Neil's tinkering, the Portuguese manager stuck to a settled formation, improving Wolves defensively and taking them on a six-game winning run in the top flight for the first time since 1970. While their results tailed off with safety guaranteed, Wolves have shown they can challenge for a top-half finish next season, but they may have to deal with the loss of their top scorer with Matheus Cunha who is expected to leave in the summer. 17 - TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR Ange Postecoglou delivered on his claim that he always wins a trophy in his second season at a club as Spurs put aside a diabolical Premier League campaign to win the Europa League and end a 17-year silverware drought. Whether or not that momentous night in Bilbao saves the pugnacious Australian's job is another matter. Twenty-two league defeats were embarrassing for a club with top-four pretensions. Postecoglou will point to a chronic run of injuries and the distraction of Europe as mitigating factors, but will need to convince the club's hierarchy that it was an anomaly. Strangely, Tottenham's Europa League success was ultimately achieved by the opposite of so-called 'Ange Ball' -- his team grinding through the knockout rounds to glory. The emergence of Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray offer some hope of a better season next time while their unlikely Champions League qualification will be an easy sell to potential signings. 18 - LEICESTER CITY The Foxes' fate was sealed with five games to go and they make an immediate return to the Championship. Leicester set an unwanted record as the first team in the top four divisions to lose nine consecutive home league games without scoring. The die was cast early in the campaign with their failure to win any of their first six games. Manager Steve Cooper was sacked after 15 games with the team in 16th position, but turning to former Dutch international Ruud van Nistelrooy saw no improvement. 19 - IPSWICH TOWN After successive promotions to return to the top flight it proved a bridge too far for Kieran McKenna's side. Four wins all season tell their own story but despite their struggle, there is optimism that Ipswich will be in a strong position to challenge for promotion next season. They will probably have to do that without their stand-out player though as Liam Delap's 12 league goals have attracted the attention of some of England's top clubs. 20 - SOUTHAMPTON Southampton were relegated with seven games to go in April, the earliest in Premier League history, but they at least avoided Derby County's all-time low of 11 points from 2007–08 as they ended with 12. Two different managers, Russell Martin and Ivan Juric, could do little to lift the team's form and 30 defeats was a new Premier League record. They conceded 86 goals in a torrid campaign and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale suffered his third relegation as a player but in truth it was his efforts that saved Saints from more humiliation as he made 125 saves, the second most in the league. Newly appointed manager Will Still is tasked with bringing them back up again. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Free Malaysia Today
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
Alexander-Arnold bids tearful farewell after 20 years at Liverpool
Trent Alexander-Arnold lifts the Premier League trophy high as Liverpool celebrate their title win at Anfield. (AP pic) LIVERPOOL : Trent Alexander-Arnold was cheered by a celebratory Anfield on his final Liverpool appearance on Sunday, with the player dubbed 'the Scouser in our team' bowing out in tears after two decades at his boyhood club. The Liverpool vice-captain was booed by some Reds fans earlier this month in his first game after confirming that he was leaving at the end of this season, amid many reports that a move to Real Madrid was a done deal. But the 26-year-old was staunchly defended by team mates including Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah, while former manager Juergen Klopp –- who gave Alexander-Arnold his debut in 2016 -– said he turned off his television when he heard the boos. The manner of Alexander-Arnold's departure, as a free agent and after some arguably mixed messages about his future, will still rankle with Liverpool supporters and he admitted to some trepidation. 'I didn't know what to expect stepping out at Anfield after what happened a few weeks ago, but I wanted to play for the club one more time,' he told Sky Sports. Alexander-Arnold's introduction at halftime was met with excitement though and his desperation to sign off in style was evident –- and had it not been for a poor effort by Darwin Nunez, he would have added another superb assist to his collection. He was in tears at the final whistle and seemed relieved to get yet more cheers when receiving his Premier League winners' medal, before he raised his arms aloft and thumped the Liverpool badge on what he said was 'the best day for me in my life'. 'The reception I got means the world to me, I have played hundreds of games but have never felt so loved and cared for,' Alexander-Arnold said. He added: 'From the bottom of my heart I hope that one day the fans and supporters will recognise what I did for the team.' Liverpool boss Arne Slot was in agreement and hailed the fans' reception for Alexander-Arnold 'Maybe it also helped what an unbelievable half he played,' Slot added with a smile. Witness football history in Malaysia as Manchester United take on the Asean All-Stars – it's the clash you can't afford to miss. Book your seat now at before they're gone!
Reuters
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Team by team review of Premier League season
LONDON, May 25 (Reuters) - Team by team review of the 2024-25 Premier League season. Arne Slot enjoyed a superb first season after replacing fan favourite Juergen Klopp, exceeding the hopes of supporters, many of whom would have been content with a top-four finish and a cup run. Liverpool had the league sewn up long ago, thanks to a 26-game unbeaten league run as Arsenal faltered and Manchester City imploded, though one March week when they were knocked out of Europe and lost the League Cup final took some of the shine off. The departure of local boy Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid also leaves big shoes to fill. But with the talismanic Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah tied down and further reinforcements to come, Liverpool are in a good position to prove this slightly surprising title was no one-off. Mikel Arteta's side are in danger of becoming the perennial nearly men as another season of rich promise slipped by without anything tangible to show for it. Manchester City's surprising decline should have opened the door for Arsenal to win a first league title since 2003, but instead a third successive runners-up spot, this time by a huge margin, felt like regression. They came close in the Champions League, losing a tight semi-final to Paris St Germain. But those two ties highlighted what Arsenal must address in the summer, chiefly a world-class striker to get them over the line. Salvaged an otherwise poor season by clinching a Champions League berth with a 2-0 victory at Fulham on the final day. Their hopes of a fifth successive league title began well but a mid-season nose-dive saw them fall off the pace and they missed a top-two spot for the first time since 2016-17. Ballon d'Or winner Rodri suffered a serious knee injury in late September and would not return until the season's penultimate game as they dropped as low as seventh in the table with manager Pep Guardiola saying the team's crisis was costing him sleep. They crashed out of the Champions League early and their FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace meant they ended the season with no silverware for the first time in eight years. Chelsea left it late to achieve their target for the season by qualifying on the final day for the 2025/26 Champions League, thanks to a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest. With more than 1 billion pounds ($1.35 billion) spent on players by the club's U.S. owners since 2022, Enzo Maresca faced pressure in his first season as coach to get Chelsea back into Europe's elite competition. The Blues were second in the Premier League in December before a poor run made a top-five finish a struggle. Chelsea finished fourth and could yet win silverware with a UEFA Conference League final to come against Spain's Real Betis on Wednesday. Failure to lift Europe's third-tier trophy would be an embarrassment for the two-time Champions League winners. Eddie Howe's side ended a memorable season with their first domestic silverware for 70 years and a return to the Champions League. Their 2-1 League Cup final win over Liverpool was a perfect representation of the Magpies this season, with the defence capping a fine collective performance with a goal from Dan Burn, and striker Alexander Isak showing the potency of their attack by notching the second. With the mercurial Isak attracting attention from Premier League rivals and clubs around Europe, Howe will have to convince the Swedish international that they can take another step next season and challenge for the title. Playing a swashbuckling style of football built on tough defence and fast attacks, Unai Emery's side have had their fans in raptures at times this season but it ended in disappointment. Runs to the Champions League quarter-finals and FA Cup semi-finals produced some great moments but they missed out on a top-five spot on the last day with defeat at Manchester United. Villa Park became a fortress in the Premier League with no defeats in their last 18 there and they also beat Bayern Munich and Paris St Germain on two famous European nights. Emery's squad oozes so much talent it is hard to pick out the main star: from charismatic World Cup-winning shot stopper Emiliano Martinez in goal to Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers up front with 17 and 14 goals respectively in all competitions. Boosted by the goals of striker Chris Wood, Nottingham Forest mounted an unlikely challenge for Champions League football, putting behind them successive relegation battles. Despite being in the top three for much of the campaign, a late season slump in which they won two of their final eight games saw them finish in seventh to qualify for the Conference League, a return to European football for the first time since the 1995-96 campaign. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo found the right formula for success with a solid defensive structure and an attack built around the play-making talent of Morgan Gibbs-White and 20 league goals from a rejuvenated Wood. Brighton's 'Jekyll and Hyde' persona this season will have been frustrating for fans as while their eighth-place finish represents a solid return under 32-year-old manager Fabian Huerzeler, they would have been higher up the table without the inconsistency that dogged them all campaign. They managed wins against Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle United and Chelsea, and drew twice with Arsenal, but a 7-0 loss to Nottingham Forest was their worst league defeat in 67 years, and an eight-game winless run mid-season hurt their European chances. Winger Yankuba Minteh proved an astute signing from Newcastle, and Danny Welbeck, Kaoru Mitoma and Joao Pedro all reached double figures for goals but, as ever, their challenge in the next transfer window will be holding on to their leading players, with the latter tipped for an exit. Bournemouth missed out on Europe but Andoni Iraola's team achieved a club-record points tally for a Premier League campaign as they punched above their weight. In two years, Iraola has transformed the club, playing with a risky high-intensity pressing style which earned them memorable wins over Manchester City and Arsenal this season. Ryan Christie, Evanilson and Justin Kluivert have been central to Bournemouth's progress this season, but the rise of youngsters like Real Madrid-bound Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez has been equally vital. The Bees flirted with a first foray into European club competition but eventually fell short after a season in which they proved unpredictable but highly entertaining. Relegated Southampton and Ipswich were the only sides to concede more than Brentford at home, with the 35 goals the most they have let in at home in the top flight since the 1946-47. But then only Manchester City, Newcastle, Arsenal and Liverpool scored more goals than Thomas Frank's team this season, seeing them to 10th place. Bryan Mbuemo netted 20 league goals and Yoan Wissa 19 while Danish international Mikkel Damsgaard was named both the Supporters' Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year at the club's end-of-season awards. Another solid season for Marco Silva's side who spent the vast majority of the campaign in mid-table. An 11th-placed finish, after coming 13th and 10th in the two previous seasons since Silva took them back into the Premier League, represents stability after some yo-yo years. Losing to Crystal Palace at home in the FA Cup quarter-finals felt like a missed opportunity for the club and having established themselves in the top flight the key will be whether they can start aiming higher next season. Raul Jimenez (12) and Rodrigo Muniz (8) provided the goals while Emile Smith Rowe thrived in midfield after moving from Arsenal. Palace's victory in the FA Cup final over Manchester City secured their first major trophy in the club's history and ensured this season will go down as their finest despite winning only one of their opening 13 league games. They ended up with a club-record 53 Premier League points as manager Oliver Glasner moulded his team around the goals of talisman Jean-Philippe Mateta, the guile of Eberechi Eze and the pace and power of Ismaila Sarr. Europa League football next season could help Palace keep hold of their prized assets. David Moyes and Beto proved the unlikely duo who turned around Everton's season as another battle against relegation loomed as they languished one point above the drop zone with three wins from 19 games under the cautious Sean Dyche. Moyes then returned after a 12-year absence and oversaw a remarkable nine-game unbeaten league run of four wins and five draws that ensured Everton would be in the top flight when they move into their new stadium next season. Beto somehow reached double figures in goals, with fans overlooking his rawness while celebrating his whole-hearted, battling approach. It helped that he scored against Liverpool, when James Tarkowski's 98th-minute top-corner rocket in front of the Gwladys Street End to secure a 2-2 draw was the club's moment of the season. There was still time for an emotional farewell to Goodison Park, the club's home for 133 years, as the Toffees signed off with a win against Southampton. A lacklustre season for the London club whose decision to part ways with David Moyes and replace him with Julen Lopetegui always looked like ending unhappily. Despite West Ham spending 130 million pounds on signings, Lopetegui's style was bland and he was sacked after only 20 league games in charge, of which West Ham won only six. Graham Potter's impact has hardly been spectacular with five wins in 18 but he will be judged next season when he has been able to put his stamp on the team. Jarrod Bowen was again West Ham's outstanding player with 13 league goals. United staggered through their worst season in the top-flight since they were relegated in 1974 and a massive rebuilding job awaits Ruben Amorim in the summer. They jettisoned manager Erik ten Hag in October with United in 14th place and if anything they got worse under Amorim who struggled to implement his style on a mediocre squad. Even the salvation of a Europa League title was denied them as they lost to Tottenham Hotspur in a poor final in Bilbao and the lack of Champions League revenue will be a huge financial blow to a club already reeling from co-owner Jim Ratcliffe's cost-cutting measures. Vitor Pereira secured top-flight status with five games to spare, overseeing a massive improvement after taking charge of the Midlands club in December when they were second-bottom. In contrast to his predecessor Gary O'Neil's tinkering, the Portuguese manager stuck to a settled formation, improving Wolves defensively and taking them on a six-game winning run in the top flight for the first time since 1970. While their results tailed off with safety guaranteed, Wolves have shown they can challenge for a top-half finish next season, but they may have to deal with the loss of their top scorer with Matheus Cunha who is expected to leave in the summer. Ange Postecoglou delivered on his claim that he always wins a trophy in his second season at a club as Spurs put aside a diabolical Premier League campaign to win the Europa League and end a 17-year silverware drought. Whether or not that momentous night in Bilbao saves the pugnacious Australian's job is another matter. Twenty-two league defeats were embarrassing for a club with top-four pretensions. Postecoglou will point to a chronic run of injuries and the distraction of Europe as mitigating factors, but will need to convince the club's hierarchy that it was an anomaly. Strangely, Tottenham's Europa League success was ultimately achieved by the opposite of so-called 'Ange Ball' -- his team grinding through the knockout rounds to glory. The emergence of Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray offer some hope of a better season next time while their unlikely Champions League qualification will be an easy sell to potential signings. The Foxes' fate was sealed with five games to go and they make an immediate return to the Championship. Leicester set an unwanted record as the first team in the top four divisions to lose nine consecutive home league games without scoring. The die was cast early in the campaign with their failure to win any of their first six games. Manager Steve Cooper was sacked after 15 games with the team in 16th position, but turning to former Dutch international Ruud van Nistelrooy saw no improvement. After successive promotions to return to the top flight it proved a bridge too far for Kieran McKenna's side. Four wins all season tell their own story but despite their struggle, there is optimism that Ipswich will be in a strong position to challenge for promotion next season. They will probably have to do that without their stand-out player though as Liam Delap's 12 league goals have attracted the attention of some of England's top clubs. Southampton were relegated with seven games to go in April, the earliest in Premier League history, but they at least avoided Derby County's all-time low of 11 points from 2007–08 as they ended with 12. Two different managers, Russell Martin and Ivan Juric, could do little to lift the team's form and 30 defeats was a new Premier League record. They conceded 86 goals in a torrid campaign and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale suffered his third relegation as a player but in truth it was his efforts that saved Saints from more humiliation as he made 125 saves, the second most in the league. Will Still will be tasked with bringing them back up again. ($1 = 0.7395 pounds)
Hindustan Times
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Soccer-Team by team review of Premier League season
LONDON, - Team by team review of the 2024-25 Premier League season. 1 - LIVERPOOL Arne Slot enjoyed a superb first season after replacing fan favourite Juergen Klopp, exceeding the hopes of supporters, many of whom would have been content with a top-four finish and a cup run. Liverpool had the league sewn up long ago, thanks to a 26-game unbeaten league run as Arsenal faltered and Manchester City imploded, though one March week when they were knocked out of Europe and lost the League Cup final took some of the shine off. The departure of local boy Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid also leaves big shoes to fill. But with the talismanic Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah tied down and further reinforcements to come, Liverpool are in a good position to prove this slightly surprising title was no one-off. 2 - ARSENAL Mikel Arteta's side are in danger of becoming the perennial nearly men as another season of rich promise slipped by without anything tangible to show for it. Manchester City's surprising decline should have opened the door for Arsenal to win a first league title since 2003, but instead a third successive runners-up spot, this time by a huge margin, felt like regression. They came close in the Champions League, losing a tight semi-final to Paris St Germain. But those two ties highlighted what Arsenal must address in the summer, chiefly a world-class striker to get them over the line. 3 - MANCHESTER CITY Salvaged an otherwise poor season by clinching a Champions League berth with a 2-0 victory at Fulham on the final day. Their hopes of a fifth successive league title began well but a mid-season nose-dive saw them fall off the pace and they missed a top-two spot for the first time since 2016-17. Ballon d'Or winner Rodri suffered a serious knee injury in late September and would not return until the season's penultimate game as they dropped as low as seventh in the table with manager Pep Guardiola saying the team's crisis was costing him sleep. They crashed out of the Champions League early and their FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace meant they ended the season with no silverware for the first time in eight years. 4 - CHELSEA Chelsea left it late to achieve their target for the season by qualifying on the final day for the 2025/26 Champions League, thanks to a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest. With more than 1 billion pounds spent on players by the club's U.S. owners since 2022, Enzo Maresca faced pressure in his first season as coach to get Chelsea back into Europe's elite competition. The Blues were second in the Premier League in December before a poor run made a top-five finish a struggle. Chelsea finished fourth and could yet win silverware with a UEFA Conference League final to come against Spain's Real Betis on Wednesday. Failure to lift Europe's third-tier trophy would be an embarrassment for the two-time Champions League winners. 5 - NEWCASTLE UNITED Eddie Howe's side ended a memorable season with their first domestic silverware for 70 years and a return to the Champions League. Their 2-1 League Cup final win over Liverpool was a perfect representation of the Magpies this season, with the defence capping a fine collective performance with a goal from Dan Burn, and striker Alexander Isak showing the potency of their attack by notching the second. With the mercurial Isak attracting attention from Premier League rivals and clubs around Europe, Howe will have to convince the Swedish international that they can take another step next season and challenge for the title. 6 - ASTON VILLA Playing a swashbuckling style of football built on tough defence and fast attacks, Unai Emery's side have had their fans in raptures at times this season but it ended in disappointment. Runs to the Champions League quarter-finals and FA Cup semi-finals produced some great moments but they missed out on a top-five spot on the last day with defeat at Manchester United. Villa Park became a fortress in the Premier League with no defeats in their last 18 there and they also beat Bayern Munich and Paris St Germain on two famous European nights. Emery's squad oozes so much talent it is hard to pick out the main star: from charismatic World Cup-winning shot stopper Emiliano Martinez in goal to Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers up front with 17 and 14 goals respectively in all competitions. 7 - NOTTINGHAM FOREST Boosted by the goals of striker Chris Wood, Nottingham Forest mounted an unlikely challenge for Champions League football, putting behind them successive relegation battles. Despite being in the top three for much of the campaign, a late season slump in which they won two of their final eight games saw them finish in seventh to qualify for the Conference League, a return to European football for the first time since the 1995-96 campaign. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo found the right formula for success with a solid defensive structure and an attack built around the play-making talent of Morgan Gibbs-White and 20 league goals from a rejuvenated Wood. 8 - BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION Brighton's 'Jekyll and Hyde' persona this season will have been frustrating for fans as while their eighth-place finish represents a solid return under 32-year-old manager Fabian Huerzeler, they would have been higher up the table without the inconsistency that dogged them all campaign. They managed wins against Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle United and Chelsea, and drew twice with Arsenal, but a 7-0 loss to Nottingham Forest was their worst league defeat in 67 years, and an eight-game winless run mid-season hurt their European chances. Winger Yankuba Minteh proved an astute signing from Newcastle, and Danny Welbeck, Kaoru Mitoma and Joao Pedro all reached double figures for goals but, as ever, their challenge in the next transfer window will be holding on to their leading players, with the latter tipped for an exit. 9 - BOURNEMOUTH Bournemouth missed out on Europe but Andoni Iraola's team achieved a club-record points tally for a Premier League campaign as they punched above their weight. In two years, Iraola has transformed the club, playing with a risky high-intensity pressing style which earned them memorable wins over Manchester City and Arsenal this season. Ryan Christie, Evanilson and Justin Kluivert have been central to Bournemouth's progress this season, but the rise of youngsters like Real Madrid-bound Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez has been equally vital. 10 - BRENTFORD The Bees flirted with a first foray into European club competition but eventually fell short after a season in which they proved unpredictable but highly entertaining. Relegated Southampton and Ipswich were the only sides to concede more than Brentford at home, with the 35 goals the most they have let in at home in the top flight since the 1946-47. But then only Manchester City, Newcastle, Arsenal and Liverpool scored more goals than Thomas Frank's team this season, seeing them to 10th place. Bryan Mbuemo netted 20 league goals and Yoan Wissa 19 while Danish international Mikkel Damsgaard was named both the Supporters' Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year at the club's end-of-season awards. 11 - FULHAM Another solid season for Marco Silva's side who spent the vast majority of the campaign in mid-table. An 11th-placed finish, after coming 13th and 10th in the two previous seasons since Silva took them back into the Premier League, represents stability after some yo-yo years. Losing to Crystal Palace at home in the FA Cup quarter-finals felt like a missed opportunity for the club and having established themselves in the top flight the key will be whether they can start aiming higher next season. Raul Jimenez and Rodrigo Muniz provided the goals while Emile Smith Rowe thrived in midfield after moving from Arsenal. 12 - CRYSTAL PALACE Palace's victory in the FA Cup final over Manchester City secured their first major trophy in the club's history and ensured this season will go down as their finest despite winning only one of their opening 13 league games. They ended up with a club-record 53 Premier League points as manager Oliver Glasner moulded his team around the goals of talisman Jean-Philippe Mateta, the guile of Eberechi Eze and the pace and power of Ismaila Sarr. Europa League football next season could help Palace keep hold of their prized assets. 13 - EVERTON David Moyes and Beto proved the unlikely duo who turned around Everton's season as another battle against relegation loomed as they languished one point above the drop zone with three wins from 19 games under the cautious Sean Dyche. Moyes then returned after a 12-year absence and oversaw a remarkable nine-game unbeaten league run of four wins and five draws that ensured Everton would be in the top flight when they move into their new stadium next season. Beto somehow reached double figures in goals, with fans overlooking his rawness while celebrating his whole-hearted, battling approach. It helped that he scored against Liverpool, when James Tarkowski's 98th-minute top-corner rocket in front of the Gwladys Street End to secure a 2-2 draw was the club's moment of the season. There was still time for an emotional farewell to Goodison Park, the club's home for 133 years, as the Toffees signed off with a win against Southampton. 14 - WEST HAM UNITED A lacklustre season for the London club whose decision to part ways with David Moyes and replace him with Julen Lopetegui always looked like ending unhappily. Despite West Ham spending 130 million pounds on signings, Lopetegui's style was bland and he was sacked after only 20 league games in charge, of which West Ham won only six. Graham Potter's impact has hardly been spectacular with five wins in 18 but he will be judged next season when he has been able to put his stamp on the team. Jarrod Bowen was again West Ham's outstanding player with 13 league goals. 15 - MANCHESTER UNITED United staggered through their worst season in the top-flight since they were relegated in 1974 and a massive rebuilding job awaits Ruben Amorim in the summer. They jettisoned manager Erik ten Hag in October with United in 14th place and if anything they got worse under Amorim who struggled to implement his style on a mediocre squad. Even the salvation of a Europa League title was denied them as they lost to Tottenham Hotspur in a poor final in Bilbao and the lack of Champions League revenue will be a huge financial blow to a club already reeling from co-owner Jim Ratcliffe's cost-cutting measures. 16 - WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS Vitor Pereira secured top-flight status with five games to spare, overseeing a massive improvement after taking charge of the Midlands club in December when they were second-bottom. In contrast to his predecessor Gary O'Neil's tinkering, the Portuguese manager stuck to a settled formation, improving Wolves defensively and taking them on a six-game winning run in the top flight for the first time since 1970. While their results tailed off with safety guaranteed, Wolves have shown they can challenge for a top-half finish next season, but they may have to deal with the loss of their top scorer with Matheus Cunha who is expected to leave in the summer. 17 - TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR Ange Postecoglou delivered on his claim that he always wins a trophy in his second season at a club as Spurs put aside a diabolical Premier League campaign to win the Europa League and end a 17-year silverware drought. Whether or not that momentous night in Bilbao saves the pugnacious Australian's job is another matter. Twenty-two league defeats were embarrassing for a club with top-four pretensions. Postecoglou will point to a chronic run of injuries and the distraction of Europe as mitigating factors, but will need to convince the club's hierarchy that it was an anomaly. Strangely, Tottenham's Europa League success was ultimately achieved by the opposite of so-called 'Ange Ball' his team grinding through the knockout rounds to glory. The emergence of Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray offer some hope of a better season next time while their unlikely Champions League qualification will be an easy sell to potential signings. 18 - LEICESTER CITY The Foxes' fate was sealed with five games to go and they make an immediate return to the Championship. Leicester set an unwanted record as the first team in the top four divisions to lose nine consecutive home league games without scoring. The die was cast early in the campaign with their failure to win any of their first six games. Manager Steve Cooper was sacked after 15 games with the team in 16th position, but turning to former Dutch international Ruud van Nistelrooy saw no improvement. 19 - IPSWICH TOWN After successive promotions to return to the top flight it proved a bridge too far for Kieran McKenna's side. Four wins all season tell their own story but despite their struggle, there is optimism that Ipswich will be in a strong position to challenge for promotion next season. They will probably have to do that without their stand-out player though as Liam Delap's 12 league goals have attracted the attention of some of England's top clubs. 20 - SOUTHAMPTON Southampton were relegated with seven games to go in April, the earliest in Premier League history, but they at least avoided Derby County's all-time low of 11 points from 2007–08 as they ended with 12. Two different managers, Russell Martin and Ivan Juric, could do little to lift the team's form and 30 defeats was a new Premier League record. They conceded 86 goals in a torrid campaign and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale suffered his third relegation as a player but in truth it was his efforts that saved Saints from more humiliation as he made 125 saves, the second most in the league. Will Still will be tasked with bringing them back up again.
Reuters
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Reuters
Alexander-Arnold bids tearful farewell after 20 years at Liverpool
LIVERPOOL, England, May 25 (Reuters) - Trent Alexander-Arnold was cheered by a celebratory Anfield on his final Liverpool appearance on Sunday, with the player dubbed "the Scouser in our team" bowing out in tears after two decades at his boyhood club. The Liverpool vice-captain was booed by some Reds fans earlier this month in his first game after confirming that he was leaving at the end of this season, amid many reports that a move to Real Madrid was a done deal. But the 26-year-old was staunchly defended by team mates including Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah, while former manager Juergen Klopp –- who gave Alexander-Arnold his debut in 2016 -– said he turned off his television when he heard the boos. The manner of Alexander-Arnold's departure, as a free agent and after some arguably mixed messages about his future, will still rankle with Liverpool supporters and he admitted to some trepidation. "I didn't know what to expect stepping out at Anfield after what happened a few weeks ago, but I wanted to play for the club one more time," he told Sky Sports. Alexander-Arnold's introduction at halftime was met with excitement though and his desperation to sign off in style was evident –- and had it not been for a poor effort by Darwin Nunez, he would have added another superb assist to his collection. He was in tears at the final whistle and seemed relieved to get yet more cheers when receiving his Premier League winners' medal, before he raised his arms aloft and thumped the Liverpool badge on what he said was "the best day for me in my life". "The reception I got means the world to me, I have played hundreds of games but have never felt so loved and cared for," Alexander-Arnold said. He added: "From the bottom of my heart I hope that one day the fans and supporters will recognise what I did for the team." Liverpool boss Arne Slot was in agreement and hailed the fans' reception for Alexander-Arnold "Maybe it also helped what an unbelievable half he played," Slot added with a smile.
