Newcastle United

Matthew Raisbeck
BBC Radio Newcastle reporter

Image source, Getty Images

A Wembley win and a top-five finish means this has been a truly special season - arguably the best they have ever had.

And, despite a stressful second half against Everton on Sunday, it is a campaign that did have its happy ending.

Losing at home after a disappointing performance but getting a favour from Manchester United - a club most Newcastle fans have zero affection for - was certainly a curious way to confirm their Champions League place.

Ironically, it was Man Utd who took the final European spot from the Magpies Europe 12 months ago when they won the FA Cup.

Relying on a result from elsewhere was reminiscent of the final day in 2017 when Newcastle beat Barnsley at St James' Park. Within seconds of Dwight Gayle making it three-nil, we received news of an Aston Villa equaliser against Brighton - a goal that handed the Magpies the Championship title.

That day, it was Jack Grealish for Aston Villa. This time, former Sunderland player Amad Diallo got the crucial opener for Man Utd against Villa on the weekend Newcastle's north-east rivals secured promotion back to the Premier League.

So next season will have Champions League football and there will be two derbies to either enjoy or endure - depending on your point of view!

Have your say on the Magpies on Total Sport North East every weeknight from 18:00, on BBC Radio Newcastle.

And subscribe to the Total Sport Newcastle United Podcast on BBC Sounds

John Bennett
BBC Final Score reporter at St James's Park

Image source, Getty Images

It was difficult to know where to look during the final 10 minutes of Newcastle's dramatic final day.

As an end-to-end game continued, the Newcastle backroom staff and analysts sitting in the row in front of me were watching Manchester United v Aston Villa on a laptop, knowing that because of the nervy, poor performance against Everton, that was the game that would now decide their Champions League fate.

At the final whistle, Newcastle's players sank to their knees before Harvey Barnes ran from the bench to tell them the news from Old Trafford and many of the squad gathered around a tablet on the pitch to watch the end of the Villa game.

The Champions League anthem ringing around the stadium was the start of the celebrations and minutes later Dan Burn was walking out with the Carabao Cup to lead a lap of honour.

So many emotions in such a short time.

No wonder Eddie Howe looked a bit tired when he walked into the news conference room, but he was a proud man stressing that, pre-season, not many people had expected a top-five finish.

"We had a disrupted, turbulent summer and huge challenges," he told us. "But the players gave everything, a brilliant group to manage and they've got their rewards."

There was a bit of talk among journalists in the media room as we waited for Howe to arrive that this Everton result was proof that Newcastle desperately need some reinforcements and quality new additions this summer.

When asked about that, Howe stressed that their intention is to bring in new faces and do it fast. "Speed is key," he said. "We'll be doing our best to do things early."

So a busy few weeks of transfer speculation lie in wait as Newcastle look forward to the return of Champions League football next season.

Highlights and analysis from Sunday's 10 final day Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Nottingham Forest 0-1 Chelsea

• Liverpool 1-1 Crystal Palace

• Wolves 1-1 Brentford

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio Newcastle's Matthew Raisbeck on the Magpies' season: "Just think about the season they have just had and where they are now - forget about how we got there.

"They finished in the Champions League places and won a trophy - those two things together surely means this has to be the most successful and the best season.

"To do that after three transfer windows without improving the starting XI and being forced to sell players last summer while rivals strengthened - the way they have turned this season around in December has been truly remarkable.

"They deserve all of the credit and gratitude they are getting. These are special times for Newcastle United and we are witnessing history."

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds

We asked for your views and pictures after Newcastle secured a return to the Champions League despite a final-day defeat at home by Everton.

Here are some of your replies:

Jaime: Always knew the last game against Everton would be super hard. Jordan Pickford in goal can be the villain and they are a difficult side to play with David Moyes' style. Great season though. If you'd have told us that we have done this after five games, nobody would've believed it. We build and we move forward.

Mal: Talk about 'skin of our teeth'! All I can say - as my parents bought me my first Newcastle shirt for Christmas on 1955 - is … I am definitely getting too old for this!

Michael: I was expecting a tough game us with everything to gain and Everton out there to enjoy themselves and make it hard for us to secure Champions League football. But, we were not at our best and Alexander Isak looks to me like he doesn't want to be at Newcastle anymore with his past last few performances. Teams are circling around him and the transfer window is on the horizon.

Geoff: I've supported Newcastle for 70 years. They always, always make things difficult for themselves. The amount of time I've seen them well beaten by teams much lower in the league. Forget all that though. We've had an incredible season. Fifth in the Premier League, Carabo Cup winners and, to cap it all, into the Champions League next year. We must build on this. We need multiple signings and sell the ones who are patently not good enough. Overall though, very well done to Eddie and his Toon team.

Mark: First purchase of the summer absolutely has to be some new boots for Dan Burn!

Robert: Need a lot more creativity in the team. Anthony Gordon has only one solution - relying on his speed.

Bryan: Really disappointing final game. Absolutely delighted to scrape into the Champions League but an inability to beat the likes of Everton doesn't bode well for a successful campaign next season without major recruitment. We need a young pacey right-footed centre-back, a skilled right winger and another striker to move to the next level. Having said that we've managed a better season than I expected.

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, speaking after sealing Champions League qualification: "It feels great, the achievement is huge. Naturally, when you lose the game there's a feeling of disappointment but I think we have to override that with [the fact that] over the 38 games, we deserved to qualify for the competition. It's a huge moment for the club."

On the season: "So much. Throughout this year there have been so many things, not just mentally but tactically and the game evolves so quickly. It's been a brilliant Premier League season. I think we had a difficult summer, I think there was an overhang of that early in the season.

"We had to fight really hard to overcome that and come back in the manner that we did, we can't thank the players enough this year. We've got a great group who give their all in every game and that's all we can ask for. Today, I think we did that. We tried to win the game, but it wasn't to be."

On finding out Newcastle had qualified: "We were getting updated but I didn't want it to dominate my focus. It was only when it looked like we were struggling to score in that second half and our result was in jeopardy that the other results became more important for us, but all the way through the game we were still trying to find a way to score and claw ourselves a way back into the game.

"I think there was a point with about five minutes to go that it looked like barring an amazing last five or 10 minutes, we were there."

Here more from Howe on the Newcastle feed on BBC Sounds

John Bennett
BBC Final Score reporter at St James' Park

Image source, Getty Images

The Newcastle players and their families are on the pitch celebrating, with one of the heroes of this wonderful season Dan Burn holding the EFL Cup.

They're in disbelief that they've made the Champions League despite a really nervy, edgy performance and a disappointing defeat.

There were crazy scenes at the end. The Newcastle players sank to their knees thinking they were out of the top 5 before Harvey Barnes ran on to tell his team-mates the score at Old Trafford and then the players gathered around a screen on a tablet on the pitch before finally getting a chance to celebrate.

The Champions League anthem was on the tannoy straight away. What a season for Newcastle but they've put their fans through some tense moments tonight.

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle United's players got the message loud and clear before kick-off with a giant banner stretching the length of the famous Gallowgate End reading: "You entered the pitch as players, you left it as legends."

It could all have been so different when Everton led and Aston Villa were drawing at Manchester United.

But events elsewhere ensured Newcastle's players and manager Eddie Howe were able to take a glorious lap of honour at the final whistle and bask in the afterglow of a campaign that brought success at home and a passage into the Champions League.

Newcastle were nowhere near their best as Everton controlled the game in front of an increasingly frantic St James' Park crowd, and the Geordie nerves were really jangling when Carlos Alcaraz stole in on Vitaliy Mykolenko's cross to beat Nick Pope with 25 minutes left.

There was a stunned silence until huge roars swept round the stadium in an attempt to shake Newcastle out of the anxiety that had gripped them from kick-off.

In the end, the loudest cheers came from those following events at Old Trafford, as Manchester United's belated attempt to secure some joy from a dismal season by beating Aston Villa spread all the way to Tyneside.

There was still a short wait after the final whistle until Villa's crucial defeat was confirmed, allowing Newcastle and their supporters to officially celebrate qualification for the Champions League.

Image source, Getty Images

It went right down to the final day but the European places for next season are now finally confirmed.

Manchester City and Chelsea's wins saw them secure third and fourth respectively, while Newcastle took the fifth and final Champions League spot despite a final day loss to Everton.

Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest's defeats mean they miss out on the top five but will be heading on European adventures in the Europa and Conference Leagues respectively.

Chelsea's win means there will not be an additional spot for eighth place so Brighton's victory at Tottenham does not creep them into Europe.

So the curtain has come down on Newcastle's season and the Magpies will return to the Champions League despite finishing with a defeat against Everton at St James' Park.

It may have been made more nervous than Magpies fans hoped for on the final day, but ending their 70-year wait for a domestic trophy and returning to Europe's top club competitions mean it has been a glorious season for Eddie Howe and his players.

How are you feeling after the game and at the end of a long campaign?

Have your say on Newcastle's performance and season - and send us some pics of the celebrations!

Come back to this page on later to find a selection of your replies

Phil McNulty
Chief football writer

Newcastle United have been given a big lift in their pursuit of Champions League football with the return of outstanding striker Alexander Isak after he recovered from a groin problem. He comes in for Callum Wilson following the defeat at Arsenal.

Newcastle starting XI: Pope, Livramento, Schar, Botman, Burn, Murphy, Tonali, Guimaraes (c), Barnes, Isak, Gordon

Subs: Dubravka, Krafth, Lascelles, Longstaff, Miley, Osula, Trippier, Willock, Wilson

Michael Keane starts for Everton in defence, replacing the injured Jarrad Branthwaite, while Carlos Alcaraz comes in for Abdoulaye Doucoure, who leaves the club at the end of the season.

Jack Harrison also starts, with Dwight McNeil dropping to the bench.

Everton starting XI: Pickford (c), Mykolenko, O'Brien, Keane, Young, Gueye, Garner, Ndiaye, Alcaraz, Harrison, Beto

Subs: Begovic, Broja, Calvert-Lewin, Doucoure, McNeil, Joao Virginia, Patterson, Youssef Chermiti, Welch

All 20 teams are in action on the final day of the 2024-25 Premier League campaign, and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Bournemouth v Leicester City

• Fulham v Man City

• Ipswich v West Ham

• Liverpool v Crystal Palace - Listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Man Utd v Aston Villa

• Newcastle v Everton

• Nottingham Forest v Chelsea - Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Southampton v Arsenal

• Tottenham v Brighton

• Wolves v Brentford - Listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

All kick-off times 16:00 BST

Follow all of the action and reaction here

A reminder of what Newcastle require today to secure a return to the Champions League for next season.

Eddie Howe's side know a win at home against Everton will guarantee them a place in the top five regardless of results elsewhere.

A draw would be enough if Aston Villa drop points against Manchester United or Chelsea do not win at Nottingham Forest.

Newcastle are at home, and their superior goal difference means they know any sort of win will keep them in the Champions League places regardless of what Aston Villa do.

I usually fancy Eddie Howe's side to win when they are at St James' Park but there are serious doubts over Alexander Isak's fitness, which is a real worry. I would have a different feeling if he was in the team.

On top of that, Everton are an awkward team to break down, who also carry an attacking threat with Beto in such good form.

So, I do not think this will be straightforward at all. I am still backing the Magpies, but I would not be surprised if Everton nicked a point.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Newcastle and Liverpool are set to battle it out for Brighton's 23-year-old Brazilian forward Joao Pedro. (Talksport, external)

The Magpies will compete with Napoli, Juventus and Roma to sign Atletico Madrid and Argentina right-back Nahuel Molina, 27. (Marca, via Sportwitness, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Sunday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

With the 2024-25 Premier League season coming to a close, we would love to hear what you think of this club page.

A huge thank you to those who have already submitted their responses and have interacted with the page in any capacity throughout the campaign.

We are continuously working to improve your experience and bring you the best possible content and coverage of your team.

It is your club and your voice.

So what do you like?

And what could be improved?

Send thoughts here

We asked you to pick your player of the season after our Newcastle fan contributor narrowed it down to Dan Burn, Sandro Tonali, Jacob Murphy and Alexander Isak.

Here are some of your comments on your selection:

Ruth: Burn has had the season of his career and fully deserves any and all accolades heading his way. It was a difficult choice to make, as all three other contenders have been crucial to Newcastle's success this season - but Big Dan is the man for me. He's made himself absolutely invaluable in defence and, of course, topped off his greatest season so far with an absolute peach of a goal at Wembley. What a man, what a header! You'll never, ever beat Dan Burn, he's from Blyth... a fantastic local underdog story. I salute you, sir.

Paul: Tonali is player of the season for me. I did have doubts at first after the gambling revelations and thought Milan had offloaded him knowing fine well what was coming. But now, I think Newcastle are a much better team with him. He goes about his business in midfield in a no-nonsense and hard-working - but at the same time classy - manner. He purrs when he's on the ball like a luxury car. I wish he would smile more though!

Alex: Tino Livramento has been consistent all season. While others might have shined on their occasion, Tino has been solid in performance and versatile in position. Right-back, left-back, wing-back, he puts a shift in every game. Completely silenced Mohamed Salah in the cup final and was pivotal in Isak's winning goal at Wembley too.

Graham: Tonali for sure. Even before he gets the ball he is looking to see where the other 21 players are and that allows him to hold, pass or run with the ball. His energy and awareness are incredible. Best midfielder I have seen at Newcastle.

Gergely: Our success is obviously based on a very good team effort. Many other players had outstanding seasons, but for me this year is Burn's. His is simply a Geordie fairytale.

Harry: Sandro has been by far the most consistent player in the team and his tank hasn't run out all season. Phenomenal campaign and has proved that it was worth the wait to see him in the midfield. Just like to say though, Murphy shouldn't be included in a conversation like this. Could drag a better player out from a Sunday league team.

Don't forget to make your selection here

Image source, Getty Images

Having lost six of their nine home league games against Everton between 2011 and 2019 , Newcastle are now unbeaten in their past four against the Toffees.

However, Everton have only kept more clean sheets against West Ham (23) and Liverpool (21) than they have against Newcastle in the Premier League (18).

Newcastle have won their final league game in eight of the past 10 seasons, with the exceptions a 3-1 loss against Liverpool (2019-20) and a 1-1 draw with Chelsea (2022-23).

Everton have only won their final league game in one of the past eight seasons, beating Bournemouth 1-0 in 2022-23.