| Premier League | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
| C | Manchester City | 35 | 30 | 3 | 2 | 102 | 26 | +76 | 93 |
| 2 | Manchester United | 35 | 24 | 5 | 6 | 67 | 27 | +40 | 77 |
| 3 | Liverpool | 36 | 20 | 12 | 4 | 80 | 37 | +43 | 72 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 34 | 20 | 8 | 6 | 66 | 31 | +35 | 68 |
| 5 | Chelsea | 35 | 20 | 6 | 9 | 60 | 34 | +26 | 66 |
| 6 | Arsenal | 35 | 17 | 6 | 12 | 67 | 48 | +19 | 57 |
| 7 | Burnley | 36 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 35 | 32 | +3 | 54 |
| 8 | Everton | 36 | 13 | 9 | 14 | 42 | 54 | -12 | 48 |
CHAMPIONS Manchester City equalled the Premier League record for goals scored in a season as they racked up their 30th win of an outstanding campaign.
The Blues won 4-1 against struggling West Ham United at the London Stadium yesterday to bring up their century of strikes with three games still left to play.
Pep Guardiola's men had already been crowned champions a week earlier when cross-town rivals Manchester United lost 1-0 at home against bottom-of-the-table West Bromwich Albion.
It was hardly a glorious way for Man City to win their third Premier League and fifth English title overall.
Indeed, the best chance of unsurpassable glory came and went at the start of April when Man City unfathomably blew a dominant 2-0 half time lead to lose 3-2 to Jose Mourinho's Red Devils.
Man City also went out of the Champions League to Liverpool in the same week - but, since then, they have recovered their scoring touch and their sheer weight of goals makes them the most clear-cut title winners in many years.
Man United - who are in the FA Cup Final against Chelsea - look set to take the runners-up spot following Marouane Fellaini's stoppage time winner against Arsenal yesterday.
But the final two Champions League places are undecided as of yet.
Liverpool, in third place on 72 points, are in pole position for one of them having remained unbeaten at Anfield all season.
The Reds' 0-0 home draw against Stoke City suggested they may have other things on their mind, though.
After all, Jurgen Klopp's side - having beaten Man City in their all-English quarter final - travel to Roma in the semi finals this week with another three-goal lead to defend. An eighth European Cup final is theirs for the taking.
Of course, trophies have once again eluded Tottenham Hotspur this season - and fourth-placed Spurs must now be careful of being caught in the final Champions League place by a resurgent Chelsea.
Antonio Conte's displaced champions have won their last three games and belatedly look a threat - following their highly disappointing defence of the title.
At least Spurs can console themselves that they are guaranteed to finish above north London rivals Arsenal for a second year in a row.
Indeed, it came as no surprise when Arsene Wenger - amid growing discontent at the Gunners' away form - announced his intention to quit his post in the summer after a stunning 22 years at the club.
Defeat at Old Trafford was the Londoners' sixth away reverse in a row - and Arsenal are, in fact, the only club in the English league to fail to pick up a point on the road in 2018.
Yet, remarkably, Wenger's reign could still end in glorious fashion with victory in the Europa Cup final - and qualification for Champions League.
First, though, Arsenal will need to get past Atletico Madrid in the semi finals by repairing the damage of a disappointing 1-1 draw in the first leg at the Emirates. It looks to be a tough ask.
Meanwhile, at Turf Moor, European nights also look set to be on the menu for the first time since 1967 as Burnley pretty much sealed seventh place with a 0-0 draw at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.
The point keeps the Clarets six points clear of Everton - and the Lancastrians' superior goal difference makes it highly unlikely that the eighth-placed Toffees can catch Sean Dyche's men.
The point is also likely to keep Brighton in the top flight ahead of their tough run-in as West Ham, Huddersfield Town, and Swansea City currently lie in more danger just above the drop zone.
West Ham, in 15th on 35 points, are just three clear of Southampton in 18th after consecutive 4-1 defeats have left them with the leakiest defensive record in the division.
Meanwhile, Huddersfield - also on 35 points - have won just three times in 2018 as they aim to stay up in their first top-flight season since 1971-72.
Unfortunately for David Wagner's Terriers, they face Man City, Chelsea and Arsenal in their last three games - and so there does not appear to be much opportunity for the west Yorkshire club to top up their points total.
By contrast, Carlos Carvalhal's Swansea can be more hopeful - despite them sitting 17th after a run of just one win in eight.
After all, the Swans' remaining fixtures include home games against the two sides - Southampton and Stoke - who are immediately below them.
Naturally, those matches will be looked upon as big opportunities by the Saints and the Potters as well.
But Stoke know that, to get out of trouble, they will need at least four points - and probably all six - from their last two games because of their dreadful goal difference.
For West Brom, rock bottom since the end of January, the scenario is even simpler - only six points will do.
Even then the Baggies are reliant on a silly number of results somehow working in their favour - and all of this comes in spite of a decent late run under caretaker manager Darren Moore.
Two wins and two draws - including a victory at Old Trafford - have sent eight points to the Hawthorns since the start of April.
Unfortunately, the upsurge has also left fans wondering just what might have been if one-man managerial disaster Alan Pardew had been jettisoned sooner.
| 14 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 35 | 8 | 13 | 14 | 32 | 47 | -15 | 37 |
| 15 | West Ham United | 35 | 8 | 11 | 16 | 43 | 67 | -24 | 35 |
| 16 | Huddersfield Town | 35 | 9 | 8 | 18 | 27 | 56 | -29 | 35 |
| 17 | Swansea City | 35 | 8 | 9 | 18 | 27 | 52 | -25 | 33 |
| 18 | Southampton | 35 | 6 | 14 | 15 | 35 | 54 | -19 | 32 |
| 19 | Stoke City | 36 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 32 | 65 | -33 | 30 |
| 20 | West Bromwich Albion | 36 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 30 | 54 | -26 | 28 |
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| Championship | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
| C | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 45 | 30 | 9 | 6 | 82 | 36 | +46 | 99 |
| 2 | Cardiff City | 45 | 27 | 8 | 10 | 69 | 39 | +30 | 89 |
| 3 | Fulham | 45 | 25 | 13 | 7 | 78 | 43 | +35 | 88 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 45 | 24 | 11 | 10 | 72 | 41 | +31 | 83 |
| 5 | Middlesbrough | 45 | 22 | 9 | 14 | 65 | 43 | +22 | 75 |
| 6 | Derby County | 45 | 19 | 15 | 11 | 66 | 47 | +19 | 72 |
| 7 | Preston North End | 45 | 18 | 16 | 11 | 55 | 45 | +10 | 70 |
| 8 | Millwall | 45 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 55 | 45 | +10 | 69 |
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS turned on the style last Saturday as they beat struggling Bolton Wanderers 4-0 to seal the Championship title.
The Old Gold had already been promoted a week earlier when third-placed Fulham failed to beat Brentford.
And their only remaining aim now is to see whether they can top the 100 points mark in their final match against already-relegated Sunderland.
For Cardiff City and Fulham, however, the last day on Sunday promises to be a far more tension-filled affair.
The Cottagers have produced an extraordinary unbeaten run of 23 games to put behind their customary early season slumbers and rise from 17th in November to third place.
By contrast, the Bluebirds started brilliantly, winning their opening five games and losing just three times prior to the weekend before Christmas.
Since then, the pressure on Neil Warnock's unfancied side has told at times - but three wins out of the last four have kept the Welsh club's noses in front ahead of the final day.
Cardiff face Reading at home while Fulham travel to Birmingham City - and notably both of the promotion candidates' opponents have their own concerns at the other end of the table.
Aston Villa, in fourth, and Middlesbrough, in fifth, have already confirmed their places in the playoffs - but that will come as a disappointment in some ways for Villa considering their run of seven successive wins in the New Year.
Inconsistency either side of that sequence has prevented Steve Bruce's side from mounting a more serious challenge on the automatic promotion places, and a similar failure to string results together could also cost Boro.
At least, Villa and Boro already know that they have extra fixtures to fulfill.
Derby County remain on tenterhooks, as usual, ahead of their final game at home to Barnsley - for defeat could let in Preston North End if the Lilywhites win at home against Burton Albion.
Once again, both of these contenders' opponents have their own issues to sort out in an almighty scramble to avoid the two remaining relegation places.
Reading and Birmingham appear to be in easily the best positions as both effectively need just a point due to Burton's horrendous goal difference.
Unfortunately for them, though, they play the two automatic promotion contenders Cardiff and Fulham respectively.
Instead, Barnsley are first in line to be caught - the Tykes are currently outside the bottom three only on goal difference and, as mentioned, face playoff chasing Derby on the last day.
Not that it will be any easier for Burton away at Preston - though at least the Brewers can point to an extraordinary turnaround in recent form.
Three wins on the spin - including two against rivals Sunderland and Bolton - have provided genuine hope of this Championship odyssey earning a third chapter.
For Bolton, however, hope is receding fast. Defeat at Burton was the Trotters' sixth in their last seven matches and their poor goal difference means only a win against Nottingham Forest will be good enough.
Whatever happens on Sunday, one thing is certain - Sunderland are down and finishing rock bottom, having become only the third team in history to finish bottom of the top two tiers in successive seasons.
Of course, the Black Cats have been in the third tier before - for one season in 1987-88.
But, despite a backdrop of dwindling attendance, this has been an unexpected demise for many at a club whose players remain on Premier League wages.
The Mackems indeed only have themselves to blame having previously thrown bad money after worse in an attempt to stay on the top flight gravy train. They even resorted to playing a known child sex offender in their desperation to stay up.
Yesterday, former Wales boss Chris Coleman was the latest manager to depart from the pit of misery on Wearside with his reputation tarnished.
Coleman's departure came as American owner Ellis Short finally sold the club to Eastleigh chairman Stewart Donald.
And, indeed, it could well be that this ailing club has finally bottomed out.
Debt-free, Sunderland will be hoping to start afresh under new ownership and with a new manager and a more committed set of players. One thing for sure, though, is that it is a long way back.
| 19 | Reading | 45 | 10 | 13 | 22 | 48 | 70 | -22 | 43 |
| 20 | Birmingham City | 45 | 12 | 7 | 26 | 35 | 67 | -32 | 43 |
| 21 | Barnsley | 45 | 9 | 14 | 22 | 47 | 68 | -21 | 41 |
| 22 | Burton Albion | 45 | 10 | 11 | 24 | 37 | 79 | -42 | 41 |
| 23 | Bolton Wanderers | 45 | 9 | 13 | 23 | 36 | 72 | -36 | 40 |
| R | Sunderland | 45 | 6 | 16 | 23 | 49 | 80 | -31 | 34 |
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| League One | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
| P | Wigan Athletic | 45 | 28 | 11 | 6 | 88 | 29 | +59 | 95 |
| P | Blackburn Rovers | 45 | 27 | 12 | 6 | 80 | 39 | +41 | 93 |
| 3 | Shrewsbury Town | 45 | 25 | 12 | 8 | 60 | 38 | +22 | 87 |
| 4 | Rotherham United | 45 | 23 | 7 | 15 | 72 | 53 | +19 | 76 |
| 5 | Charlton Athletic | 45 | 20 | 11 | 14 | 58 | 50 | +8 | 71 |
| 6 | Scunthorpe United | 44 | 18 | 16 | 10 | 62 | 49 | +13 | 70 |
| 7 | Plymouth Argyle | 44 | 19 | 11 | 14 | 56 | 52 | +4 | 68 |
WIGAN ATHLETIC and Blackburn Rovers will battle it out for the League One title with both clubs having already sealed an immediate return to the Championship.
The Latics won promotion on 21 April after their 4-0 thumping of Fleetwood Town made it a remarkable fifth end-of-season change of division in the last six years.
Meanwhile, Rovers' return to the second tier was confirmed three days later in a 1-0 midweek win at Doncaster Rovers.
At the weekend, both clubs surprisingly failed to win. Wigan may have felt they had messed up by only taking a point at home to AFC Wimbledon - but Blackburn suffered just their sixth defeat of the season at playoff chasers Charlton Athletic.
Wigan, now with a two-point advantage and better goal difference, travel to Doncaster on the final day effectively in need of just a single point for the title.
Blackburn, however, should take advantage of any slip ups at home to mid-table Oxford United.
Of course, for much of the season, there was a three-horse race at the top of the division - but inconsistent form since March has left long-time leaders Shrewsbury Town out of the running.
Nevetherless, this has still been an excellent campaign for the Shropshire club - and they could yet reach the second tier for the first time since 1989 through the playoffs.
Fourth-placed Rotherham United have also already confirmed their place in the top six, something which represents a decent recovery by Paul Warne's men following their own tough relegation last year.
However, the last two playoff places remain up for grabs. Charlton - currently in fifth - did their chances the world of good with that win over Blackburn and the Addicks probably need just a point at Rochdale to be sure.
After all, Lee Bowyer's men can only benefit from the fact that their two closest rivals Scunthorpe United and Plymouth Argyle actually face each other in a vital clash on Tuesday.
At the bottom, Bury have long been consigned to their fate, becoming the team in the top four divisions to go down after their 3-2 home defeat by Northampton Town on 14 April.
The Cobblers followed up that result with an impressive victory against Plymouth - but defeat on Saturday at Walsall has left them three points adrift heading into the final day.
Northampton have the worst defence and by far the worst goal difference in the division - and therefore only hold a technical chance of retaining League One status.
But not even that applies to controversial Buckinghamshire side Milton Keynes Dons who return to the basement league for the first time in 10 years following a sixth successive defeat.
Effectively then, there is just one more place left to be decided - and Rochdale, who have now used up a series of games in hand, suffered a highly damaging defeat on Saturday at Oxford to drop into the bottom four.
The Dale replaced Oldham Athletic in the relegation places after the Latics secured a 0-0 draw against Doncaster.
Oldham, looking to secure a 22nd consecutive season at the third level of English football, travel to Northampton on the final day - and, while Rochdale are at home, their task against in-form Charlton appears much tougher.
AFC Wimbledon and Walsall are not yet mathematically safe - but both could secure their League One status on Tuesday in their games in hand against Bradford City and Doncaster respectively.
As such, it seems certain that the real scramble to survive will be between the two Greater Manchester clubs below them.
| 18 | Walsall | 44 | 13 | 12 | 19 | 52 | 63 | -11 | 51 |
| 19 | AFC Wimbledon | 44 | 13 | 12 | 19 | 45 | 56 | -11 | 51 |
| 20 | Oldham Athletic | 45 | 11 | 16 | 18 | 56 | 73 | -17 | 49 |
| 21 | Rochdale | 45 | 10 | 18 | 17 | 48 | 57 | -9 | 48 |
| 22 | Northampton Town | 45 | 12 | 10 | 23 | 41 | 75 | -43 | 46 |
| R | Milton Keynes Dons | 45 | 10 | 12 | 23 | 42 | 69 | -27 | 42 |
| R | Bury | 45 | 8 | 11 | 26 | 39 | 69 | -30 | 32 |
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| League Two | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
| C | Accrington Stanley | 45 | 29 | 6 | 10 | 76 | 43 | +33 | 93 |
| P | Luton Town | 45 | 25 | 12 | 8 | 94 | 46 | +48 | 87 |
| P | Wycombe Wanderers | 45 | 23 | 12 | 10 | 78 | 60 | +18 | 81 |
| 4 | Exeter City | 45 | 23 | 8 | 14 | 63 | 54 | +9 | 77 |
| 5 | Notts County | 45 | 21 | 13 | 11 | 71 | 48 | +23 | 76 |
| 6 | Coventry City | 45 | 22 | 8 | 15 | 64 | 47 | +17 | 74 |
| 7 | Lincoln City | 45 | 20 | 14 | 11 | 63 | 47 | +16 | 74 |
| 8 | Mansfield Town | 45 | 18 | 17 | 10 | 66 | 51 | +15 | 71 |
ACCRINGTON STANLEY achieved their first ever promotion to the third tier of English football - and sealed the League Two title on Saturday with a 1-0 win over playoff contenders Lincoln City.
Stanley - once derided in a 1980s milk advert - only returned to the Football League in 2006 following the collapse of the original league club in the 1960s.
But every club deserves a day in the sun - and the Lancastrians certainly got theirs when Jordan Clark scrambled the winner in front of a record 4,753 fans at the Crown Ground.
Free-scoring Luton Town also comfortably gained promotion, scoring four or more goals on no fewer than seven occasions across the season.
The Hatters had to settle for three on Saturday against Forest Green Rovers but that was still enough to secure the runners-up spot, as all of automatic promotion places were decided ahead of the final day.
Wycombe Wanderers took the third spot as their 2-1 win over relegated Chesterfield and a shock defeat for Exeter City at Stevenage combined to leave the Chairboys four points clear.
Exeter remain in fourth place - and guaranteed of a playoff place - as Notts County also suffered an unexpected defeat at Grimsby Town, a result which secured the Mariners' League Two status.
And so it was left to the biggest club in the division - Coventry City - to produce the performance of the day with a 6-1 thumping of Cheltenham Town.
The Sky Blues' biggest win of the season increased the prospect of the club finishing in the top six of a division for the first time since 1969-70 and notably pushed their goal difference past their playoff rivals.
Lincoln are currently in the lowest playoff spot, level on points with Coventry, as the Imps aim for a second successive promotion having already tasted Wembley success this season in the EFL Trophy Final.
Mansfield Town are the only other club in contention - and the Stags need to beat Crawley and hope either Lincoln or Coventry lose home games against Yeovil or Morecambe respectively.
Interestingly, the Coventry-Morecambe match is also a massive match for the Shrimps following their awful 1-0 defeat at home to Barnet.
Jim Bentley's men started the day five points clear - and could have killed off the Bees' hopes even with just a draw.
But Alex Nicholls's late winner was enough to push Martin Allen's side to within two points of safety.
Furthermore, Barnet's last fixtures comes against rock-bottom Chesterfield who have fallen out of the Football League for the first time since 1921 amid a sequence of four successive defeats.
The Spireites may have a game in hand against mid-table Newport County on Tuesday but the fate of the Midlands' club - a second successive relegation - has already been sealed.
| 22 | Morecambe | 45 | 9 | 18 | 18 | 41 | 56 | -15 | 45 |
| 23 | Barnet | 45 | 11 | 10 | 24 | 43 | 65 | -22 | 43 |
| R | Chesterfield | 44 | 9 | 8 | 27 | 46 | 80 | -34 | 35 |
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| National League | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
| C | Macclesfield Town | 46 | 27 | 11 | 8 | 67 | 46 | +21 | 92 |
| 2 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 24 | 10 | 12 | 78 | 46 | +32 | 82 |
| 3 | Sutton United | 46 | 23 | 10 | 13 | 67 | 53 | +14 | 79 |
| 4 | Boreham Wood | 46 | 20 | 15 | 11 | 64 | 47 | +17 | 75 |
| 5 | Aldershot Town | 46 | 20 | 15 | 11 | 64 | 52 | +12 | 75 |
| 6 | Ebbsfleet United | 46 | 19 | 17 | 10 | 64 | 50 | +14 | 74 |
| 7 | AFC Fylde | 46 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 82 | 56 | +27 | 73 |
| 8 | Dover Athletic | 46 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 62 | 44 | +18 | 73 |
MACCLESFIELD TOWN returned to the Football League after an absence of six seasons following a 2-0 win away at Eastleigh on 21 April.
The Silkmen had been top of the division since December - and, though Aldershot Town closed to within a point of them in January, the Cheshire club lost just once after that to pull away again.
Wirral club Tranmere Rovers finished in second place - and, along with Sutton United, have qualified automatically for a home playoff semi final.
Before then, though, there will be two one-legged qualifiers between the teams who finished between fourth and seventh.
Boreham Wood host AFC Fylde while Aldershot take on Ebbsfleet United - with Dover Athletic having just missed out in eighth place.
The Whites' final day win over Woking was rendered irrelevant as Fylde played out a 0-0 draw at Wrexham.
However, it would have been harsh on the divisional top scorers Fylde if they had missed out on these revamped playoffs - especially as it is the Coasters' first season at this level.
Ultimately then, the result at the Dover-Woking meant far more to the latter as they were relegated following a six-year stay in the non league top division.
Meanwhile, the fate of Guiseley, fan-owned Chester, and Torquay United had all already been determined in advance of the final day.
Salford City - champions of the National League North - and Havant & Waterlooville - champions of the National League South - are two of teams promoted to replace them.
The other two places will again be decided by playoffs in the respective North and South divisions.
| 20 | Barrow | 46 | 11 | 16 | 19 | 51 | 63 | -12 | 49 |
| R | Woking | 46 | 13 | 9 | 24 | 55 | 76 | -21 | 48 |
| R | Torquay United | 46 | 10 | 12 | 24 | 45 | 73 | -28 | 42 |
| R | Chester FC | 46 | 8 | 13 | 25 | 42 | 79 | -37 | 37 |
| R | Guiseley | 46 | 7 | 12 | 27 | 44 | 89 | -45 | 33 |
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