The English Premier League (EPL) league table continues to get intense with each passing matchday. This past weekend produced some interesting results.
Liverpool 1-1 Aston Villa
Roberto Firmino scored a dramatic equaliser in his final Anfield match to keep Liverpool’s slim Champions League hopes alive and salvage a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa. Jacob Ramsey made no such mistake when Trent Alexander-Arnold forgot to mark him in the aftermath of a set piece, however, volleying in at the far post to score in back-to-back games. Yet Firmino scored a goal which did count two minutes from time, acrobatically diverting Mohamed Salah’s cross into the net. Villa have 58 points and are up to seventh, which would mean a Europa Conference League place. Liverpool, on 66 points, remain fifth and are three points off the top four with just one game left.
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Arsenal
Taiwo Awoniyi’s goal ended Arsenal’s Premier League title dreams and ensured survival for Nottingham Forest in front of the delighted home fans at the City Ground. The only goal of the game came after 19 minutes and had a touch of fortune about it. Martin Odegaard gave the ball away in midfield and Morgan Gibbs-White drove to the edge of the area and pushed a ball through to Awoniyi in the right-hand side of the penalty area and as the striker, goalkeeper and Gabriel converged on the ball, the defender’s tackle deflected off the Forest No. 9 and the deflection went over Aaron Ramsdale and into the net. Arsenal are now four points behind Manchester City with a game remaining, while Forest are seven clear of second-bottom Leicester and four ahead of Everton, who only have one game left.
Newcastle 0-0 Leicester City
Eddie Howe’s side failed to break the deadlock in a match they dominated, striking the post three times, but the result was sufficient for the Magpies to make a long-awaited return to Europe’s elite competition next season. Foxes boss Dean Smith started England internationals James Maddison and Harvey Barnes on the bench but neither was able to inject any impetus into their dull performance after coming on. Newcastle are four points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool heading into Sunday’s final day of the season, while Leicester remain in the relegation zone, two points adrift of safety. Newcastle will aim to complete a successful season on a high on Sunday, travelling to face Chelsea hoping to secure third position.
Other Results:
Tottenham 1-3 Brentford
Wolves 1-1 Everton
Bournemouth 0-1 Man United
Fulham 2-2 Crystal Palace
West Ham 3-1 Leeds United
Brighton 3-1 Southampton
Man City 1-0 Chelsea
