Premier League Matchweek 37 produced exactly the kind of weekend the final weeks of a season should deliver.
Between Friday, 16 May and Sunday, 18 May 2026, seven matches threw the European qualification race wide open, handed the title initiative firmly to Arsenal, and confirmed the relegation of two sides.
There is still plenty left to settle. Three matches remain this week, including Arsenal vs Burnley tonight and two massive Tuesday fixtures involving Manchester City and Chelsea. But the results already in have shifted the entire landscape heading into the season’s final stretch.
Aston Villa set the tone on Friday night. A stunning 4-2 victory over Liverpool at Villa Park, with Ollie Watkins scoring twice and Morgan Rogers adding a memorable goal, secured Champions League football for Villa next season.
It also dealt a serious blow to Liverpool’s hopes of returning to Europe’s elite competition. Everything felt different after that result. Before the rest of the weekend even began, the tone was set, and the stakes were raised.
However, the most important storyline of the entire matchweek, though, remains unfinished. Arsenal entered Matchweek 37 sitting two points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table, with a goal difference of plus 42 compared to City’s plus 43.
Two wins for the Gunners seal the title outright. Anything less hands City a lifeline heading into the final day. That is why tonight’s home game against relegated Burnley matters far more than the scoreline alone will suggest.
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Matchweek 37 Results: What Happened
Here is a full summary of the completed fixtures:
- Aston Villa 4-2 Liverpool (Friday, 16 May)
- Manchester United 3-2 Nottingham Forest (Sunday, 17 May)
- Brentford 2-2 Crystal Palace (Sunday, 17 May)
- Everton 1-3 Sunderland (Sunday, 17 May)
- Leeds United 1-0 Brighton (Sunday, 17 May)
- Wolves 1-1 Fulham (Sunday, 17 May)
- Newcastle United 3-1 West Ham (Sunday, 17 May)
Still to play this week:
- Arsenal vs Burnley (Monday, 18 May)
- Bournemouth vs Manchester City (Tuesday, 19 May)
- Chelsea vs Tottenham (Tuesday, 19 May)
Villa Clinch Champions League, Liverpool Pay the Price
Ollie Watkins was the story of Friday night. He scored twice, drove relentlessly at Liverpool’s defence throughout, and produced exactly the performance Unai Emery needed on the biggest home occasion of Villa’s season. Morgan Rogers added a stunning opener in the 41st minute before Watkins struck in the 56th and 72nd minutes. John McGinn completed the rout in the 88th. Virgil van Dijk scored twice for Liverpool but it was not nearly enough.
Villa are confirmed in the top four with 62 points. For Liverpool, the defeat stings badly. They now need results to go their way on Tuesday and on the final day to have any hope of Champions League football. It is a difficult position to be in with one game to spare.
Newcastle Surge, Sunderland Stun Everton
Newcastle produced one of the performances of the weekend at St. James’ Park. Nick Woltemade opened the scoring after just 14 minutes and William Osula added a brace to see off West Ham 3-1. Osula has now started six consecutive matches and scored five goals in that run, making him one of the form forwards in the division. Newcastle look locked in heading into the final week.
Sunderland, meanwhile, produced an outstanding comeback at Goodison Park. Brian Brobbey, Enzo Le Fée, and Wilson Isidor all scored as the Black Cats overturned Merlin Röhl’s opener to win 3-1. Therefore, the result keeps Sunderland’s European ambitions alive heading into the final two fixtures of the season.
Forest’s UCL Dream Survives, Just
Nottingham Forest lost 3-2 at Old Trafford, but their Champions League hopes remain mathematically alive. Manchester United goals from Luke Shaw, Matheus Cunha, and Bryan Mbeumo edged a competitive match, with Morgan Gibbs-White giving Forest a late lifeline after Morato’s 52nd-minute strike. Forest needed a result and did not get one. However, other results around them mean the dream is not dead yet.
The Relegation Picture
Wolves and Burnley are both confirmed down. Meanwhile, the fight for survival now centres on West Ham and Tottenham, who sit 18th and 17th, respectively. West Ham’s 3-1 defeat at Newcastle leaves them in serious trouble. Tottenham face Chelsea on Tuesday and Everton on the final day. Both results carry massive consequences for who accompanies Wolves and Burnley into the Championship next season.
What Comes Next
Tonight, Arsenal face Burnley at the Emirates Stadium. A win puts the Gunners firmly in control of the title race with just one match remaining. On Tuesday, Manchester City travel to Bournemouth while Chelsea hosts Tottenham in a match that could decide the final European qualification spots and the relegation picture simultaneously.
If Arsenal win both of their remaining matches, they will be crowned Premier League champions regardless of what Manchester City do. The Gunners already have a Champions League final against PSG in Budapest on 30 May to look forwards to. A domestic title on top of that would make this the most successful season in Arsenal’s modern history. Will they hold their nerve? Tonight gives us the first answer.
