City fight back from the brink to claim title again
PREMIER LEAGUE
MANCHESTER City claimed a fourth Premier League title in five seasons as a dramatic comeback saw them beat Aston Villa 3-2 and deny Liverpool a potential quadruple.
City trailed Villa – managed by Liverpool great Steven Gerrard – by two goals with 14 minutes left, and the title was very much up for grabs.
Matty Cash and Liverpool old boy Philippe Coutinho had put Villa in control, but City then scored three times in five minutes with Rodri’s shot sandwiched between an Ilkay Gundogan double.
Liverpool had also fallen behind at home to Wolves as Pedro Neto profited from a Ibrahima Konate mistake in the third minute. But Sadio Mane levelled midway through the first half, before Mo Salah and Andy Robertson scored late on to give the Reds a 3-1 victory.
Salah’s strike left him tied on 23 goals with Tottenham’s Son Heungmin in the race for the Golden Boot.
Son scored twice as Tottenham thrashed Norwich 5-0 at Carrow Road to finish fourth and secure Champions League football next term.
Dejan Kulusevski’s brace and a Harry Kane header had dispelled any pre-match Spurs nerves over the point needed to beat Arsenal to fourth. The Gunners must settle for the Europa League, despite finishing in style with a 5-1 home victory against Everton. Gabriel Martinelli, Eddie Nketiah, Cedric Soares, Gabriel and Martin Odegaard netted for the hosts, while Donny Van De Beek replied for the Toffees.
Burnley’s six-year stay in the top flight came to an end with a 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle. The Clarets fell two down to Callum Wilson’s double. Maxwel Cornet gave Burnley hope, but Leeds’ 2-1 victory at Brentford confirmed their relegation to the Championship.
Raphinha put Leeds in front with a second-half penalty and Brentford were reduced to ten men when Kris Ajer had to go off and the Bees had used their three substitutions.
Sergi Canos equalised 12 minutes from time, but Brentford were soon reduced to nine when the Spaniard was sent off for a second booking.
Jack Harrison settled any Leeds nerves in the fourth minute of stoppage-time as the Yorkshire club became the first side since Wigan in 2011 to survive after starting the final day in the bottom three.
New Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was among the Selhurst Park crowd as the Red Devils completed their miserable season with a 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace.
United old boy Wilfried Zaha pounced on a Bruno Fernandes error after 37 minutes to score his 15th goal of the season.
However, United finished sixth – and qualified for the Europa League – as West Ham were beaten 3-1 at Brighton.
The Hammers led through Michail Antonio’s first-half thunderbolt, but Joel Veltman, Pascal Gross and Danny Welbeck scored for the Seagulls after the break.
West Ham finished seventh and will play in the Europa Conference League next season.
Both Leicester – who defeated Southampton 4-1 to finish eighth – and Brighton climbed above Wolves on the final day.
Goals from James Maddison, Jamie Vardy and two from substitute Ayoze Perez ensured James WardProwse’s penalty for Saints was a mere consolation.
Third-placed Chelsea, meanwhile, wrapped up their season with a 2-1 home win over relegated Watford.
Ross Barkley headed a stoppagetime winner after the Hornets’ Dan Gosling had cancelled out Kai Havertz’s early effort.
■ Bradford have signed Jake Young from League Two champions Forest Green Rovers for an undisclosed fee.