And so it all came down to this: the final day of the 2025-26 Premier League season; a chance to make a final mark and, in the case of Spurs, West Ham and a plethora of clubs chasing European places, become a hero.
There were plenty of pre-match SBOTOP Premier League 2026 betting odds to get excited about and, as the afternoon developed, so the odds fluctuated,
Ultimately, the vast majority of eyes were on the sides placed 17th and 18th as disaster loomed for the team which lost its Premier League status with massive losses, both financially and prestige, awaiting.
Were we about to witness the biggest fall from grace in modern football history (Spurs) or were London rivals West Ham going to lose their place after 14 years back?
When Spurs took the lead at home to Everton just before the breakthrough a player I really admire, Joao Palhinha, any jeopardy was significantly reduced.
Barring a monumental goal swing, Spurs had only needed a draw and the celebrations amongst home players and supporters showed their glee.
West Ham instantly knew that even victory would not be enough to save them.
Into the second half, they did their bit. First Taty Castellanos, a decent January signing, powered home a header from a Jarrod Bowen corner.
Then the latter – who will surely not play in the Championship next term – drilled in a right-footed shot to make the game seemingly safe for the Hammers.
All eyes moved back to North London but, in truth, Spurs were comfortable against an Everton side who knew even a win would not be enough to seal a European place and, in many ways, were the ideal opponents.
Even when Callum Wison added a stoppage time third for the Hammers, they knew the game was up.
As the boos arrived, directed at the club board rather than the players or manager Nuno Espirito Santo, so the questions began in earnest:
Which of Bowen, Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville get sold? Or all of them? Will Nuno stay? What will happen to the balance of power between David Sullivan and Daniel Kretinsky, to London Stadium gates and to revenue including the massive hit to TV money?
So many questions need addressing.
As for Spurs, a mighty relief and surely they will be nowhere near this position ever again. This should be a massive wake-up call for one of England’s finest.
Away from the relegation fight, there were plenty of other Premier League 2026 highlights which had onlookers hooked.
It was party time at the Etihad as domestic cup double winners Manchester City (already confirmed as runners-up to Arsenal) welcomed newly crowned Europa League winners Aston Villa to town.
In the visitors’ corner was Unai Emery, a manager I believe has outperformed all his counterparts again this term.
In the home corner, it was time to pay a fond farewell to Pep Guardiola as he prepared to depart City after a decade in which he has led to the club to 17 trophies.
One of his two superb January signings, Antoine Semenyo – a contender for footballer of the year through his exploits with both Bournemouth and City – gave them a 23rd minute lead as they dominated the first half.
Yet, somehow, despite their exertions in midweek, Villa turned it around at the break and a double from Ollie Watkins, quite a frontman, clinched a first league doble over City since 1963.
Fourth place and Emery the manager of the year for me.
There was also a significant farewell occasion on Merseyside as Mohamed Salah took his leave from Liverpool where he has developed into a club great over the past nine years.
It was always likely to be a little low-key, given the hosts couldn’t wait for the season to end, but they still knew they had to get a positive result to make sure of sealing a return to the Champions League next term.
By contrast, the Bees of Brentford knew that depending on results elsewhere, they could secure European football with a draw or victory.
Their 1-1 draw was a fine result as Kevin Schade cancelled out an opener from Curtis Jones, and, while not quite enough to secure a maiden European campaign, Keith Andrews’ men have been one of the teams of the season.
The actual team of the season gong for me, though, is shared between Bournemouth and Sunderland.
The Cherries, who have also sold a number of their leading performers over the past year, had already qualified for Europe with a midweek draw against City and another 1-1 draw, this time at Nottingham Forest, confirmed sixth spot and a place in the Europa League next term.
Farewell and thank you Andoni Iraola.
Superb Sunderland claimed seventh place and the final Euro berth with an impressive 2-1 home victory over Chelsea.
Given a number of the west Londoners players cost more than the entire Black Cats’ squad combined tells you everything you need to know about their achievement (and Chelsea’s woeful position).
For a newly promoted team, led by the astute Regis Le Bris, to finish so high is superb and they rounded off the season with a Trai Hume opener and an own goal to run out 2-1 winners.
If we have a manager of the year and a team(s) of the year, I finish with my player of the year.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes was named Premier League player of the season two days ago to add to his Football Writers Association honour and, who knows, perhaps the PFA gong to come.
But, either way, the United skipper deserves all the plaudits after becoming the Premier League record holder for most assists in a season.
His corner, headed home by Patrick Dorgu for the opener in a 3-0 win at Brighton (who will be mightily disappointed as a draw would have booked the Seagulls a place in Europe for the second time in four seasons), took his tally to a record 21 in a single campaign.
He also scored the final goal of the game to round off a fabulous personal campaign.
Captain Magnifico.
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