Kane hits 30 goals while Doucoure rescues Everton, but who else makes our final POWER RANKINGS?

The curtain came down on another unforgettable Premier League season on Sunday, with Everton coming out on top in the all-important race for survival.

Needing a victory at home to Bournemouth to secure their top-flight safety, the Toffees snatched a narrow 1-0 win thanks to Abdoulaye Doucoure’s second-half piledriver, meaning Leicester and Leeds were sent packing to the Championship.

The Foxes did all they could after beating West Ham 2-1 on the final day, yet Everton’s triumph meant it was not enough to keep their heads above water, while Sam Allardyce’s Whites were pummelled 4-1 by Tottenham on their way down to the second tier.

Elsewhere, Arsenal ended their rollercoaster of a campaign on a high by thrashing Wolves 5-0, Manchester United claimed a 2-1 win against Fulham and Brentford inflicted a 1-0 defeat on champions Manchester City.

With the 2022-23 Premier League season now complete, Mail Sport takes you through our final Power Rankings.

Everton secured their safety for another year on a gripping final day in the Premier League

Leeds and Leicester were sent packing to the Championship after failing to avoid relegation

Arsenal also concluded their rollercoaster campaign with a 5-0 thrashing of Wolves

Last week’s top 10

10. Ilkay Gundogan

9. Eberechi Eze

8. Erling Haaland

7. Trent Alexander-Arnold

6. Mohamed Salah

5. Jarrod Bowen

4. Aleksandar Mitrovic

3. Bryan Mbuemo

2. Evan Ferguson

1. Taiwo Awoniyi

10. Jacob Ramsey (new entry)

The Aston Villa midfielder enjoyed a strong end to the campaign, registering a pair of assists in their final 2-1 win over Brighton.

He first picked out Douglas Luiz to slot home the opener from just inside the box after eight minutes, before latching onto Leon Bailey’s pass, driving towards goalkeeper Jason Steele and squaring to Ollie Watkins for the second.

It was another fine display from Ramsey, who finishes the season on a run of two goals and as many assists in his last three matches.

Aston Villa starlet Jacob Ramsey ended the season in fine fashion with a pair of assists

9. Jadon Sancho (new entry)

Sancho’s United future looked bleak when Erik ten Hag sent him off on a mid-season break in Holland amid concerns over his mental and physical shape.

Yet since returning to Old Trafford in January the 23-year-old has slowly gained confidence on the pitch, and his levelling strike against Fulham on Sunday was a sign of how far he has come.

The goal may have only come from close range after he was teed up by a deflection, but Sancho has finished the season on a high, having also recorded an assist in Thursday’s win over Chelsea, and looks poised to remain an important member of Ten Hag’s squad next season.

Jadon Sancho has ended his season on a high after scoring in Man United’s win over Fulham

8. Bryan Mbeumo (down five)

A deserved inclusion last week for his stunning double against Tottenham, the Cameroonian has kept his place in our Power Rankings after helping Brentford beat champions Manchester City on Sunday.

When Kevin Schade beat Sergio Gomez down the right-hand side and whipped a fierce ball across the box, Mbeumo did brilliantly to head it back to Pinnock on the penalty spot.

The latter then converted past Ederson to snatch a famous victory for Thomas Frank’s men in the final five minutes, and it was Mbeumo’s sharp reactions which made it possible.

Ethan Pinnock had Bryan Mbeumo’s sharp reactions to thank for his winner against Man City

7. Bukayo Saka (new entry)

After falling by the wayside in the title race, Arsenal picked themselves off the floor and went out with a bang this season as they put five past Wolves, and Saka was one of the stars of the show.

The 21-year-old has had a phenomenal campaign, registering 25 goal contributions in the Premier League, and in Sunday’s dismantling of Wolves he was at the heart of Arsenal’s best work once more.

Bukayo Saka produced another masterful display in Arsenal’s 5-0 demolition of Wolves

The 21-year-old made it 25 goal contributions for the season with this spectacular strike

For Granit Xhaka’s first goal on the day, he left Hugo Bueno for dead on the right and dashed into the box before finding Martin Odegaard, whose backheel deflected and fell to the Swiss midfielder to pounce on.

And when Leandro Trossard picked him out in the area shortly after, Saka produced a sublime piece of skill to fool Max Kilman; dragging the ball over with his left foot before stopping it dead and smashing past Jose Sa.

To close out a terrific season, the Gunners winger was at his best on the final day.

6. Kamaldeen Sulemana (new entry)

While it meant very little given their fate was already sealed, Sulemana was on hand with an impressive consolation brace for Southampton as they went out on their shield in a 4-4 draw with Liverpool at St Mary’s.

The Ghanaian winger first swept the ball home from close range to make it 2-2 in the 28th minute, before edging Saints in front with an outstanding solo effort which saw him embark on a run from deep inside his own half before curling the ball home.

In the end Ruben Selles’ relegated side were unable to bid farewell to the Premier League with a victory, though Sulemana’s superb double is enough to earn him a place in our Power Rankings.

Kamaldeen Sulemana gave Southampton a consolation with a superb brace against Liverpool

5. Abdoulaye Doucoure (new entry)

Everton knew heading into Sunday’s survival finale that, regardless of what happens elsewhere, victory over Bournemouth would guarantee they avoid the drop. Yet after Leicester took the lead against West Ham, Sean Dyche’s Toffees were heading to the Championship when they went in at half time.

Step forward Abdoulaye Doucoure.

Just over 10 minutes into the second half, Doucoure rescued the Merseyside club with a stunning finish that clinched the most vital set of three points to keep them in the Premier League and etch his name into Everton folklore in the process.

The midfielder’s piledriver from the edge of the box proved decisive in this season’s relegation battle, making him well worthy of inclusion here.

Abdoulaye Doucoure’s stunning winner etched his name into Everton folklore in the process

Bruno Fernandes enjoyed a strong end to the season

4. Bruno Fernandes (new entry)

Another player on this list who enjoyed a fine end to the season, Fernandes turned home the winner for United against Fulham to ensure they held onto third place ahead of Newcastle.

The Portugal star, who also got on the scoresheet in Thursday’s thumping win over Chelsea, made an intelligent run forward and was picked out expertly on the edge of the box by Fred, before dinking the ball over Bernd Leno and into the net.

After a sluggish campaign by his usual standards – with just eight league goals to his name – Fernandes finished strongly with two goals in as many games.

3. Harry Kane (new entry)

Tottenham have endured a season to forget, missing out on European qualification down in eighth place, which makes the England captain’s staggering goal return all the more commendable.

Kane reached the 30-goal mark away at Leeds on Sunday, scoring twice in a resounding 4-1 win for Spurs to send the hosts down into the second tier.

In typical fashion, he first bent the ball home from inside the box after having it laid on a plate by Son-Heung min, before converting from close range in the second half.

While it may not earn him this season’s Golden Boot due to the freakish exploits of a certain Erling Haaland, it can be argued that Kane’s tally is more impressive given his team’s struggles.

2. Taiwo Awoniyi (down one)

Awoniyi claimed top spot in our previous Power Rankings after guaranteeing Nottingham Forest’s safety and ending Arsenal’s title hopes last weekend – and his goal against Crystal Palace means he remains in the top two.

Taiwo Awoniyi (left) scored for the fourth consecutive game, while Harry Kane (right) netted his 30th goal of the campaign

The 25-year-old striker got on the scoresheet for the fourth consecutive game at Palace when he raced onto Morgan Gibbs-White’s through ball, twisted and turned in the box and then tucked it home to open the scoring.

It has been a terrific end to the season for Forest and Awoniyi, who finishes it in double figures after bagging his 10th goal of the campaign.

1. Granit Xhaka (new entry)

The expectation is that Xhaka will be calling time on his seven-year spell at Arsenal this summer. So what better way to go out than scoring your first-ever brace?

The 30-year-old found the back of the net twice on what is likely to be his last ever Gunners appearance, with Bayer Leverkusen reportedly leading the race for his signature.

He opened the scoring in Sunday’s five-goal hammering of Wolves, heading in from Gabriel Jesus’ pinpoint cross after 11 minutes, before poking home his second of the day three minutes later.

If it indeed proves his last act in an Arsenal shirt, Xhaka couldn’t have asked for a better send off.

But it is Arsenal’s departing two-goal hero who takes top spot in our final Power Rankings