The penultimate week of the season saw some drama as the final standings are yet to be sealed, and although a lot of teams know they have little other than pride to play for, they will keep up the fight until the final whistle, and as a result we were given plenty of quality games.

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City In Control

Manchester City walked into Craven Cottage knowing the title would tilt firmly in their favour with a win, and they produced exactly the kind of ruthless, controlled performance that champions tend to deliver in May. Their 4–0 victory over Fulham was not just comprehensive; it was authoritative, the sort of display that signals to rivals that there will be no late-season wobble. Pep Guardiola’s side looked sharp, confident and frighteningly efficient, sweeping aside Marco Silva’s team with ease.

What made the win particularly striking was the source of the goals. Josko Gvardiol, nominally a defender, stepped up with a brace, an illustration of just how many threats City can produce from all over the pitch. Phil Foden added another to continue his outstanding season, and Julián Álvarez rounded things off from the penalty spot. City never looked troubled, never hurried, and never looked like anything other than champions-in-waiting.

The table told the story even more emphatically. With those three points, Manchester City climbed two clear of Arsenal heading into the final weekend. The message was simple: keep winning, and the trophy stays in Manchester for a fourth consecutive season, an unprecedented potential achievement in English top-flight history. It meant Arsenal, despite their own excellent campaign, were left hoping for a slip that never usually arrives.

By the end of the weekend, the narrative felt familiar. City had timed their surge perfectly once again, hitting peak form when it mattered most. While the title race was technically still alive, the momentum was unmistakably sky-blue, and the pressure had shifted heavily onto Arsenal’s shoulders.

European Places

If Manchester City brought calm control, Aston Villa and Liverpool brought pure chaos on Monday night. Their 3–3 draw was one of the most dramatic matches of the season, swinging wildly from one side to the other and delivering a flurry of talking points. Villa Park buzzed with tension and disbelief as both teams produced moments of brilliance alongside defensive calamities. For the neutral, it was glorious; for supporters, it was nerve-shredding.

Liverpool looked comfortable for long spells, helped in part by a bizarre Aston Villa own goal and some sharp attacking play. But the game refused to settle into any kind of rhythm. Disallowed goals, contentious VAR moments and long delays for decisions added to a growing sense that anything could happen, and often did. It was one of those nights where players and fans alike had reason to question what counted as “clear and obvious” anymore.

Then came the late twist. Jhon Durán stepped off the bench and produced a remarkable two-goal burst to haul Villa back from the brink. His equaliser sent Villa Park into raptures and ensured the home side walked away with a point that felt more like a victory in the context of the top-four race. For Liverpool, however, it felt like another frustrating chapter in a season that fizzled out after their title push collapsed.

The result mattered far beyond the entertainment. Villa’s point left them strongly positioned in the fight for Champions League qualification, a milestone achievement within reach for Unai Emery’s side. Liverpool, meanwhile, lost the opportunity to secure extra breathing space in their own standings. It was a match rich in drama, but also rich in consequences.

Drop Zone

At the other end of the table, emotions were very different. Burnley’s 2–1 defeat at Tottenham confirmed their return to the Championship after just a single season back in the Premier League. It was a cruel evening for Vincent Kompany’s side: they actually took the lead, sparking brief hope, but Tottenham’s quality proved too much and the match slipped away. In truth, Burnley had been flirting with relegation for months, and this loss simply sealed the inevitable.

The manner of their relegation summed up their season, moments of promise undermined by defensive gaps and the inability to see games out. Burnley tried to stick to their principles, but the Premier League showed little mercy. Spurs’ comeback not only ended Burnley’s survival hopes but did so in a way that underlined the gulf between clubs fighting for Europe and clubs fighting simply to stay afloat.

Elsewhere, Luton Town’s 3–1 defeat to West Ham dealt another heavy blow to their already slim chances of staying up. Rob Edwards’ side battled bravely all season, often punching above their weight, but this was another example of a match getting away from them in crucial moments. West Ham proved too strong, and the result left Luton needing something close to a miracle on the final day.

The wider relegation picture felt symbolic: Burnley officially gone, Luton virtually gone, and the scale of the challenge for promoted teams laid bare once more. Survival in the Premier League is brutal, and Week 37 provided a reminder that even the fight can be unforgiving. The drama at the top may capture headlines, but the heartbreak at the bottom is every bit as significant, and just as emotional.

Matchday 37 Player of the Week: Josko Gvardiol With a brace from left-back, Gvardiol made it very likely that the title will once again belong to Manchester City, as they cruised to victory over Fulham. While it will go down to the final day, the goals could prove vital next week.

Matchday 37 Game of the Week: Nottingham Forest 2-3 Chelsea With a late Chelsea fightback in the 80th and 82nd minute, Nottingham Forest now head into the final round of games with their fate still to be sealed. For Chelsea, it’s still hoped they can claim some European qualification, but in what competition?

Let us know over on Twitter (@NextGoalWinBlog) what you made of the thirty-seventh round of fixtures, and what you’re looking forward to in the next game week.