Manchester United confirmed a second-placed finish and automatic entry into next season’s Champions League with a crushing 4-0 victory over Charlton. Louis Saha broke then deadlock after 19 minutes and Cristiano Ronaldo doubled the lead four minutes later. Jason Euell scored an own goal 10 minutes before the break before Kieron Richardson wrapped up an easy afternoon for the 1/5 Reds on 58.
Liverpool ended their season in third with a ninth successive league win at Fratton Park. Robbie Fowler opened the scoring for the Reds after 52 minutes and Peter Crocuh added a second on 84. Ognjen Koroman pulled a goal back for Portsmouth a minute later but substitute Djibril Cisse secured a 4/6 victory a minute before the end.
Arsenal saw off Wigan 4-2 in the last ever match at Highbury to pip Tottenham Hotspur into fourth place. Robert Pires gave the 3/10 Gunners the lead after eight minutes but Paul Scharner equalised for Wigan two minutes later. David Thompson put the Latics in front on 33 but a hat-trick for Thierry Henry after 35, 56 and a penalty after 76 minutes cemented Arsenal’s participation in Europe’s premier competition next season regardless of how they get on in the final against Barcelona.
Tottenham Hotspur’s match at West Ham was shrouded in controversy after 10 Spurs players fell ill with food poisoning before kick-off. Carl Fletcher gave the Hammers the lead after 10 minutes but Jermaine Defoe levelled on 35. Yossi Benayoun ensured agony for Spurs with a 7/2 winner 10 minutes before the final whistle.
Newcastle booked their place in the Intertoto Cup at Bolton’s expense with a 1-0 victory over Premiership champions Chelsea, ensuring a seventh placed finish. Titus Bramble scored the decisive goal after 73 minutes for the 2/1 Magpies.
Bolton managed the win they needed to give them a chance of finishing seventh as they beat relegated Birmingham City 1-0. Ricardo Vaz Te scored the winner after 65 minutes for the 8/13 Trotters.
Everton failed to break into the top 10 as they were held to a 2-2 draw by relegated West Bromwich Albion. Zoltan Gera after 14 minutes and Williams Martinez twom minutes after the break put the Baggies firmly in control. Everton hit back through teenager Victor Anichebe on 84 and Duncan Ferguson crashed in the rebound to equalise at 12/5 after he missed a penalty in stoppage time to mark what could be his last appearance for the club.
