🔬 The Debrief from Saturday’s dramatic Premier League action | OneFootball

On the final Saturday of the Premier League season, eight games gave us goals, drama and major implications at both ends of the table.

Let’s take a look at what went on.

What happened?

Manchester City moved ever-closer to a fourth consecutive title with a dominant 4-0 victory at Fulham that sees them leapfrog Arsenal back into top spot.

At the other end of the table, Burnley’s relegation to the Championship was confirmed with a 2-1 loss at Tottenham, while Luton’s 3-1 defeat to West Ham leaves them requiring a miracle on the final day. Everton also beat Sheffield United 1-0 at Goodison Park.

In the battle for European qualification, Spurs’ victory means they are still in the Champions League race and have near-secured Europa League football at the very least. Chelsea’s 3-2 win at Forest keeps them in seventh but level on points with Newcastle, who could only draw 1-1 at home to Brighton.

In the two mid-table clashes, Crystal Palace’s stunning form under Oliver Glasner continued with a 3-1 win at Wolves, which seems them overtake them and into 12th. Meanwhile, Brentford came away from a dramatic ending at Bournemouth with a 2-1 victory.

Player of the day

After his two-goal showing in Palace’s stunning 4-0 victory against Manchester United last Monday, it would be understandable if Michael Olise’s levels slightly dropped today at Wolves.

Instead, he continued where he left off with another brilliant display that saw him grab another goal and assist in a 3-1 victory at Molineux.

His goal opened the scoring and was a now-typical Olise strike, as he cut inside and brilliantly curled home from the edge of the box. His assist was for his side’s third, which was scored by Palace’s other magician, Eberechi Eze. He also played a part in Jean-Philippe Mateta’s latest goal.

Despite playing just 18 games this season due to a series of injuries, the 22-year-old has 10 goals and five assists to his name.

It is little wonder he is being linked with a summer transfer many of the so-called bigger clubs, and might he even force Didier Deschamps to promote him from the French Under-21s in time for EURO 2024?

Stat of the day

Chelsea’s topsy-turvy 3-2 win at Nottingham Forest was their first away win in three months but it did show further signs that Mauricio Pochettino is slowly building something with his young side.

There is still a long way to go, as the Argentinian will know well, and fixing their leaky defence would be a good first step.

With the context of changing goalkeepers mid-season and an ever-rotating back four/back five due to injuries and form, it might not be as bad, but it still a rather shocking statistic given the Blues’ long-held reputation as one of the more watertight teams.

As ever with Chelsea in the Todd Boehly era, whatever happens next will be worth watching.

What this means

City’s win at Craven Cottage means Pep Guardiola’s side are now just two wins away from another title, with Fulham being the latest side unable to give Arsenal a helping hand. If the Gunners fail to win at Old Trafford tomorrow, the ribbons may as well be put on the trophy.

Their captain for their first four Premier League successes, Vincent Kompany, had a day to forget as his Burnley side joined Sheffield United in an immediate return to the second-tier.

Luton are almost certain to join them barring a 13-goal swing with Nottingham Forest on the final day, meaning the three promoted sides will go straight back for only the second time in the Premier League era, the other being the 1997/98 season.

Tottenham will need a hand from Liverpool on Monday night if their top four hopes are to remain alive by the time they play City on Tuesday, while Chelsea and Newcastle are both in action midweek as the race for Europe goes to the wire.

What they said

On the title race, Pep Guardiola said: “Our dream is as we said a few weeks ago when they [Arsenal] lost against Aston Villa – to arrive in the last games with it in our hands. To play West Ham at home with the destiny belonging to us.”

After he added fuel to the fire about his future at Chelsea yesterday, Mauricio Pochettino said: “To clarify, if the owner is happy with my job, we can continue. I am always a coach who is thinking long term. I still have one more year in my contract and I am thinking to be here”

Vincent Kompany was already thinking of next season following Burnley’s relegation, adding “Tomorrow we start, day one,” while a tearful Luton boss Rob Edwards noted that “It was really difficult, hugging Locks (captain Tom Lockyer who collapsed earlier in the season) at the end and seeing how the supporters reacted made me emotional.”

What comes next?

Sunday sees Manchester United host Arsenal at Old Trafford in another key clash in the race for the title. United also need a result to keep alive any hope of European qualification through the league, as well as to lift the mood around the club.

Aston Villa and Liverpool clash on Monday night at Villa Park in a battle between fourth and third. Unai Emery’s side will qualify for the Champions League for the first time in over 40 years with a win.

Manchester City travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday night as the run-in reaches boiling point, while United versus Newcastle and Brighton versus Chelsea close out the midweek games.

Next Sunday sees all 20 teams in action on the final day of the season. What will be left to play for by then?