English Premier League News
Bournemouth arrested their end-of-season slump to beat Leicester 2-0 on the final day and ensure a top-half finish. Antoine Semenyo struck twice to clinch victory on what was otherwise a fairly forgettable afternoon.
This is Bournemouth’s best-ever Premier League season, but somehow it has not felt like it lately. As recently as the end of February, they were fifth in the league, eyes firmly fixed on the Champions League places.
Continue reading...For quite a while the excellence of Everton’s Jordan Pickford and Carlos Alcaraz threatened to derail Newcastle’s Champions League ambitions.
Ultimately Aston Villa’s defeat at Manchester United enabled Eddie Howe’s team to stumble into European’s showpiece competition on goal difference but, as confirmation of the result from Old Trafford finally arrived and the home players broke into an almost obligatory bout of linking arms and bouncing on the spot they looked almost sheepish.
Continue reading...On 73 minutes a moment that Aston Villa will argue for a long time cost them the bumper prize of Champions League football next season and its lucrative cash injection of millions.
A weak Harry Maguire header had Altay Bayindir scrambling to collect. As he did, Morgan Rogers prodded the ball from his clutches – the goalkeeper did not have it under control – and the forward found the empty net.
Continue reading...Six of Sunday’s 10 games potentially have something riding on them – testament to the English elite’s enduring rude health
In a perfect world, what would the final day of the Premier League season look like? You’d have two sides going for the title – perhaps three or even four, all playing teams of similar standard and motivation. You’d have maybe six teams contesting the three relegation slots, possibly playing each other, and also a skirmish for European qualification.
Ideally all 10 games would mean something and there should be times over the course of the afternoon when each side have the set of results they need to achieve their aims. And there should definitely be a moment when it becomes apparent that a harassed television presenter has forgotten or overlooked a goal so viewers can mutter furiously at the screen: “For heavens’ sake, that puts Brentford in ninth.”
Continue reading...Our fans network reviews the season with one game to play: the highs, the lows and the moments that made them smile
It’s been yet another “always the bridesmaid, never the bride” season. There were times it felt we were destined for glory, but injuries and red cards cost us. We still had jaw-dropping moments, though, especially in a phenomenal Champions League campaign. As they say, it’s the hope that kills, but even this jaded old lag had begun to believe I’d finally tick that big-eared prize off my bucket list. Still, 8/10.
Bernard Azulay onlinegooner.com; @GoonerN5
Jonathan Pritchard
Continue reading...Chelsea braced for City Ground cauldron, Rodri back on the scene and party vibes all round at Anfield
• Golden Boot: how the leading scorers stand
Bournemouth’s hopes of European football were vanquished after defeat to Manchester City on Tuesday but the Cherries, 11th on 53 points, could still achieve ninth spot and match their best finish in the Premier League (under Eddie Howe in 2016-17, although that was achieved with only 46 points). A home game against relegated Leicester looks to offer the perfect opportunity but the closing stretch has been tough for Andoni Iraola’s side, with the past 12 league games producing only two victories. Remarkably, a three-game league form table puts Leicester in fourth after home wins over Southampton and Ipswich either side of a 2-2 draw at Nottingham Forest. Perhaps this won’t be the walkover most are expecting, and there could be a wistful feeling in the air at the Vitality on Sunday afternoon. No one can deny it has been a strong season but what a party it might have been. With Dean Huijsen off to Real Madrid and Milos Kerkez linked heavily with the champions, Liverpool, how many of the goodbyes on the traditional end-of-season lap of honour will be permanent? David Tindall
Continue reading...While the top and bottom of the Premier League are resolved, European spots are very much up for grabs
Intrigue on the final day of the Premier League season is concentrated solely on who qualifies for Europe, but there is plenty of it. Seven clubs will enter the last round of matches unsure of which European competition they will be playing in next season, or in some cases whether they will be playing in Europe at all, with half of the division potentially competing in Uefa tournaments in 2025-26. Here is what is at stake on Sunday …
Continue reading...Leicester City face a potential points deduction in the Championship next season after the Premier League charged the club with breaching profitability and sustainability rules.
That is one of three alleged breaches relating to the 2023-24 season, when Leicester won promotion to the top flight, which have been referred to an independent commission.
Continue reading...Whether fans were celebrating, saying goodbye to an old home or remembering those no longer with us, the game’s power was on show this weekend
What was striking on Saturday, after Crystal Palace had beaten Manchester City to win the FA Cup, was how many people were in tears. The camera roamed the stands, capturing the images of Palace fans in disbelief after winning their first ever major trophy. Some were hugging those next to them, some waved their arms incoherently and others just stared, overcome. But a significant proportion were sobbing. Soccer can often seem an angry game, with crowds fuelled by rage; this was something very different, very hard to explain.
Palace’s pre-match tifo had shown an image of a father hugging his two sons in the stand at Old Trafford after Darren Ambrose had scored a 35-yard drive there for Palace in a League Cup quarter-final in 2011-12. It turned out the two lads were among the Palace fans at Wembley and that their father had passed away in the intervening 13 years. They were, needless to say, also in tears.
Continue reading...Declan Rice’s screamer means one point separates Newcastle in third and seventh placed Forest
2 min Newcastle have already beaten Arsenal three times this season: 1-0 in the league at St James’, 2-0 in both legs of the Carabao Cup semi-final.
1 min Newcastle kick off from right to left as we watch. This could be lots of fun.
Continue reading...Harry Wilson haunted Brentford once again as Fulham scored twice in two minutes to come from behind and claim west London bragging rights at the Gtech Community Stadium. Wilson scored a stoppage-time double in November’s reverse fixture to snatch victory and his 70th-minute effort, moments after Tom Cairney equalised, proved decisive.
Raúl Jiménez had opened the scoring for the visitors before Bryan Mbeumo – who had a first-half penalty saved – and Yoane Wissa both netted their 19th goals of the campaign. Cairney, who is yet to be offered a new deal at Craven Cottage with his contract expiring in the summer, forced parity before his fellow substitute Wilson repeated his heroics.
Continue reading...Iliman Ndiaye scored twice as Everton’s men’s team said goodbye to Goodison Park with a win and lot of emotion
The streets around Goodison are rammed. I guess the docks will be nice too, but they’ll never be is heimish.
Also going on:
Continue reading...Marc Cucurella’s second-half goal settled Chelsea nerves as they returned to the top four with victory over the Europa League finalists
“‘We will retain Amorim even if we do not win the Big Vase’ (more alarming when they play Spurs) is not a statement that boosts someone’s confidence, does it?” says Krishnamoorthy V. “What must one old Scot be thinking these days? Should he come back for an encore?”
He’s probably thinking: ‘You think this lot are bad, you should have seen my team in 1989-90.’ I can’t get away from the fact that, had modern values prevailed in the late 1980s, Alex Ferguson would have won precisely no trophies at Manchester United, and he’d probably still be plain old Alex Ferguson. We’ve all gone mad. I went mad in 2006 so I can’t really criticise anyone.
Continue reading...Pep Guardiola has taken a swipe at the Premier League for scheduling Manchester City’s penultimate fixture of the season, against Bournemouth on Tuesday, 72 hours after Saturday’s FA Cup final meeting with Crystal Palace.
City are involved in an incredibly tight race for Champions League qualification and, as such, Bournemouth’s visit to the Etihad Stadium is an important one. Asked if his preference would be for it to take place on Wednesday or Thursday instead, Guardiola said: “Definitely. Tottenham played against Aston Villa on Friday ahead of the Europa League final [on Wednesday]. Good decision, I’m not being sarcastic. The Premier League made a good decision, very good.
Continue reading...Crystal Palace face Manchester City in the FA Cup final while Arsenal and Newcastle scrap it out for second place
Sunday Noon TNT Sports 1 Venue Goodison Park
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