Newcastle secures UCL spot despite loss to Everton
Newcastle United qualified for the Champions League, despite a 1-0 defeat at home to Everton on a dramatic final day of the Premier League season.
The Magpies needed a helping hand from Manchester United, which beat fellow top-five chaser Aston Villa at Old Trafford.
Chelsea also did the business away to Nottingham Forest, meaning Eddie Howe's team returned to Europe's elite competition for the second time in three seasons.
But it did things the hard way on a nervy day at St. James' Park, with Carlos Alcaraz's second-half header sealing the victory for David Moyes's side.
It mattered little to Newcastle, which claimed the fifth and final Champions League spot ahead of Villa on goal difference, joining Chelsea and Manchester City in the competition next year on the final day.
Despite ending a Premier League campaign with back-to-back defeats for the first time since 2011-2012, it proved academic for Newcastle, as it just about held on to fifth place.
Meanwhile, Everton concluded a Premier League season with three successive wins for the first time.
Only three sides have won more points than the Toffees since 19 January, when they claimed their first win after Moyes's return to the club.
After playing a key role in Everton's victory with some big saves, Jordan Pickford registered his 12th clean sheet of the season; a tally only bettered by David Raya and Mats Selz (13 each).
