Ipswich's relegation from the English Premiership was confirmed in a 5-0 defeat at Liverpool today as Arsenal celebrated the double with a 4-3 win over Everton at Highbury.
With Arsenal already crowned champions, the major issue to be settled on the final day was whether Ipswich could avoid joining Leicester and Derby as the relegated teams.
But two first-half goals from Liverpool's Norwegian international John Arne Riise all but settled the encounter at Anfield, sending the 'Tractor Boys' ploughing a lonely furrow back to the First Division.
England striker Michael Owen, Czech international Vladimir Smicer and Frenchman Nicolas Anelka added goals in the second half to complete the rout.
The win clinched a second-place finish for Gerard Houllier's Liverpool - the club's highest final league position for 10 years - and condemned Manchester United to third place.
United, who were held 0-0 at Old Trafford against Charlton, must now play in the preliminary round of the Champions League next season to confirm their place in the first phase.
Blackburn striker Andy Cole responded to his exclusion from England's World Cup squad by scoring twice in Rovers' 3-0 win over Fulham at Ewood Park.
Republic of Ireland international Damien Duff was Blackburn's other scorer as Jean Tigana's Cottagers were comfortably beaten.
Chelsea, still smarting from last week's FA Cup final defeat, plunged to a 3-1 home defeat against Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge.
Peter Crouch headed Villa into the lead in the 21st minute, rising above the Chelsea defence to nod home Steve Stone's inswinging corner.
World Cup-bound Darius Vassell made it 2-0 to Villa in the second half before Icelandic international Eidur Gudjohnsen pulled one back for Chelsea with a 70th minute spotkick.
But Dion Dublin made sure for Graham Taylor's men in the final minutes.
At Elland Road, Leeds signed off with a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough thanks to a 63rd minute right-footed strike from Alan Smith.
Meanwhile at Filbert Street, relegated Leicester bade a victorious farewell to the top flight with a 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur.
Two goals in seven minutes put Southampton on the way to victory over Newcastle at St Mary's, Sweden's Anders Svensson scoring the first before James Beattie added the second from the spot.
Former England skipper Alan Shearer clawed one back for the Magpies before Paul Telfer made sure of a 3-1 win for Saints with a lob on full-time.
Sunderland, meanwhile, were held 1-1 by relegated Derby at the Stadium of Light. Kevin Phillips put Peter Reid's men 1-0 up before Marvin Robinson levelled for the Rams.
At Upton Park, West Ham finished the season on a winning note in dramatic fashion when Ian Pearce scored an 89th-minute clincher in a 2-1 win for the Hammers over Bolton. -AFP