May 14 – Match week 36 delivered an average stadium capacity of 97.82%, offering a slight reality check after last week’s bumper figures, as persistent underperformance by familiar strugglers — Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton — dragged down the overall average.
The division remains clearly split between high fliers and fading forces when it comes to filling seats. Tottenham posted 95.87%, while already-relegated Southampton managed 95.53%. With Spurs languishing in 17th and Saints long confirmed as Championship-bound, it’s no surprise to see a dip in fan enthusiasm reflected in the turnstile numbers.
At the other end of the scale, Manchester United maintained a stellar 99% attendance despite a lacklustre 0-2 defeat to West Ham at Old Trafford. With one eye firmly on next week’s Europa League final clash with Spurs, the Red Devils’ support hasn’t wavered – even if the performance levels have.
Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest also remained in the 99% club, forming a reliable trio that continues to prop up the league’s overall average.
The headline of the week came at Anfield as Real Madrid-bound fullback Trent Alexander Arnold was booed by the home supporters, marking a bitter end to an otherwise glittering career on Merseyside for the 26-year-old. The incident put a downturn on an otherwise good afternoon for the Premier League Champions, who were welcomed to the pitch with a guard of honour from title rivals Arsenal.
With two match weeks remaining, and both the title and relegation battles long settled, attention shifts to the race for Europe. The fight for a top-five finish and Champions League qualification remains intense — just four points separate 7th-placed Nottingham Forest and 3rd-placed Manchester City, keeping late-season stakes high and attendances likely elevated for the run-in.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1747250183labto1747250183ofdlr1747250183owedi1747250183sni@g1747250183niwe.1747250183yrrah1747250183