Regardless of struggling a irritating 1-0 defeat at residence to Everton on the ultimate day of the Premier League season, Newcastle have snatched the ultimate Champions League spot.
St James’ Park was a cauldron of nerves and anticipation, with Newcastle’s future in their very own palms.
And the Magpies began brightly, with early forays down the flanks involving Anthony Gordon and Jacob Murphy stretching the Everton backline.
Nonetheless, the Toffees stood agency, and because the half wore on, it grew to become a story of missed probabilities and Pickford’s brilliance.
The previous Sunderland goalkeeper was on the coronary heart of all of it, incomes boos and jeers from the house trustworthy, however responding with an impressed efficiency.
31 minutes in, Pickford produced an excellent double save – first denying Tonali’s low drive earlier than reacting shortly to thwart Isak’s rebound.
Moments later, he pulled off a unprecedented cease to push Botman’s header over the bar, after which denied the identical defender with an outstretched leg as Newcastle peppered the Everton purpose.
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – WE ARE BACK! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/yoLutPa4Rg
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) Could 25, 2025
For all of Newcastle’s 71.9% possession within the final quarter-hour of the primary half, the impasse was not damaged, and St James’ Park started to sense that it might be a kind of days.
Everton, for his or her half, carried a menace on the break, with Mykolenko and Harrison combining effectively down the left, and Alcaraz testing Pope simply earlier than the interval with a header that was brilliantly tipped over.
After the break, Newcastle’s intent didn’t waver, however Everton grew into the sport and surprised the house followers within the sixty fifth minute.
Mykolenko, harmful all afternoon, swung in an inviting cross from the left, and Carlos Alcaraz rose to look a header into the bottom-right nook.
As Newcastle pushed for an equaliser, information filtered by way of of objectives elsewhere – a second for Manchester United towards Aston Villa – which sparked reduction round St James’ Park.
Regardless of Everton’s stout defending and Pickford’s continued heroics, which included stops from Isak and a late Guimaraes strike, Newcastle knew their place in Europe’s elite was secure if outcomes held.
The ultimate minutes have been frantic, with Newcastle throwing all the things ahead. Schar, now virtually an auxiliary striker, fired over, whereas Osula and Willock each went shut however did not discover a breakthrough.
Everton held on to a hard-earned win that noticed them safe thirteenth place, however the greater information was the Toon’s ticket to the Champions League.
Premier League last day outcomes, desk
Right here’s the complete checklist of Premier League outcomes from the ultimate day of the season.
Bournemouth 2-0 Leicester
Fulham 0-2 Man Metropolis
Ipswich 1-3 West Ham
Liverpool 1-1 Palace
Man United 2-0 Villa
Newcastle 0-1 Everton
Forest 0-1 Chelsea
Southampton 1-2 Arsenal
Spurs 1-4 Brighton
Wolves 1-1 Brentford
