A dramatic final midweek round of the 2020-21 Premier League season saw the battle for Europe take centre stage, setting up a tense final day for several teams.
Second half strikes from Antonio Rudiger and Jorginho saw Chelsea put their top four fate in their own hands, as Thomas Tuchel’s Blues survived a late Kelechi Iheanacho goal to leapfrog Leicester to go third just days after losing the FA Cup Final to the Foxes.
Brendan Rogers’ Leicester consequently slipped to fifth after Andrew Robertson provided two assists for Roberto Firmino and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain either side of Nat Phillips’ goal as Liverpool thrashed Burnley 3-0 away at Turf Moor to go fourth.
Chelsea and Liverpool therefore have their top four fates in their own hands in a tense three-way decider for third and fourth on Sunday (23 May 2021), whereas Leicester must win at home and hope at least one of their rivals slip up elsewhere in order to snatch a top four finish.
In a fierce fight for sixth, Sergio Reguilon provided an own goal and costly mistake for Tottenham as Aston Villa came from behind to clinch a shock 2-1 win in North London
Comeback goals from Tomas Soucek, Angelo Ogbonna and Michail Antonio saw West Ham fight back to defeat West Brom 3-1 at The Hawthorns, which put David Moyes’ Hammers up to sixth with control of their own destiny of that last Europa League spot on Sunday.
Richarlison’s 48th minute header proved enough for eighth-placed Everton to defeat Wolves, as Carlo Ancelotti’s Toffees face a four-way fight for the final Europa League spot after moving to within a point of West Ham.
Injury time goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Nicholas Pepe saw Arsenal defeat Crystal Palace 3-1 in Roy Hodgson’s final home game as Eagles’ manager at Selhurst Park, keeping the Gunners’ faint top seven finish dreams alive.
Late goals from Patrick Bamford and Tyler Roberts saw Leeds defeat Southampton to secure a top ten finish, although they could finish seventh with a win on Sunday and a bizarre set of results in their favour to snatch the Europa Conference League spot.
Elsewhere, Brighton came from two goals down to end Manchester City’s 12 match winning away streak in a 3-2 victorious thriller at the AMEX Stadium, as the visitors played 80 minutes with ten men after Joao Cancelo was red carded for a foul.
Joe Bryan’s 76th minute header saw Fulham clinch a point at Old Trafford to cancel out Edinson Cavani’s 40-yard lobbed strike, as Manchester United secured second after Leicester’s defeat at Stamford Bridge.
Finally, Joe Willock headed in a first half injury time winner for Newcastle as the Magpies endured a scrappy home contest against Sheffield United, as defeat ensured that the Blades will finish rock-bottom of this season’s standings.
Leave a Reply