Winners and losers

Ryan Giggs – What a time to score your first goal of the year. Manchester United's 1-0 lead was looking more fragile by the minute once news that Chelsea were in front reached the JJB crowd. Giggs, whose attacking guile and consummate professionalism personify everything Alex Ferguson has achieved at the club, was just the man required to keep a cool head and settle United nerves with his goal 10 minutes from time. Club captain Gary Neville's modesty in staying on the periphery of the celebrations allowed Giggs to rightfully become the focal point of United's glory.

Steve Bruce – Credit must go to Wigan for making their opponents sweat before finally securing their 10th league title under Ferguson, especially when many expected United old boy Bruce's side to roll over. The fact that his comments after the game were focussed on the referee perfectly illustrated his commitment to getting a result. Justice has been served for Bruce following his mistreatment at the hands of Birmingham, who must now wish they had never heard the name Carson Yeung.

Danny Murphy – After turning 30 while sitting on the bench at Tottenham, Murphy looked like yesterday's man. His move to Fulham didn't exactly scream 'career comeback' either. But after scoring in the amazing late win against Manchester City, and then grabbing the winner against Portsmouth, Murphy reclaimed the hero status he once held among Liverpool fans every time his one of his strikes defeated Manchester United.

Sven-Goran Eriksson – Forget the Sword of Damocles, the Axe of Shinawatra is hovering dangerously close above Sven's shiny scalp. However, the super-cool Swede shouldn't be too worried should he get the chop. If City's phenomenal start to the season was unexpected, their loss of form after Christmas was spectacular. But Sven's reputation has not been adversely affected by City's terrible 2008, and he will be linked to every big job that becomes available in the summer. In the meantime, that bumper pay-off he is set to receive will certainly soften the blow.

Joleon Lescott – The versatile Everton defender has had a wonderful season, breaking into the England side, enjoying a good run in Europe and winning the club's player of the year award. His class finish against Newcastle was his tenth goal of the season, an incredible return for a defender, and helped ensure the Toffees can look forward to another European campaign next season.

Aston Villa – Despite narrowly missing out on a UEFA Cup spot, Villa fans have been treated to some thrilling football and plenty of goals this season. If they can strengthen their paper-thin squad, and keep Gareth Barry - who, it must be said, would be a fool to leave - then the Villans could make the step up next season.

Chelsea's kit sponsors – Sunday was a miserable day in the history of Chelsea FC, and also for their marketing ideas men. They must have been hoping that images of John Terry lifting the Premier League trophy wearing next season's kit would see sales rocket over the summer, but those shirts are now tainted with failure and Terry won't be lifting anything with his left arm for a while. Goalkeeper Petr Cech insisted that his Day-Glo orange kit would make himself look even bigger to strikers, but Matt Taylor still managed to nutmeg him. Defeat in Moscow will make two trophies lost in two matches for the strip that is a little too reminiscent of those other big-spending non-achievers, LA Galaxy.

Arsenal – Despite finishing just four points behind the champions, it has been a long time since the Gunners were seriously considered title contenders. The loss of Mathieu Flamini and the likely departure of Alexander Hleb mean that manager Arsene Wenger has to unearth and polish two new gems before he can even start taking the club forward.

Rafael Benitez - Rafa was unsettled by the American owners at Anfield when they approached Juergen Klinsmann to take over as manager, all behind the Spaniard's back. Despite the excellent form and goalscoring record of Fernando Torres, his side were again way off the title pace and finally came unstuck at the semi-final stage of the Champions League against Chelsea, at the third time of asking.

Reading – Four wins from their last five matches kept Fulham up. Two points and no goals in the six games before they beat Derby on the last day are what took the Royals down.

Alex McLeish – Eight months ago to the day, McLeish was in Paris celebrating doing the double over France as Scotland manager. News reports in the build-up to that trip included the obligatory footage of the players visiting the Eiffel Tower. The closest he'll get to those heights next season as Birmingham boss is a quick scoot up the Blackpool Tower on their way to Bloomfield Road.

Paul Jewell - Could not speak highly enough of Derby County Football Club when he arrived in November, now he thinks the players are not fit to wear the shirt after failing to notch up a single victory - while spending £1.5m on Robbie Savage and also shelling out a couple of million for Emanuel Villa. Further shame was on the way in the shape of an illicit rendez-vous, of course photographed by the press. Not a good year in the Jewell household.

Tottenham Hotspur – Their season effectively ended the day they won the Carling Cup back in February. Since then, for all the fanfare of new manager Juande Ramos's arrival, they still finished in the bottom half of the table after a string of apathetic performances. The Spanish boss has enjoyed most of his spell at the club under virtually no pressure, but the impatient and ruthless Spurs board will be hoping he gets his first full campaign right.