New champions Leicester City earned the applause they deserved last week after beating Everton 3-1 at home to spark their celebrations at the King Power Stadium.

Tottenham and Arsenal are still engaged in a race for second place but both Londoners are sure of their participation in the Champions League next season.

The last berth will be filled by Manchester City or neighbours United. Louis van Gaal’s Red Devils are in fifth place, two points adrift of City after going down to West Ham in midweek.

But this has been a great week for Claudio Ranieri and his men at Leicester.

Never has there been a more heart-warming glory than the Foxes capturing the Premier League title with their team of football waifs and strays guided by a veteran coach whose arrival 10 months ago was treated with disdain.

Ranieri, the 64-year-old from Rome, had never won a major championship in his much-travelled career among some of the finest clubs in Europe.

Indeed, all involved have revelled in his charm and good humour and people loved his simple decency and dignity.

Incidentally, tomorrow afternoon the Foxes play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, where a year ago the Londoners were en fete for winning the 2014-15 title.

Leicester now want to seal the future of the men who were outstanding this season – Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and N’Golo Kante.

Club head of recruitment Steve Walsh has also agreed a new deal with the new champions.

Tottenham have failed to win any of their last three Premier League matches, the worst was the loss at home to Southampton last weekend.

Today, the Spurs play at relegated Newcastle seeking at least a draw to make sure they finish second ahead of Arsenal.

However, manager Mauricio Pochettino believes that Tottenham should not be obsessed over a better placing than their rivals even though the last time they achieved that ‘feat’ was 21 years ago.

“Tottenham must think like a big club and not focus on the results of clubs around them,” Pochettino said.

Arsenal start favourites to chalk up their 20th win of the season at the expense of lowly Aston Villa.

The Gunners have endured a turbulent season with calls for Arsene Wenger to move on as the club missed out on the league title for a 12th successive season.

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak penned a heartfelt message of thanks to outgoing manager Manuel Pellegrini in the match programme against Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.

Tomorrow, the Citizens will tackle Swansea at the Liberty Stadium and a draw with be enough for them to beat Manchester United to fourth place on the back of a better goal difference.

United play at home to Bournemouth and former club great Paul Scholes has urged the owners at Old Trafford to spend more money in summer.

Teddy Sheringham, another former club stalwart, has hit out at United’s current squad and insisted they no longer have the ‘scare factor’ to frighten opponents.

UK football fixtures...

Premier League

(All tomorrow at 16:00)
Arsenal vs Aston Villa
Chelsea vs Leicester City
Everton vs Norwich City
Man. United vs Bournemouth
Newcastle vs Tottenham
Southampton vs C. Palace
Stoke City vs West Ham
Swansea City  vs Man. City
Watford vs Sunderland
West Brom vs Liverpool

Current standings
Leicester City 80; Tottenham 70; Arsenal 68; Manchester City 65; Manchester United 63; West Ham 62; Southampton 60; Liverpool 59; Chelsea 49; Stoke City 48; Swansea City 46; Everton, Watford 44; Crystal Palace, West Bromwich Albion, Bournemouth 42; Sunderland38; Newcastle United (R), Norwich City (R) 34; Aston Villa (R) 17.

Championship play-offs

Playing today (first leg)
Derby County vs Hull City - 13.30

Second leg: Tuesday.

Monday (second leg)
Brighton vs Sheffield Wed - 20.45

Final: May 28.

League One play-offs

Playing today (first leg)
Barnsley vs Walsall - 18.30

Second leg: Thursday.

Tomorrow (first leg)
Bradford City vs Millwall - 13.15

Second leg: Friday.

League Two play-offs

Playing today (first leg)
Wimbledon vs Accrington - 20.30

Second leg: Wednesday.

Tomorrow (second leg)
Plymouth vs Portsmouth - 19.00

Scottish Premiership

Playing today – 13:30
Inverness CT vs Dundee FC
Kilmarnock vs Dundee United
Partick Thistle vs Hamilton

Tomorrow – 13.30
Aberdeen vs Ross County
Celtic vs Motherwell
Hearts vs St Johnstone

League One
Today: Qualification, second leg
Queen’s Park vs Clyde - 16.00

League Two
Today: Play-off, second leg
E. Stirling vs Edinburgh City - 16.00