In a season which has to go down as the most exciting and unpredictable in Premier League history, even the final day could not escape some strange circumstances as the game between Manchester United and Bournemouth was abandoned due to a 'bomb scare.
This meant that while the other 18 teams played the final day, those two would close the season on Tuesday evening. Traditionally, the final round of games kicks-off at the same time of 3pm so for this review, I will go in alphabetical order given there were no major positional permutations.
Arsenal hosted relegated basement boys Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium with the hosts keen to secure a second place finish ahead of bitter rivals Tottenham. The Gunners started superbly with Olivier Giroud firing them ahead inside five minutes but from there it was to be a close game for the majority. Villa did well to keep the gap to a single goal until deep in the second before capitulating in the final 12 minutes as Giroud sealed his hat-trick on 78-80 minutes before a Mark Bunn own goal completed a 4-0 rout.
The deposed and newly crowned champions met at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea hosted Leicester City looking to dampen the Foxes jubilant end to the season. The game proved to be a tight one with the sides remaining level at 0-0 until just after the hour mark when the Blues were awarded a 65th minute penalty. Cesc Fabregas slotted into to make it 1-0 but the Blues were denied a victory in the final period as Danny Drinkwater salvaged a point by making it 1-1 in the 82nd minute.
Everton hosted relegated Norwich City at Goodison Park looking to finish as high as 11th in a poor season which saw the sacking of Roberto Martinez in mid-week. The Toffees got off to a good start as they took an 18th minute lead through James McCarthy before a Leighton Baines penalty just before half-time doubled the lead. The points were wrapped up just three minutes after the restart as Kevin Mirallas made it 3-0 to leave the Canaries to end the season just one place off the bottom of the league.
Relegated Newcastle United hosted second-placed challengers Tottenham at St James' Park looking to avoid finishing in the bottom two and thereby deny Spurs a top two finish. The Magpies struck first as Georginio Wijnaldum set up a 1-0 lead inside 19 minutes before a strike from Aleksandar Mitrovic doubled the led on 39 minutes, Spurs fought back on the hour mark through Erik Lamela before they were given a boost as Mitrovic was dismissed seven minutes later. However, the ten men on Newcastle powered on with Wijnaldum making it 3-1 on 73 minutes before a late double from Rolando Aarons (85) and Daryl Janmaat (86) completed a superb 5-1 rout.
Southampton had the chance to claim a European spot as they hosted FA Cup finalists Crystal Palace at St Mary's while the Eagles looked to avoid a bottom five finish. The hosts opened the scoring with three minutes left of the first half as Sadio Mané fired in before Graziano Pellé doubled the lead on the hour. Jason Puncheon pulled one back for Palace three minutes later but to no avail as a Ryan Bertrand penalty (75) and Steven Davis strike late on (87) completed a 4-1 success.
Alike the Saints, West Ham had the chance to finish in a European spot as they travelled to face Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium. The Hammers struck first as Michail Antonio fired in on 23 minutes for a 1-0 lead but Stoke battled back and levelled on 55 minutes through Giannelli Imbula before a late strike from Mame Biram Diouf sealed a 2-1 win that left the Hammers seventh and relying on the outcome of the FA Cup final in order to secure European football while Stoke made it three ninth placed finishes in a row.
Manchester City knew a point would be enough to secure a top four spot and Champions League place as they visited Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium. The visitors started superbly by taking the lead inside five minutes through Kelechi Ihenacho but were pegged back just before the interval by a superb leveller from André Ayew whose equaliser was enough to seal a point in the 1-1 draw.
After securing safety in mid-week, Sunderland looked to end on a high as they travelled to face Watford at Vicarage Road. Jack Rodwell put the visitors ahead on 38 minutes before Sebastian Prodl levelled for the Hornets just two minutes after half-time. Jeremain Lens restored the lead for the visitors on 51 minutes but another leveller for the Hornets saw Troy Deeney secure a point in a 2-2 draw with a 61st minute penalty.
The final game on Sunday saw West Brom host Liverpool with the Reds looking to sign off ahead of the Europa League final with a win. However, their hopes suffered an early blow as Salomon Rondon fired the Baggies in front after just 13 minutes. Jordon Ibe levelled for the Reds with his first league goal and 1-1 is how it stayed meaning the Reds would end the season in eighth.
The season ender came on Tuesday night as Manchester United hosted Bournemouth with the hosts looking to claim fifth place with a win. United struck an opener late in the first half through Wayne Rooney before Marcus Rashford doubled the lead on 74 minutes. The win was wrapped up three minutes from then end by Ashley Young's strike but a last-gaps own goal from Chris Smalling made it 3-1 and denied United 'keeper David De Gea both a clean sheet and the Golden Glove award.
This meant that while the other 18 teams played the final day, those two would close the season on Tuesday evening. Traditionally, the final round of games kicks-off at the same time of 3pm so for this review, I will go in alphabetical order given there were no major positional permutations.
The deposed and newly crowned champions met at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea hosted Leicester City looking to dampen the Foxes jubilant end to the season. The game proved to be a tight one with the sides remaining level at 0-0 until just after the hour mark when the Blues were awarded a 65th minute penalty. Cesc Fabregas slotted into to make it 1-0 but the Blues were denied a victory in the final period as Danny Drinkwater salvaged a point by making it 1-1 in the 82nd minute.
Everton hosted relegated Norwich City at Goodison Park looking to finish as high as 11th in a poor season which saw the sacking of Roberto Martinez in mid-week. The Toffees got off to a good start as they took an 18th minute lead through James McCarthy before a Leighton Baines penalty just before half-time doubled the lead. The points were wrapped up just three minutes after the restart as Kevin Mirallas made it 3-0 to leave the Canaries to end the season just one place off the bottom of the league.Relegated Newcastle United hosted second-placed challengers Tottenham at St James' Park looking to avoid finishing in the bottom two and thereby deny Spurs a top two finish. The Magpies struck first as Georginio Wijnaldum set up a 1-0 lead inside 19 minutes before a strike from Aleksandar Mitrovic doubled the led on 39 minutes, Spurs fought back on the hour mark through Erik Lamela before they were given a boost as Mitrovic was dismissed seven minutes later. However, the ten men on Newcastle powered on with Wijnaldum making it 3-1 on 73 minutes before a late double from Rolando Aarons (85) and Daryl Janmaat (86) completed a superb 5-1 rout.
Alike the Saints, West Ham had the chance to finish in a European spot as they travelled to face Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium. The Hammers struck first as Michail Antonio fired in on 23 minutes for a 1-0 lead but Stoke battled back and levelled on 55 minutes through Giannelli Imbula before a late strike from Mame Biram Diouf sealed a 2-1 win that left the Hammers seventh and relying on the outcome of the FA Cup final in order to secure European football while Stoke made it three ninth placed finishes in a row.
After securing safety in mid-week, Sunderland looked to end on a high as they travelled to face Watford at Vicarage Road. Jack Rodwell put the visitors ahead on 38 minutes before Sebastian Prodl levelled for the Hornets just two minutes after half-time. Jeremain Lens restored the lead for the visitors on 51 minutes but another leveller for the Hornets saw Troy Deeney secure a point in a 2-2 draw with a 61st minute penalty.
The season ender came on Tuesday night as Manchester United hosted Bournemouth with the hosts looking to claim fifth place with a win. United struck an opener late in the first half through Wayne Rooney before Marcus Rashford doubled the lead on 74 minutes. The win was wrapped up three minutes from then end by Ashley Young's strike but a last-gaps own goal from Chris Smalling made it 3-1 and denied United 'keeper David De Gea both a clean sheet and the Golden Glove award.
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