Reds stay in Europe’s top flight
LONDON: Liverpool has clinched the EPL’s final Champions League spot, Swansea’s relegation was confirmed and champion Manchester City finished with 100 points on a goal-packed final day of the season.
Mohamed Salah scored his 32nd league goal of the campaign as Liverpool beat Mat Ryan’s Brighton & Hove Albion 40, securing fourth place, five points above Chelsea, which was beaten 30 at Newcastle.
Swansea needed a miracle to stay up at the expense of Southampton but its 21 defeat at home to alreadyrelegated Stoke put paid to any dreams of survival.
Manchester City finished with a record points haul after a 10 win at Southampton, leaving it 19 points ahead of Manchester United, which beat Watford 10, with Tottenham, which edged out Leicester City 54, four points further back in third.
Liverpool warmed up for this month’s Champions League final against Real Madrid with goals from Salah — who won the Golden Boot as league top scorer — Dejan Lovren, Dominic Solanke and Andrew Robertson sealing a place in next season’s Champions League.
That result rendered Chelsea’s match at Newcastle irrelevant to the Champions League battle and Antonio Conte’s side went down 30 at St James’ Park.
Swansea needed a 10goal swing — beating Stoke and seeing Southampton hammered by Manchester City — to stay up.
But Xherdan Shaqiri’s penalty gave Stoke victory at Swansea and the Welsh side will join Stoke and West Brom in the Championship next season.
‘‘It was an emotional day,’’ Swansea defender Angel Rangel said. ‘‘We knew it was impossible to stay up. We lost.
‘‘It’s been the hardest season. From start to finish we have been down there. It’s been unfortunate, because it’s such a great club. We need to build again.’’
Gabriel Jesus grabbed the only goal deep in injury time to give Manchester City the win at Southampton, which nevertheless stayed up.
Spurs needed to match Liverpool’s result to secure third spot and it did in dramatic fashion, coming from behind three times to clinch a 54 win over Leicester.
Jamie Vardy, Riyah Mahrez and Kelechi Iheanacho gave the visitor a 31 lead, but two Erik Lamela goals, an own goal by Christian Fuchs and Harry Kane’s second of the day won it for Spurs.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger signed off after 22 years and 1235 games in charge with a 10 win at Huddersfield, with PierreEmerick Aubameyang grabbing the winner.
‘‘To enjoy it we had to win it — winning football games is what makes me happy and the boys did it,’’ Wenger said.
‘‘Do I feel relief? Not really, I’m sad. At some stage it has to end, I wish everyone well, the fans have been great until the end and I wish the club well for the future.’’
Manuel Lanzini scored twice as West Ham beat Everton 31, while Crystal Palace beat bottom side West Brom 20 and Bournemouth won 21 at seventhplaced Burnley in the day’s other matches. — DPA