Premier League
LEICESTER 0-2 MAN UTD LIVE SCORE AND GOAL UPDATES FROM TOP FOUR DECIDER ON PREMIER LEAGUE FINAL DAY
Premier League relegation:
Watford and Bournemouth down as Aston Villa safe after final day
FULL TIME RESULTS
- Arsenal 3-2 Watford
- Burnley 1-2 Brighton
- Chelsea 2-0 Wolves
- Crystal Palace 1-1 Spurs
- Everton 1-3Bournemouth
- Leicester 0-2 Man Utd
- Man City 5-0 Norwich
- Newcastle 1-3 Liverpool
- Southampton 3-1 Sheffield Utd
West Ham 1-1 Aston Villa
GOAL! Leicester 0-2 United
United have sealed it!
Kasper Schmeichel gifts it to Jessie Lingard who slots home the confirmation goal.
Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s side are back in Europe’s elite!
14TH PENALTY KICK FOR UNITED THIS SEASON
Manchester United’s penalty at Leicester is their 14th Premier League spot-kick of the season, the most one side has ever won in a single campaign in the competition. Typical.
Red card!
Ex-United defender Jonny Evans receives a straight red.
That was a nasty challenge on Scott McTominay.
It’s over for the Foxes – but we’ll see them in the Europa League.
FULL TIME: Crystal Palace 1-1 Spurs
Manchester United are five minutes away into CHAMPIONS LEAGUE!
We are into the final five minutes at the King Power Stadium, Leicester’s Champions League dream that has flickered so brightly throughout this season looks as though it is about to be extinguished as George Hirst replaces James Justin.
Villa SCORE against West Ham United!
There’s been a huge goal at the London Stadium!
Jack Grealish gets it!
In spite of Bournemouth’s heroics and Watford’s half-comeback, it’s Dean Smith’s side who look to be safe!
HOW LEICESTER CONCEDED PENALTY
Jonny Evans and Wes Morgan both lunge in on Anthony Martial inside the box and Martin Atkinson shows little hesitation to point to the spot. VAR is checking but there is no way this will be overturned and neither should it.
Leicester all in
Leicester have to go for broke here. Since Chelsea stand little chance of losing to Wolves, their only hope of Champions League football is by scoring at least two.
Brendan Rodgers goes for the old triple substitution…
Dennis Praet, Demarai Gray and Harvey Barnes are on for Marc Albrighton, Youri Tielemans and Hamza Choudhury.
GOAL! Leicester 0-1 United
What a pressure point for Bruno Fernandes.
Kasper Schmeichel does his best to distract the man who only moved to Manchester in January.
But the Portuguese midfielder has no problem!
Penalty United!
Jonny Evans brings down Anthony Martial in the area…
Wes Morgan was also flying in from behind…
The sandwich gives way to a penalty…
Verdy hits the woodwork!
Jamie Vardy almost nets *the* goal!
He flicks a header towards the right post and David de Gea is scrambling again – but it clips the outside of the frame.
The spearhead of Leicester’s 2016 title success could still be their hero today.
IHEANACHO REPLACED
Still not much from the Foxes as they make their first change, throwing on Ayoze Perez for Kelechi Iheanacho.
Leicester City 0-0 Manchester United
Leicester are going to have to launch an all-out assault at some point. Now is not the time it seems as while they control the possession they are not forcing through much on goal as the rain pours down at the King Power Stadium.
Man Utd Playing for the win
United only need a point but they’re going all out for three at this stage.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has clearly asked his side to show some urgency and they’re hardly giving Leicester a sight of the ball.
Half an hour to go. What can Brendan Rodgers come up with?
SO FAR, ONLY TWO MATCHES ARE YET TO PRODUCE GOALS
- Leicester City 0-0 Manchester United
- West Ham United 0-0 Aston Villa
FACT FILE
At the age of 33, Olivier Giroud has become the oldest player to score in five consecutive Premier League starts, taking over from Jamie Vardy (32 years old). Zest.
As it stands
Jamie Vardy of Leicester City, by the way, is still leading the running for the Golden Boot
So it’s evenly poised between Leicester and United for the final Champions League spot.
And the same goes for Aston Villa and Bournemouth who are each playing to stay in the Premier League.
Meanwhile Watford seem doomed…
Half-time: Leicester 0-0 United
With Chelsea all but assured of a top four spot, it’ll be all eyes on the King Power Stadium in the second half.
And the pressure is on the hosts, as a point won’t be enough to leapfrog United.
They started slowly but have managed a few chances.
All the half-time scores
Arsenal 3-1 Watford
Burnley 1-1 Brighton
Chelsea 2-0 Wolves
Crystal Palace 0-1 Spurs
Everton 1-2 Bournemouth
Leicester 0-0 Man Utd
Man City 2-0 Norwich
Newcastle 1-1 Liverpool
Southampton 0-1 Sheffield United
West Ham 0-0 Aston Villa
Goal number 2 for Chelsea!
It’s a second goal in the space of two minutes for the Blues!
Mason Mount slides it into the path of Olivier Giroud, who smashes it home!
Unless they concede three, it’s mission accomplished for Frank Lampard.
Goal for Chelsea!
Chelsea have got what could be their Champions League goal!
Mason Mount has a free-kick in a position where it was asking to be scored.
And he chips it perfectly over the wall into the bottom left corner!
Manchester United 0-0 Leicester City
Half-chance for United. But it is arguably their best of the game as under pressure Marcus Rashford cuts inside onto his right foot inside the box, but he can only bend a shot wide of the post.
Chelsea 0-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
A slight change in focus for Wolves perhaps at the Bridge. They now have to win to secure a top six spot as Spurs lead at Crystal Palace.
They nearly fall behind though, with Olivier Giroud (below) heading just over the bar following a near post cross from Mason Mount.
Leicester almost score through Verdy
Jamie Vardy works to get a shot away…
Ex-Leicester man Harry Maguire is there to clear it!
Remember, the Foxes are outside the top four unless things change.
3-0 Arsenal
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang makes sure there’s no way back for Watford.
The Gabonese striker capitalises on some poor defending to hook it home!
He’s now just one goal behind Jamie Vardy in the race for the Golden Boot.
Manchester United 0-0 Leicester City
Meanwhile down the other end, Iheanacho lays the ball off for Youri Tielemans on the edge of the box, whose side-footed placed effort sneaks just past the wrong side of the post.
More concern for Vardy by the way. Aubameyang has scored again for Arsenal, putting him just one behind the Leicester striker in the golden boot race.
SCORES SO FAR after 36 MINUTES
SCORE LINES AFTER 34 MINUTES
- Arsenal 2-0 Watford
- Burnley 0-1 Brighton
- Chelsea 0-0 Wolves
- ‘Crystal Palace 0-1 Spurs
- Everton 0-1 Bournemouth
- Leicester 0-0 Man Utd
- Man City 1-0 Norwich
- Newcastle 1-0 Liverpool
- ‘ Southampton 0-1 Sheffield Utd
- West Ham 0-0 Aston Villa
Arsenal double lead
Kieran Tierney puts Arsenal 2-0 up!
The left-back tries his luck first time and Ben Foster is nowhere near it.
Watford have a mountain to climb now…
Leicester City 0-0 Manchester United
Half-chance for the Foxes. Marc Albrighton picks up a cross on the right side of the box, but under pressure from Brandon Williams he slices wide of the near post.
Chelsea 0-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Even enough start at Stamford Bridge. Wolves are looking to attack Chelsea but the Blues are looking keen to do their damage on the counter attack.
- TO FINISH IN THE TOP FOUR
- 3rd: MANCHESTER UNITED (63 points, GD: +28) WIN or DRAW with Leicester, or LOSE to Leicester if Chelsea lose to Wolves.
- 4th: CHELSEA (63 points, GD: +13) WIN or DRAW with Wolves, or LOSE to Wolves if United beat Leicester.
- 5th: LEICESTER (62 points, GD: +28) WIN against Man United, or DRAW with United if Chelsea lose to Wolves.
NDIDI ALMOST SCORE FOR LEICESTER AGAINST MAN U
It has been a fairly quiet start to the Champions League showdown at the King Power Stadium.
United are looking slightly brighter and Mason Greenwood has banged a header wide.
But they’ve been a bit shaky at the back and nearly gave away a goal to Wilfred Ndidi.
CHAMPIONS, MAN CITY LOSING…
Already-relegated Norwich are winning at Man City!
Oh wait! Onel Hernandez’s strike is cancelled for offside.
And now City are winning! Gabriel Jesus fires home from close range.
ARSENAL ONE GOAL UP!
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang converts a spot kick after a very long check on a clumsy Craig Dawson challenge on Alexandre Lacazette.
That’s great news for Aston Villa, who are staying up as things stand…
Leicester City host Manchester United on the final day of the Premier League season knowing that this is it.
Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers made three changes with Marc Albrighton, Kelechi Iheanacho and Hamza Choudhury all starting.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka returned to replace Timothy Fosu-Mensah for the third-placed visitors, a point and two places above Leicester.
Keep up with all the action from the Champions League decider at the King Power, plus the goals from across the Premier League’s final day, right here.
Leicester starting XI: Schmeichel, Justin, Morgan (c), Evans, Albrighton, Ndidi, Choudhury, Tielemans, Thomas, Iheanacho, Vardy
Subs: Ward, Bennett, Mendy, Praet, James, Barnes, Gray, Perez, Hirst
Man Utd starting XI: Dea Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire (c), Williams, Matic, Pogba, Greenwood, B Fernandes, Rashford, Martial
Subs: S Romero, Bailly, Fosu-Mensah, Fred, James, Lingard, Mata, McTominay, Ighalo
Liverpool losing
The first goal of the afternoon comes almost straight away at St James’ Park.
And the champions are the first team to concede!
Dwight Gayle gives Newcastle the lead against Jurgen Klopp’s weakened side.
Arsenal get penalty
And VAR is causing havoc almost straight away at the Emirates!
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang converts a spot kick after a very long check on a Craig Dawson challenge on Alexandre Lacazette.
That’s great news for Aston Villa…
Liverpool beat Crystal Palace 1-0 to remain top of the Premier League as Arsenal and Manchester City came from behind to win on Saturday.
City were 3-2 victors over Fulham to stay one point behind Liverpool, alongside Arsenal who saw off Southampton 3-1.
Arne Slot has now won nine of his first 10 games since succeeding Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager, but was frustrated that the visitors invited a late onslaught from the winless Eagles.
Jota prodded the Reds into the lead from Cody Gakpo’s cross on nine minutes.
The Portuguese international was then guilty of missing two big chances to extend Liverpool’s advantage.
Palace failed to make them pay, but victory came at a cost for Slot as goalkeeper Alisson Becker limped off with a hamstring injury.
“If you score the second you break them mentally,” said Slot. “All the fans kept believing in a result because it was only 1-0, even though in my opinion we were the dominant team.”
Fresh from a dominant win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, Arsenal were expected to sweep aside winless Southampton.
But the Saints shocked the Emirates 10 minutes into the second half when Cameron Archer fired in his first Premier League goal since a summer move from Aston Villa.
The lead only lasted three minutes before Kai Havertz scored for the seventh consecutive home game.
Gabriel Martinelli was introduced after an hour and took just eight minutes to make his mark with a finish on the volley from Bukayo Saka’s cross.
Having set up Arsenal’s first two goals, Saka pounced on a loose ball to score the third himself.
Fulham’s outrageous opener
Rodri’s season-long absence due to a serious knee injury is expected to be a major blow to City’s chances of retaining the title for a fifth consecutive season.
But it was the Spaniard’s deputy Mateo Kovacic who scored twice to turn the game around for the champions at the Etihad.
The visitors had not lost since the opening night of the season at Manchester United and led thanks to Andreas Pereira’s finish from an outrageous backheel assist by Raul Jimenez.
Kovacic’s deflected effort quickly brought City level before a cleaner strike less than two minutes into the second half made it 2-1.
Jeremy Doku then smashed into the top corner from outside the box to give City a two-goal cushion, which they needed.
Rodrigo Muniz gave Fulham hope on 88 minutes, but City held out for a 17th consecutive win against the Cottagers.
West Ham eased the pressure on new boss Julen Lopetegui by ending a run of three home defeats to start the new season.
Michail Antonio, Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta struck for the Hammers in a 4-1 win over Ipswich, who are still waiting for their first Premier League win 22 years.
There were six goals before half-time as Brentford beat Wolves 5-3 to leave the visitors still rooted to the foot of the table.
Leicester secured their first league win of the season as Facundo Buonanotte’s strike beat Bournemouth 1-0.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag faces a huge match if he is to remain in charge when the Red Devils visit Aston Villa in the pick of Sunday’s action.
-AFP
Premier League
Premier League rejects City request to delay next season’s games after Club World Cup
The Premier League has rejected Manchester City’s request to postpone the first two games of the 2025-26 season to help the players recover after their FIFA Club World Cup campaign in the U.S., the club’s manager Pep Guardiola said on Friday.
City and Chelsea are the two English clubs who have qualified for the expanded month-long Club World Cup set to start on June 15. The Premier League’s season will begin in August.
An increasingly packed soccer calendar has been a concern among a growing number of players and managers. A report by global players’ union FIFPRO said some players get only 12% of the year to rest.
The Premier League did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours.
City midfielder Rodri said in September that players could be close to strike action over the time they are required to play. A knee ligament injury has since put him out for the season.
“I don’t know if we will play more games than the treble year (2022-23)… maybe we’ll play less games,” Guardiola told reporters.
“The Premier League has not allowed us to postpone the first two games for our recovery. Thank you so much. They don’t postpone these games so that will be the moment of, oh, what do we have to do?”
He said the Club World Cup will make it even more difficult for clubs to manage player workload.
-Reuters
Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe said a decision about under-fire manager Erik ten Hag is not his call, and was reticent about whether he still has faith in the team’s boss amid their worst start to the Premier League season since 1986-87.
“I don’t want to answer that question,” Ratcliffe told the BBC. “I like Erik. I think he’s a very good coach but at the end of the day it’s not my call, it’s the management team that’s running Manchester United that have to decide how we best run the team in many different respects.
“That team that’s running Manchester United has only been together since June or July. They weren’t there in January, February, March or April — Omar (Berrada, CEO), (Sporting Director) Dan Ashworth — they only arrived in July.
“They’ve only been there . . . you can count it in weeks almost — they’ve not been there a long time so they need to take stock and make some sensible decisions.”
Ten Hag’s job was the subject of speculation for much of last season en route to the team’s lowest Premier League finish of eighth. After an FA Cup final victory over Manchester City and an end-of-season review, however, Ten Hag signed a new contract to extend his stay at Old Trafford until 2026.
“Our objective is very clear, we want to take Manchester United back to where it should be, and it’s not there yet, obviously, that’s very clear,” Ratcliffe said.
Ten Hag continues to plead for patience from fans with the team languishing 13th in the Premier League table, having lost three of their six opening games. They were headed towards defeat by Porto in the Europa League on Thursday before Harry Maguire scored a last-gasp goal to salvage a 3-3 draw.
-Reuters
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