The final day of the Premier League came to a dramatic conclusion. Although the Premier League and the top four race had been concluded before the final game there was still the matter of the final European place and who would face the dreaded drop.
With both Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa fighting to play in Europe next season, both needed a result to keep each other at bay. Whereas at the other end of the league, it was a three-way race between Leeds United, Leicester City, and Everton of who was going to secure that last position that guaranteed football in the top flight in the 2023/24 season.
European battle
Despite battling for the top four last month, Tottenham were the side that were in the most danger of missing out on European football despite having such a talented side and being in contention for a Champions League spot for the majority of the season.
Whereas Aston Villa, since hiring Unai Emery, have had a massive upturn in form. They have really got their exciting players playing this year and thoroughly deserved to be in contention of playing football in one the elite competitions next year.
As the day progressed, Spurs were doing the job to play European football albeit in the Europa Conference League. However, they were keen to do so especially when Harry Kane put them ahead in the 2nd minute. Spurs were cruising and when Pedro Porro put them 2-0 ahead it seemed done and dusted. Leeds pulled one back but it was quickly shut down by Harry Kane. Spurs won 4-1 when Lucas Moura walked through the despairing Leeds defence; who were compounded to relegation.
In the Midlands, however, there was much more excitement. Aston Villa who must have heard about Harry Kane’s early goal because, on the 8th minute, Douglas Luiz decided to take it into his own hands and put Villa ahead despite his defensive attributes outweighing his attacking qualities. Despite a scare with striker Denis Undav thinking he had scored for Brighton & Hove Albion, Villa man Ollie Watkins put Villa 2-0 ahead.
Undav did manage to pull one back, but the Villa fans were more than happy to be chanting “Bring your passports and see you in Europe” despite being 14 points behind Spurs when Steven Gerrard was sacked.
Relegation- Who ended up in the Championship?
A battle of three teams and as you will already know Leeds United were not the team to survive the drop.
However, a battle between a side who have been in the topflight for 68 years and a side that won the Premier League in 2016; Everton and Leicester City.
Two sides that have plenty of Premier League history went into the final day needing to better each other. Leicester faced West Ham and Everton saw the visit of Bournemouth.
Leicester got the day running when they took the lead through exciting talent Harvey Barnes. This certainly created a lot of nerves at Goodison Park, but the King Power was rocking. As halftime approached, Leicester were sending Everton down to the Championship.
It seems unimaginable that Everton, who have faced relegation on the final day twice before, would be relegated. With Leicester thinking they were safe and sound, the memo mustn’t have got to midfielder Abdoulaye Doucouré who took upon himself to score potentially not only the most important goal of his career but the best goal he would ever score; a true screamer to send the Everton faithful into raptures.
The news filtered into the King Power and the mood was instantly deflated. Wout Faes did head home a 2nd for the Foxes but they knew that it was not enough knowing Everton were leading. Whilst Everton were still leading, West Ham pulled one back but it still did not matter to the Foxes fans.
Meanwhile, at Everton, Sean Dyche was making changes for Everton to hold on and they hand goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to thank for keeping them in the game. With 6 minutes added on at Leicester and 10 added on for Everton, there was certainly a contrast of emotions.
This was also the case when both sides managed to finish the game as previously mentioned. Tears in the stands of the King Power, whereas there was a pitch invasion at Goodison.
Both clubs were on the brink and Leicester were the ones to fall. They will be looking to bounce back quickly despite the expectation of being raided by other teams. Yet, Everton will really need to build the following two years in a row of a great club facing relegation on the final day.
Never a dull day in the Barclays.
