Leeds, Leicester relegated
Leeds United and Leicester City were relegated from the English Premier League to the Championship, marking a dramatic conclusion to the season on Sunday.
Everton, always seen as the most likely among the three to avoid relegation, secured their Premier League status courtesy of Abdoulaye Doucoure’s spectacular 57thminute goal. The strike ensured a 1-0 home win over Bournemouth and helped Everton avert their first relegation in nearly 70 years.
Leicester City, the miracle Premier League champions of 2016, are now Championship-bound, despite a 2-1 home win against West Ham United. Had Everton failed to secure a victory, Leicester City would have been safe.
Harvey Barnes and Wout Faes put Leicester 2-0 up against a rival seemingly preoccupied with their upcoming Europa Conference League final against Fiorentina. Although Pablo Fornals managed to score for West Ham in the 79th minute, Leicester clung on for a win that ultimately proved in vain.
Leeds United, the clear underdogs in the survival battle, needed a victory and slip-ups from their rivals. However, they must return to the Championship following a crushing 4-1 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
Leeds never truly challenged in the game Tottenham won 4-1, with two goals from Harry Kane and one each from Pedro Porro and Lucas Moura. Jack Harrison’s solitary goal for Leeds merely provided a fleeting glimmer of hope.
Aston Villa, showing marked improvement under Unai Emery, secured seventh place with a 2-1 home win over Brighton.
Ethan Pinnock’s 85th-minute goal handed Brentford a 1-0 win over a heavily rotated Man City squad. Arsenal vented their frustration over finishing second by delivering a 5-0 drubbing to Wolves, with Granit Xhaka scoring twice in his farewell to the Emirates Stadium.
Southampton bade farewell to the Premier League with a highscoring 4-4 draw at home to Liverpool, with Diogo Jota bagging a brace for the visitors.
Chelsea and Newcastle ended the season with a 1-1 draw. The draw draws a curtain on a disastrous season for Chelsea, while Newcastle finishes in fourth place after Manchester United’s 2-1 home win over Fulham.
In a match with little at stake, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest drew 1-1.
On Saturday evening, Luton Town beat Coventry City in a penalty shootout to secure promotion to the Premier League, joining Burnley and Sheffield United in the top-flight next season.