Manchester City won the Premier League title at a canter, while Stoke, West Brom and Swansea dropped out of the top flight.

Here, Press Association Sport reporters assess how the 20 teams performed this term.

ARSENAL

Arsene Wenger’s final campaign in charge of Arsenal ended in disappointment. A lowest-ever finish under the Frenchman and an awful away record of just four wins proved the need for change at the Emirates Stadium. The new manager has plenty to do to return the Gunners to the Champions League, let alone title contenders.

BOURNEMOUTH

Eddie Howe’s comeback kings made a habit of late goals and took more points from losing positions than any other club (21). After a slow start left the Cherries in the bottom three at Christmas, a productive five-week spell from late December to early February went a long way to securing a fourth successive season in the top flight. Lewis Cook also became the first Bournemouth player to represent England following his international debut in March.

BRIGHTON

After ending a 34-year exile from the top flight, survival was the objective for Albion and they achieved it comfortably. Thanks to a solid home record, the creativity of player of the year Pascal Gross, and the goals of veteran striker Glenn Murray, Chris Hughton’s Seagulls secured safety with two games to spare.

BURNLEY

Burnley’s second season back in the top flight went better than even the most optimistic supporter at Turf Moor could have hoped for as they secured a top-seven finish, which will see the Clarets compete in Europe next season for the first time in over half a century.

CHELSEA

Perhaps only at Chelsea can a season which ends in fifth and a place in the FA Cup final be described as tumultuous. Antonio Conte has been in combative mood falling out with Diego Costa and the Chelsea hierarchy, but survived as head coach despite back-to-back losses to Bournemouth and Watford. The Blues expect more, though.

CRYSTAL PALACE

What had threatened to be such a damaging season for Crystal Palace ended with an impressive 11th-placed finish, demonstrating the remarkable job Roy Hodgson has done. Seven defeats from their opening seven league fixtures made relegation seem likely, but largely led by Wilfried Zaha’s outstanding form only goal difference kept them from the top 10.

EVERTON

Everton finished eighth after a turbulent 2017-18. They recruited a number of players last summer but failed to find a replacement for Romelu Lukaku and were 18th when boss Ronald Koeman was axed in October. Sam Allardyce took charge in November with them 13th, and while they have consistently been in the top half since, there has been fan discontent over the style of play.

HUDDERSFIELD

Huddersfield have added another chapter to their fairy tale by ensuring a second season in the Premier League. The West Yorkshire club defied all the odds just getting there last campaign and have done so again, with such relatively meagre resources, by avoiding an instant return to the Championship.

LEICESTER

Another season of change at the King Power Stadium saw Craig Shakespeare sacked and replaced by Claude Puel in October. The Frenchman guided the Foxes away from the relegation zone but they ultimately failed to mount a European challenge. It has led to criticism of Puel and questions surround the boss’s future heading into the summer, although what Leicester desperately need now is consistency two years after winning the title.

LIVERPOOL

An undoubted success. Having had to manage the demands of a run to the Champions League final, securing a top-four spot – albeit on the last day of the season – represented mission accomplished. So many players improved with Mohamed Salah the obvious star but Roberto Firmino, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Andrew Robertson also stood out.

MANCHESTER CITY

Under the inspirational guidance of Pep Guardiola, City set new standards as they swept all before them. They won the title with a record-equalling five games to spare by playing an exhilarating brand of attacking football. Rarely before has a team been so dominant, so clinical and so stylish.

MANCHESTER UNITED

Manchester United have the FA Cup final to look forward to after securing their best finish since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, yet progress has been tempered by frustration. Jose Mourinho’s style has been criticised and his players often look like a group of individuals rather than a team. The eye-watering gap to champions Manchester City highlights the work required.

NEWCASTLE

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez admitted after a disappointing summer transfer window that survival would be the overwhelming priority. A run of nine games which yielded just a single point set alarm bells ringing as the turn of the year approached, but safety was effectively clinched with five matches to spare.

SOUTHAMPTON

The appointment of Mauricio Pellegrino almost cost Saints their Premier League status. The Argentinian was sacked in March with Southampton deep in relegation trouble, but Mark Hughes’ arrival did the trick. Despite a tough start, Hughes oversaw a three-game unbeaten run including a 1-0 win at fellow strugglers Swansea to keep Saints up.

STOKE

A dire season for Stoke has seen them struggle considerably both in defence and attack, with some high-profile signings making very little impact. Hughes was sacked in January, and his replacement Paul Lambert then could not prevent the Potters from being relegated.

SWANSEA

Another season of flux brought the relegation that the club had been sleepwalking to in recent years. A lack of investment in the squad from the American owners caught up with Swansea as Carlos Carvalhal was unable to repair the damage done under Paul Clement in the first half of the campaign.

TOTTENHAM

After playing their home games at Wembley and seeing top-four rivals Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool all improve considerably, securing Champions League football for a third successive year has to rank as Mauricio Pochettino’s best achievement. There will be inevitable clamour for a title challenge again, but Spurs’ third-placed finish should be lauded for now.

WATFORD

Watford moored themselves in mid-table before taking their now customary couple of months off towards the end of the season. In fairness injuries took their toll, they lost 10 players for two months or more. The arrival of Javi Gracia, who replaced Marco Silva in January, seemed to have little effect.

WEST BROM

Darren Moore’s late revival bid was not enough to save the Baggies despite the caretaker boss being named Manager of the Month for April. Wins over Manchester United, Newcastle and Tottenham clawed Albion closer to safety after Alan Pardew’s disastrous reign, where he earned just eight points from 18 league games, before they were relegated. Albion’s fate can be traced back years after bad decisions and poor recruitment and they cannot afford to get their next managerial appointment wrong.

WEST HAM

A troubled and depressing campaign during which flaws in the stadium and the recruitment policy were laid bare. Fans turned on the board in the 3-0 home defeat by Burnley, one of 10 losses by three or more goals. Slaven Bilic left them in the bottom three, David Moyes just about hauled them out.