Manchester United have clinched second place in the Premier League after helpful results elsewhere last night.
Victory over already-relegated Fulham - in an Old Trafford clash which marked the return of supporters following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions - would have ensured that United could not have been passed this season.
However, while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side were pegged back by the Cottagers - after a superb lob from Edinson Cavani - three points for Chelsea against Leicester City means United will finish as runners-up to Manchester City.
Heading into the final game of the campaign, United are 12 points behind Pep Guardiola's men, who were beaten surprisingly by lowly Brighton last night.
After City and United, the remaining two Champions League places have yet to be decided.
Leicester and West Ham were in the driving seat just a few games ago, but Chelsea emerged as contenders once again following the appointment of German head coach Thomas Tuchel in January.
He steered the Blues back into top-four contention and they are now third in the standings after gaining revenge their FA Cup final opponents.
Indeed, just a few days after the Foxes reigned supreme beneath the famous arch at Wembley, they were beaten courtesy of goals from Antonio Rudiger and Jorginho (pen).
Leicester, who replied momentarily through in-form Kelechi Iheanacho, would have still been able to catch United had they completed a double over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
However, it's a result that sits favourably at Old Trafford - perhaps allowing Solskjaer to rotate further on the final day ahead of next week's Europa League showpiece with Villarreal in Gdansk, especially given the injury situation.
Playing a game in hand against Burnley at Turf Moor tonight, rivals Liverpool know that three points will see them leapfrog former manager Brendan Rodgers' squad heading into their last fixture.
But as Chelsea, Leicester and Liverpool prepare for a three-way battle that only goes into two, United can sit back and fine-tune their preparations for a meeting with Villarreal.
