In the 65th minute, Carlos Alcaraz put Everton ahead at St James’ Park, a huge goal in the race for Champions League football, with it at the time meaning, Newcastle dropped out of the Champions League places.

Newcastle have dropped to 6th place, the Europa League places, while Aston Villa, who were drawing with Man Utd, climbed up to 5th, which would secure Champions League football.

Shortly after, Morgan Rogers had the ball in the back of the net for Aston Villa, however the referee disallowed it as the Villa forward was deemed to have fouled Altay Bayindir while stealing it from the Villa goalkeeper.

Morgan Rogers was adamant he stole the ball cleanly from the Manchester United goalkeeper, but VAR wasn’t able to intervene here after the referee blew his whistle before Rogers got the ball in the back of the net.

Then moments after they thought they had taken the lead, Villa found themselves behind, when Amad Diallo headed Man Utd ahead, arriving at the back post to meet a Bruno Fernandes cross.

That meant Villa slipped back into 6th place and out of Champions League contention, Newcastle were up to 5th.

HUGE controversy at Old Trafford 🤯

The whistle blows for a foul as Rogers challenges Bayindir, but did the whistle go too early, as Bayindir didn’t look to have gathered the ball…👀

📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/AdsMqBusls

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 25, 2025

FINALLY Man Utd have the breakthrough… and it’s Amad Diallo with it 🔥

Great ball from Fernandes and Diallo sneaks in at the back post to head home ⚽️

📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/wQPHF2RubV

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 25, 2025

On the 88th minute, Manchester United were awarded a penalty, with Unai Emery applauding sarcastically. Ian Maatsen brought down Amad Diallo just inside the box and the referee pointed to the spot.

The game finished with Man Utd winning 2-0, Newcastle lost 1-0 to Everton, but the final table sees Newcastle 5th (Champions League) and Villa in 6th (Europa League).

Michael Emons (BBC Sport at Old Trafford): “Aston Villa have missed out on Champions League football, but their fans are still in great form as they are chanting “Europe again, ole, ole,” .

“For United they end a disappointing campaign with a fine home win, but Villa boss Unai Emery was left furious. Firstly, at the decision to cancel Morgan Rogers’ goal which would have given Villa the lead and then again at the decision to hand United a penalty, which Christian Eriksen converted to make it 2-0. It will be Europa League football for next season for Villa.”

Unai Emery was seen furious, speaking referee Thomas Bramall as the two head down the tunnel at Old Trafford.

The Aston Villa manager not happy with Morgan Rogers having an opener ruled out for a foul on Manchester United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir.

A beautiful send-off for Christian Eriksen, as he slots home a penalty to put Man Utd 2-0 ahead, on his final appearance for the club 🥹

Maatsen clips Diallo in the area, and Bruno hands over to Eriksen for his final foray for the club ❤️

📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/LXo4rlazsj

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 25, 2025

72’ The referee’s call was a free kick to Manchester United with Bayindir deemed to be in control of the ball before Rogers gained possession. The whistle was blown by the referee before the ball entered the goal, therefore the incident was not reviewable by the VAR.”

As per David Ornstein, Aston Villa plan to make official complaint to the Premier League after their loss at Man Utd denies the club Champions League qualification.

Aston Villa feel a more experienced referee should have been selected to officiate game of such magnitude. See more HERE.

So, joining Liverpoola nd Arsenmal in the Champions League are Man City who secured third with a 2-0 win at Fulham, Chelsea took fourth with a 1-0 victory at Nottingham Forest, Newcastle held fifth and Spurs earned a spot via their UEFA Europa League final win over Manchester United.

IN the Europa League, Aston Villa (sixth place) and Crystal Palace (FA Cup winners, beating Man City on May 17th).

Nottingham Forest (seventh place), means they are in the Conference League, marking their first European competition in 21 years.

When you’ve barred Neville but it’s still not enough… pic.twitter.com/EQ0CrTtwZC

— Paddy Power (@paddypower) May 25, 2025

How has Chris Wood missed that?! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/8zuHm14WZd

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 25, 2025

A clearly irate Unai Emery follows the refereeing team down the tunnel, after their controversial goal was disallowed, and his Aston Villa team drop into the Europa League spot following the defeat 😬

📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/862XThiEpO

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 25, 2025

Full time scores:

AFC Bournemouth (0) 2-0 (0) Leicester City
Fulham (0) 0-2 (1) Manchester City
Ipswich Town (0) 1-3 (1) West Ham United
Liverpool (0) 1-1 (1) Crystal Palace
Manchester United (0) 2-0 (0) Aston Villa
Newcastle United (0) 0-1 (0) Everton
Nottingham Forest (0) 0-1 (0) Chelsea
Southampton (0) 1-2 (1) Arsenal
Tottenham Hotspur (1) 1-4 (0) Brighton & Hove Albion
Wolverhampton Wanderers (0) 1-1 (1) Brentford

Twitter users reacted as the 24/25 Premier League final day played out and we find out who qualifies for Champions, Europa and Conference League…

@1874dan: Two club statements needed immediately. One stating we’re suing the PGMOL and one announcing the termination of Cash’s contract

@VillaHarryy: Take them to court.

@Daz7AVFC: Awful complete corrupt decision by a inept ref but Villa were so poor today, completely bottled it, deserved nothing, I knew that last second goal away at City would come back to bite us on the arse UTV.. #AVFC

@__samsmithh: Can’t lie mate this hurts a lot. Been the weirdest season for us, been a ridiculously good season, but bottled the FA Cup, and lose out on the last day for Champions League to this. It’s a very bitter pill to swallow

@riggers_89: You know what, Dan. We deserved nothing today cause we were poor. But for this to cost us £100m, the CL and make us likely have to sell pre June to satisfy FFP is so big. I genuinely think it’s such a bad error they’ll change the ruling on it (similar to offside delays)

@LinehamAlex: The ref blew his whistle as rogers took the shot, almost as if to stop var being used. Different game if that is allowed, we bank up and don’t give anything away. Robbed at old Trafford, nothing changes 🫠

@StevenDonovan02: Awful decision. Genuinely terrible but Villa deserve nothing from today’s game with that shambles of a performance from every single player

@TheVillaPodcast: Biggest scandal of the season. Completely changes the future of a football club because a ref can’t wait half a second blowing his whistle

@catrinavfc: i need an official statement from villa by 7pm tonight calling out the sheer corruption of the premier league

@TheVillaVision:
Death
Taxes
Being Cheated at Old Trafford

@TheVillaVision: They can FUCK OFF with their stupid fucking apologies. That’s cost us fucking £100m 🤷‍♂️ Where’s the compensation.

@Richwolves64: To be fair to Villa when the goal line technology “failed” at Villa Park and saved them from relegation they were furious about that error and wanted the game replayed. Didn’t they?

@MKTIRB: Aston Villa have been robbed. Absolutely robbed. That’s a multi-million pound mistake. It’s not good enough. This is supposed to be the best league in the world and it’s decided by corrupt referees. Sack Howard Webb.

Something called karma 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/lnqlFWZeT2

— Rees (@Rees_wba) May 25, 2025