The 2025-26 Premier League season reached a dramatic finale on Sunday, with Tottenham narrowly edging past Everton to relegate West Ham despite the Hammers’ 3-0 win over Leeds United. Up north, Sunderland stunned Chelsea to secure Europa League qualification, denying the Club World Cup champions any European football next season.

Elsewhere, Manchester City bid an emotional farewell to legendary manager Pep Guardiola, while Liverpool icon Mohamed Salah concluded a glittering nine-year spell at Anfield. But the most emotional scene unfolded at Selhurst Park, where Arsenal fans celebrated their first Premier League title in 22 years.

Here’s a look at the biggest winners and losers from the 2025-26 Premier League campaign.

WINNER: Set-piece coaches

Liverpool’s disastrous title defence had many causes, but their vulnerability at set-pieces stood out. Coach Arne Slot admitted before the final game against Brentford that the game had evolved, and Liverpool had paid the price for failing to adapt. The Reds promoted Aaron Briggs to set-piece coach last September, but it backfired; he was gone by December. The lesson from the season is clear — elite teams now need elite set-piece specialists. Every division winner in England’s top four leagues scored the most from dead-ball situations. Liverpool must now find their own Nicolas Jover or Austin MacPhee if they want to compete again.

LOSER: Liverpool’s decision-makers

Arne Slot managed to keep his job, but fans have turned against him after one of the worst title defences in Premier League history. Salah’s public criticism of the team’s style and standards hinted at deeper issues. Fenway Sports Group’s football CEO Michael Edwards and sporting director Richard Hughes spent £450 million last summer, but the overhaul weakened the team. Only Hugo Ekitike proved a success before an Achilles injury ended his season. Florian Wirtz underwhelmed, Giorgi Mamardashvili failed to impress, Jeremie Frimpong struggled with injuries, and Alexander Isak became one of the league’s biggest flops. With fans losing patience, next season will be decisive for Slot, Edwards, and Hughes — all out of contract in 2027.

LOSER: Ruben Amorim

Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United tenure looked poor when he was dismissed in January, but Michael Carrick’s revival of the same squad made it humiliating. Amorim’s team sat sixth despite no European distractions, while Carrick guided United to third, earning more points in the second half of the season than any other manager. Carrick’s simple tactical tweaks — restoring Bruno Fernandes behind the striker, dropping the back-three, and reinstating Kobbie Mainoo — highlighted Amorim’s stubbornness. At 41, Amorim still has time to rebuild, but his spell in England will be remembered for confusion and tactical rigidity.

WINNER: Bruno Fernandes

Some argue the Player of the Season should come from the champions — but not this year. Arsenal’s stars were strong, yet Bruno Fernandes was unmatched in influence. The Portuguese captain broke the Premier League assists record previously held by Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry, carrying Manchester United to third place almost single-handedly. Not always the most likeable figure, Fernandes nevertheless proved himself indispensable — the most productive No.10 in world football over the past five years.

LOSER: BlueCo

There’s some optimism at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea’s owners, BlueCo, finally plan to recruit proven players instead of just youth prospects — reportedly convincing Xabi Alonso to take charge after Liam Rosenior’s exit. Yet, Chelsea’s 2025-26 campaign was a disaster. After the Club World Cup triumph, they were tipped for a title challenge, but chaos followed Enzo Maresca’s sacking. Rosenior lost the dressing room and was dismissed after five straight league defeats without scoring. Missing out on the Champions League hurt both finances and morale, and fans made their anger clear at Wembley with banners reading, “BlueCo out! We want our Chelsea back.”

WINNER: Enzo Maresca

Being sacked mid-season rarely makes a manager a winner, but Enzo Maresca’s fortunes took a positive turn. His outspoken comments at Chelsea hastened his exit, but he was already lined up as Guardiola’s successor at Manchester City. Since his departure, Chelsea’s collapse has only improved his reputation. Players like Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella publicly lamented his firing, calling him the architect of their Club World Cup success. Now, Maresca joins a stable, well-run City — a major upgrade from the chaos at Stamford Bridge.

LOSER: Ange Postecoglou

Nottingham Forest’s manager Ange Postecoglou boldly promised his stint at the City Ground would end “with a trophy.” Instead, he was sacked the next day — just 18 minutes after a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea. The Australian’s tenure lasted only 39 days, the shortest in Premier League history. Despite his attacking ideals, he failed to win any of his eight games, deepening the perception of him as a manager who couldn’t adapt after his Spurs exit.

WINNER: Mikel Arteta

This was a defining season for Mikel Arteta. After five trophyless years, he finally delivered Arsenal’s first league crown since 2004. The football wasn’t always beautiful — Arsenal relied heavily on set-pieces and time-wasting — but effectiveness trumped aesthetics. Even Thierry Henry admitted the style wasn’t pretty but praised the results. Arteta has turned Arsenal from “specialists in failure” into England’s best team, and possibly Europe’s next champions.

LOSER: Manchester City

May 19, 2026, marked a sombre day for Manchester City fans. Guardiola’s confirmed departure overshadowed their failed title bid, which ended with a loss at Bournemouth. Though he leaves with two domestic cups and an enduring legacy, City face an uncertain future. Bernardo Silva is also leaving, and if Rodri or Erling Haaland follow, the club could face a daunting rebuild. Guardiola’s aura was City’s greatest asset — and it won’t be easy to replace.

WINNER: Unai Emery

Unai Emery transformed Aston Villa’s fortunes from early-season relegation fears to a top-four finish and their first European trophy in 30 years. His tactical brilliance and man-management turned underperformers into Champions League qualifiers. Former CEO Paul Faulkner hailed him as “a genius” who unified the squad and restored belief. Once mocked at Arsenal, Emery is now revered at Villa Park.

LOSER: Harvey Elliott

Harvey Elliott’s loan to Aston Villa promised regular football but ended cruelly. The club benched him to avoid triggering a £35 million buy clause after nine appearances. Despite showing professionalism, Elliott lost an entire season’s worth of playing time. Emery apologised publicly but offered no real explanation. Elliott now returns to Liverpool facing an uncertain future, though his good humour endures despite the setback.

WINNER: The Championship

This season proved the Championship remains fiercely competitive. While Burnley went down, Leeds United and Sunderland defied expectations. Leeds secured safety early with a memorable win at Old Trafford, reviving Daniel Farke’s reputation. Sunderland, meanwhile, finished seventh and qualified for Europe — an extraordinary feat just a year after winning promotion. Managers Regis Le Bris and Farke deserve immense credit for proving that newly promoted clubs can thrive, not just survive.

LOSER: Eddie Howe

Newcastle United’s decline has been dramatic. From a Champions League berth last year to 12th place this season, Eddie Howe’s side struggled badly. Injuries and poor recruitment — especially Yoane Wissa’s flop — hurt the team. Fans are growing restless with Howe’s tactics, though he retains boardroom backing. With key players like Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali, and Bruno Guimaraes linked with exits, and reduced Saudi investment looming, the future looks uncertain.

LOSER: Nuno Espirito Santo

Nuno Espirito Santo’s season was calamitous. He was dismissed by Nottingham Forest after clashing with owner Evangelos Marinakis, then took over struggling West Ham. Despite a brief revival, relegation was confirmed on the final day — the first time since 2011 a team went down with 39 points. Nuno admitted, “We improved, but not enough,” summing up a frustrating year.

WINNER: Well-run overachievers

Money dominates modern football, but Brentford, Brighton, and Bournemouth proved that smart management still matters. Brentford, under Keith Andrews, defied predictions of relegation to finish ninth. Brighton reached the Conference League under Fabian Hurzeler, continuing their reputation for stability and vision. Bournemouth, led by Andoni Iraola, finished a stunning sixth — their best-ever result. These clubs demonstrate that structure and strategy can still outshine wealth.

LOSER: Tottenham

Tottenham may have survived relegation, but finishing 17th again was embarrassing. Defender Micky van de Ven admitted the situation was “unacceptable.” Roberto De Zerbi’s arrival offers hope, but Spurs’ dreadful recruitment record and fan frustration remain. A banner at the final match captured the mood perfectly: “Promised success, delivered failure. ENIC out!”