BACK FROM THE RED
Man City pip Liverpool to Premier League title on dramatic day as final beat Arsenal to top four & Burnley relegated
MANCHESTER CITY won the Premier League title on a pulsating final day of the season as Tottenham beat Arsenal to the final top-four place and Burnley were relegated.
Needing to win their game and hope City lost, Liverpool were already up against it going into the final day, but faced an even more daunting prospect after conceding in the third minute at home to Wolves.
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A rare Ibrahima Konate blunder allowed Pedro Neto to give Wolves an early lead.
But Liverpool roared back through Sadio Mane who tucked the ball into the bottom corner following a beautiful flick from Thiago.
All the while, Man City were dominating at the Etihad, but being held by Steven Gerrard's Aston Villa.
That was, until Matty Cash gave the visitors a shock lead shortly before half-time - heading home a Lucas Digne cross - sparking an incredible roar inside Anfield after the news had travelled the 35 miles up the M62.
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At half-time, Liverpool were level on points with City - as Pep Guardiola and Co sat top only on goal difference.
Within ten minutes of the second-half, the Reds thought they had moved into top spot after Mane put the ball in the back of the net, only for the flag to go up very late for offside.
Astonishingly, with just 20 minutes to play, ex-Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho did his best to help his former club by scoring Villa's second at City to leave Guardiola stunned.
As it stood, the Reds needed just one goal to win the league.
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But the reigning champions refused to go down without a fight and pulled one back with 15 minutes still to play through substitute Ilkay Gundogan.
Two minutes later, Rodri equalised for City in a remarkable turnaround at the Etihad. As things stood, Liverpool needed to score and needed Villa to see out the rest of the game unscathed.
Unbelievably, Gundogan grabbed his second just moments later - and City had scored three goals in five minutes to go 3-2 and ensure they retained their title in the most-dramatic of circumstances.
Seconds after City took the lead for the first time, Mohamed Salah put Liverpool 2-1 - grabbing that vital goal, levelling Son Heung-min in the Golden Boot race.
But Jurgen Klopp and Co still needed Villa to force another twist in the tale at the Etihad.
Liverpool ensured they held up their end of the bargain as Andy Robertson made it 3-1 in the dying embers.
All Klopp and Co could do now was hope for a last-gasp equaliser from Villa at City.
But Gerrard couldn't add to his legendary status at Liverpool as City clung on to a 3-2 win in remarkable circumstances to win the Premier League for a fourth time in five years by a single point.
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While the north-west giants traded punches for the title, North London rivals Arsenal and Spurs were chasing fourth place.
The Gunners needed already-relegated Norwich to beat Tottenham, but were dealt an early blow after Dejan Kulusevski scored early on.
Gabriel Martinelli ensured Arsenal held up their end by slotting home a first-half penalty at home to Everton after Alex Iwobi's hand-ball.
Moments later, Eddie Nketiah made it 2-0 to ensure they kept the pressure up on their fierce local rivals.
However, Spurs put themselves all-but out of sight, making Arsenal's result almost irrelevant, as Harry Kane made it 2-0 shortly after the 30-minute mark with a simple header at Carrow Road.
On the stroke of half-time, Donny van de Beek pulled one back for Everton at Arsenal to add to Mikel Arteta's stresses with his first - and probably last - goal for the Toffees.
Cedric Soares scored just ten minutes into the second half to reestablish the Gunners' two-goal lead - albeit seemingly in vain - before Gabriel added another minutes later to make it 4-1.
But over in Norwich, Spurs ensured Arsenal's result made no difference as Kulusevski grabbed his second midway through the second half.
And Son Heung-min moved level with Mohamed Salah in the Golden Boot race as he netted Spurs' fourth.
The South Korean star grabbed his second moments later as he put one hand on the top-scorer trophy. Arsenal's Champions League hopes were over.
Not that it mattered now, Martin Odegaard scored the Gunners' fifth - to make it 5-1 - at home to beleaguered Everton.
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At the foot of the table, there was still one relegation place to finalise - with Leeds and Burnley starting the day level on points, with the former 18th on goal difference.
But Leeds earned an early advantage after Callum Wilson scored an early penalty for Newcastle away to the Clarets.
Jesse Marsch's side scored through Joe Gelhardt, only for the goal to be disallowed by VAR for a marginal offside in a major lifeline for Burnley.
But within 15 minutes of the second half, Raphinha scored from the penalty spot to take a giant leap towards retaining their Premier League place.
And Leeds were given another major boost as Newcastle doubled their lead over Burnley through Wilson to all-but confirm the Clarets' relegation.
Maxwel Cornet pulled one back with just 20 minutes to play to give Burnley a glimmer of hope.
And Leeds were given an almighty scare, as Brentford equalised through Sergi Canos - before he was sent-off, reducing the Bees to NINE men following an injury.
But Marsch's men ensured they would stay in the top-flight with a last-gasp winner through Jack Harrison. Burnley, officially relegated.
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The only other major storyline for the day involved Man Utd and West Ham in their fight for the second and final Europa League place.
United started the day two points above the Hammers, but slipped 1-0 down to Crystal Palace thanks to Wilfried Zaha's superb opener against his old club.
Just seconds later, West Ham took the lead at Brighton thanks to a thumping strike from Michail Antonio.
As things stood, David Moyes' men were snatching the final Europa League spot.
But just moments into the second-half, West Ham were pegged back by Brighton as Joel Veltman netted an equaliser, as United moved back into sixth.
And the Seagulls scored with just ten minutes to go through Pascal Gross to all-but ensure Man Utd took the final Europa League place and see West Ham take the Conference League spot.
Brighton made it 3-1 in added time through Danny Welbeck to grab their first-ever top ten finish in the Premier League, with West Ham officially finishing seventh.
United finished sixth with Erik ten Hag to enjoy the Europa League in his first season at Old Trafford.
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Arsenal 5-1 Everton
THE Gunners needed to win and Tottenham to lose to grab the final Champions League spot.
But despite sticking five past hapless Everton - who officially avoided relegation midweek - they were forced to settle for a Europa League spot after Spurs batter Norwich.
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Brentford 1-2 Leeds
LEEDS looked dead-certs to be relegated earlier this season but pulled off a final-day great escape with a last-gasp win at Brentford.
Their win saw Burnley join Watford and Norwich in heading down to the Championship.
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Brighton 3-1 West Ham
THE Hammers needed to win and hope Man Utd dropped points to snatch the final Europa League spot, having reached the semi-finals of this year's competition.
But despite United losing at Crystal Palace and taking the lead on the south coast, the Hammers capitulated to ensure they would only be in next season's Europa Conference League.
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Burnley 1-2 Newcastle
THE Clarets just needed to match Leeds' result to ensure they retained their top-flight status.
But after slipping 2-0 down, they were always facing a fight - and despite Cornet pulling one back, Leeds' win was enough to relegate Burnley.
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Chelsea 2-1 Watford
THE Blues had already secured third in the league with Watford already-relegated.
So it's little wonder Chelsea laboured to victory, as Kai Havertz's early goal was wiped out by Dan Gosling's 87th-minute strike - before Ross Barkley grabbed a winner in added time.
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Crystal Palace 1-0 Man Utd
SOMEWHAT fortunately, incoming United boss Ten Hag will lead his new side out in the Europa League next season.
Zaha scored a superb goal against his old club, but Man Utd clung on to sixth thanks to West Ham slipping up at Brighton.
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Leicester 4-1 Southampton
THE Foxes ended their disappointing season with a crushing win over Saints to leapfrog Wolves into eighth - just one spot outside the continental qualification places.
Leicester stormed to a 2-0 lead before James Ward-Prowse pulled one back from the spot, before the hosts ran away with it late on, as Saints finished the season in a disappointing 15th.
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Liverpool 3-1 Wolves
THEY needed to win and hope City dropped points - and for a moment, the Reds thought they could do it.
After going a goal down after three minutes, Liverpool eventually fought back to win 3-1 - but it was all in vain.
Next stop, the Champions League final next Saturday as Klopp hopes to make it a Treble, even if not that unprecedented Quadruple.
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Man City 3-2 Aston Villa
GUARDIOLA and Co did it the hard way after going 2-0 down knowing surely only a win would be enough to retain the Premier League title.
And three goals in five minutes late in the game saw City somehow snatch the trophy from Quadruple-chasing Liverpool.
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Norwich 0-5 Tottenham
SPURS knew they just needed a point to take the final Champions League spot.
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But, against an already-relegated Norwich, Spurs went goal-mad to finish fourth, ahead of fierce rivals Arsenal.
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