..::Football IV::..

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Manchester United 1 Watford 0: Carrick sets up winner in final Old Trafford appearance

Michael Carrick signed off his Premier League career by creating the only goal of the game as Manchester United beat Watford 1-0 on the final day of the season.Carrick, who will join United manager Jose Mourinho's backroom team from next season, was handed the captain's armband for his final game at Old Trafford and given a guard of honour as the teams emerged for kick-off.

And it was the former England midfielder who made the decisive contribution, his superb lifted throughball enabling Juan Mata to tee up Marcus Rashford to break the deadlock.That was the lone piece of invention from a United side minus the services of Anthony Martial, who was left out of the squad amid rumours of a move away, though MUTV later suggested the France international has an injury.

United's inability to take full control of the game after taking the lead may be of concern to Mourinho ahead of the FA Cup final with former club Chelsea next weekend.However, the victory was rarely in doubt after they went ahead, Watford struggling to craft much in reply as United finished on 81 points, the 19-point gap to champions Manchester City an illustration of the improvements the Premier League runners-up must make next season.


Early on United played with a lack of intensity perhaps befitting of a side focused on a cup final.As a result Watford found plenty of openings in the United defence on the counter, though they struggled to exploit them, but the visitors were dealt a blow when Christian Kabasele was forced off through injury after falling awkwardly into the advertising hoardings.

And Watford's inability to take advantage of United's lackadaisical start was punished as Carrick provided a wonderful flourish of creativity to mark his Old Trafford farewell.He lifted an expertly weighted ball over the Watford backline, with Mata beating the offside trap and controlling it brilliantly before squaring for Rashford to tap into an empty net.

United were grateful to Sergio Romero for preserving their lead a minute before half-time, David de Gea's understudy springing to his left to turn Richarlison's point-blank header from Daryl Janmaat's cross behind, with Gerard Deulofeu firing into the Argentine's midriff from the subsequent corner.Such moments of excitement were thin on the ground in an extremely pedestrian second half in which Watford, who ended the campaign in 14th as a result of this defeat, finished the stronger.

But there was still a moment to remember late on as Carrick's 464th United appearance came to a close, receiving a standing ovation as he was replaced by Paul Pogba on a day that belonged to one of the club's most distinguished servants.

 

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Tottenham 5 Leicester City 4: Kane and Lamela at the double in Premier League classic

Harry Kane and Erik Lamela each scored twice as Tottenham beat Leicester City 5-4 to sign off from their stay at Wembley with a pulsating end-of-season Premier League classic.England striker Kane cancelled out Jamie Vardy's early opener, but goals from Riyad Mahrez and Kelechi Iheanacho had the Foxes 3-1 ahead two minutes after the break.

Lamela inspired the fightback by twice finishing from Kyle Walker-Peters assists, and it was the Argentine's strike that forced an own goal from Christian Fuchs to put Spurs in front by the hour mark.




Vardy's expertly taken second appeared to have earned Leicester a remarkable point, but England team-mate Kane had the last word to seal a scarcely believable three points with his 11th Premier League goal against Leicester - more than any other opponent he has faced.

The dramatic victory means Spurs, who were already assured of a Champions League berth next season, finish third ahead of Liverpool, but Kane's unlikely pursuit of Mohamed Salah in the race for the Golden Boot fell short despite him scoring 30 Premier League goals in a season for the first time.

It remains to be seen if boss Mauricio Pochettino and key centre-back Toby Alderweireld, who have both been the subject of speculation surrounding their futures, will remain with Spurs when they leave the national stadium to play at their new ground on the site of the old White Hart Lane next season.Claude Puel's own tenure at Leicester is also likely to face further scrutiny, the Foxes finishing the season ninth after ending the league campaign with just one win in seven – albeit that coming against Arsenal in midweek.


Spurs were caught cold in just the fourth minute when Vardy was allowed a free run to glance a header from Mahrez's teasing left-wing free-kick into the far corner.The response was swift, though. Lucas Moura caught Danny Simpson dawdling in possession and Kane picked up the loose ball to race free and place a left-foot shot past Eldin Jakupovic.A typically blood-and-thunder final-day contest continued in the 16th minute.

Iheanacho wormed his way into the area, Adrien Silva prodded the ball towards Vardy and, although he was denied, Mahrez was on hand to smash home from 10 yards.Spurs sought another response, but they had Hugo Lloris to thank for keeping them in the game after fine counter-attacking work from Iheanacho and Vardy saw Demarai Gray go through one-on-one.

The excitement continued two minutes after the break when Iheanacho held off Victor Wanyama's challenge, strode forward and rifled an unstoppable 25-yard effort into the top-right corner.Leicester's lead was at two for just two minutes. Spurs' passing was one-touch and slick, leading to Walker-Peters drilling a ball across goal for Lamela to tap in.

By the 52nd minute Spurs were level. Rose's low cross from the left was controlled by Lucas and he teed up Lamela, whose shot ricocheted off Harry Maguire and Fuchs before nestling in the goal.Incredibly Spurs were ahead by the hour. A poor defensive touch by Gray was pounced on by Walker-Peters, who once again kept his cool to pick out Lamela for the simple finish.

The drama was not finished there. Shortly after Danny Rose was denied a penalty following a challenge from Silva, Mahrez – who had just missed a great chance – slipped in Vardy to smash home Leicester's equaliser for his 20th league goal of the campaign.

But the majority of supporters inside Wembley again rose to their feet when Kane bent a sublime effort from just inside the area into the right side of the goal to put the gloss on a memorable match.

 

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Liverpool 4 Brighton and Hove Albion 0: Salah sets record as Klopp's side secure fourth

Mohamed Salah created Premier League history as Liverpool wrapped up a top-four finish with a comfortable 4-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday.

Salah fired the hosts in front during the first half at Anfield, the forward swivelling inside the penalty area to score his 32nd league goal and, in the process, set a new competition record for a 38-game season.Dejan Lovren nodded in a second before the break, the defender powerfully converting Andrew Robertson's left-wing cross.




Salah then showed his creative side by setting up Dominic Solanke's first goal for the club, and Robertson netted a fourth in the 85th minute, to help Jurgen Klopp's side finish their domestic duties in style.The result saw travel-sick Brighton end an otherwise successful first Premier League campaign without an away league win in 2018, as Chris Hughton's team wilted in the Merseyside sunshine.

Liverpool still have unfinished business in Europe this season, of course, and Klopp made sure Salah – as well as Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, the other members of the now-famous front three – were unscathed before the final against Real Madrid on May 26, withdrawing them all in the closing stages of what was a routine victory.


For the second successive season, Liverpool's hopes of finishing fourth or higher were boosted by a final-weekend fixture against opponents with nothing to play for.

However, unlike a year ago against relegated Middlesbrough, there were no last-day nerves at Anfield this time. Instead, Klopp's side dominated from start to finish, with only their profligacy in front of goal preventing them from winning by an even greater margin.They eventually moved ahead in the 26th minute, though only after referee Kevin Friend had turned down two strong penalty appeals right in front of a baying Kop.

Salah, who had been at the centre of the second claim after being floored by a lunging tackle from Shane Duffy inside the area, ended a three-game run without a goal courtesy of a low, left-footed finish.

Lovren's firm header put the game beyond a beleaguered Brighton, who were fortunate to just trail by two at the half-time interval. Mane fired straight at Mathew Ryan when clean through, while his attempt to tee up Salah saw him underhit the square pass, though the Egyptian did eventually get away a shot that was blocked on the line by the retreating Duffy.

Firmino was also guilty of blazing over, meaning it was left to Solanke, handed a rare start, to show his more esteemed team-mates how to finish early in the second half.The England international rattled in a rising drive off the underside of the bar to break his duck, Salah providing the final pass to set up the shooting opportunity.

The Premier League's Golden Boot winner was withdrawn just prior to Liverpool scoring again, Robertson capping his own impressive debut campaign at the club by firing home a loose ball with his left foot.

 

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Southampton 0 Manchester City 1: Last-gasp Jesus strikes for ton-up champions

Manchester City left it late to seal a 100-point Premier League season but Gabriel Jesus was the champions' final day hero as he snatched a 1-0 win deep into stoppage time at Southampton.City have set competition records for wins, goals scored and points acquired during their march to glory in 2017-18, although little of their usual panache was in evidence during a listless opening half at St Mary's.

The unlikely 10-goal swing required to put Saints in danger of relegation never looked to be on the cards and Mark Hughes' well-manned defence coped assuredly with mounting City pressure after the break.That was until Kevin De Bruyne's exquisite lofted pass – a 16th league assist of the campaign for the Belgium playmaker - sent substitute Jesus clear to loft a cool finish over goalkeeper Alex McCarthy.

Southampton defender Wesley Hoedt came closest to opening the scoring before the break when he hit the crossbar in the eighth minute, while Dusan Tadic almost settled the match in the hosts' favour before Brazil striker Jesus signed off ahead of the World Cup with a thrilling last-gasp salvo.


Claudio Bravo was given another outing in the City goal and grasped an attempt from the marauding Jack Stephens at the second attempt.Stephens' fellow centre-back Hoedt then headed Tadic's corner against the bar amid an ambling start from the champions.Hoedt had another chance in the 25th minute but dragged wide at the far post following Tadic's latest set-piece delivery.

Sterling was the man who scored a dramatic winner at the death when the sides met in November and the England winger scythed over looking for the spectacular as a forgettable first half reached its conclusion.John Stones just failed to get on the end of De Bruyne's teasing free-kick four minutes into the second period, which City began in the manner of a team stung by some sharp words from their manager.

In the 56th-minute Fernandinho should have done better than smash a volley horribly over from inside the Southampton box and Jesus was introduced in place of Fabian Delph to give them an attacking focal point.The pressure was piling up for Southampton, with Sterling crashing a deflected shot against the post and Stones forcing McCarthy to tip over from the resulting corner before De Bruyne fizzed one wide from the edge of the box.

A twinkle-toed Tadic almost won it for Southampton in the 78th minute – dancing around Bravo but seeing Fernandinho clout his shot off the line.City academy products Brahim Diaz and Phil Foden came off the bench to make their fifth appearances of the season, meaning they will both collect a league-winners' medal.



And the teenagers had a front-row view as Jesus capitalised on De Bruyne's expert service in ice-cool fashion, prompting a jubilant Guardiola to leap on to the field – another piece of history achieved by his superb team.

 

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Newcastle United 3 Chelsea 0: Abject Blues miss out on Champions League spot

Chelsea produced an abject performance as they missed out on a place in next season's Champions League by going down 3-0 at Newcastle United on Sunday.

Antonio Conte's side went into their final Premier League match of the season needing a win and a slip-up from Liverpool to book a place in the top four, but the deposed champions failed to keep up their end of the bargain.

Liverpool's 4-0 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion meant Chelsea would have had to settle for Europa League football even if they left St James' Park with three points, but the limp nature of their performance will provide concerns ahead of the FA Cup final against Manchester United next weekend.




Conte, whose uncertain future at the club is expected to be clarified before the end of the month, suggested at his pre-match news conference that missing out on the top four would not hurt the Blues, and his team evidently lacked the desire to make a fist of a late challenge.

Chelsea failed to register a single shot at goal in the first half and Dwight Gayle gave Newcastle a deserved lead in the 23rd minute, putting Rafael Benitez on the path to a first Premier League win against one of his former clubs, as well as a 10th-place finish.

Gayle went off injured early in the second period but a four-minute double from Ayoze Perez saw the Magpies home for a comfortable victory, with FA Cup glory unlikely to be enough to remove the bitter taste for Chelsea and keep Conte at Stamford Bridge next season.


Thibaut Courtois returned to the line-up after missing the draw against Huddersfield Town in midweek with a back injury and was forced into action by Jonjo Shelvey and Mohamed Diame in the opening 10 minutes.

After Diame went close again, the Magpies finally got the goal they deserved when Jacob Murphy looped Matt Ritchie's delivery over Courtois, who clawed it off the line and onto the head of Gayle for a simple finish.

Chelsea offered minimal protection to Courtois. The goalkeeper kept out Gayle from 20 yards before Newcastle were denied two penalties by referee Martin Atkinson – claims for handball by Andreas Christensen and a challenge on Perez by Cesar Azpilicueta going ignored.Chelsea finally got a shot on target in the 52nd minute, as a magnificent flick from Olivier Giroud was tipped over by Newcastle's on-loan keeper Martin Dubravka.

The Magpies doubled their lead before the hour mark, Shelvey firing Tiemoue Bakayoko's attempted clearance into the box, where Perez swept it into the bottom-left corner.Dubravka did brilliantly to stop Ross Barkley – involved for the first time since January – finishing off a Chelsea counter-attack and Newcastle quickly extended their advantage.

Ritchie's deep, right-wing free-kick was sent back across goal by Florian Lejeune, enabling Perez to tap home from inside the six-yard box.With an eye on the FA Cup final Chelsea withdrew Eden Hazard and Giroud as they fell to a defeat that brought a frustratingly inconsistent defence of their title to a disappointing end.

 

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Huddersfield Town 0 Arsenal 1: Wenger bows out with first away win of 2018

Arsene Wenger's Arsenal reign came to an end in winning fashion on Sunday as his side claimed a 1-0 victory over Huddersfield Town at John Smith's Stadium.A first-half goal from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, his 10th in the Premier League since arriving from Borussia Dortmund, was enough to secure the Gunners' first points away from home in 2018.

It also allowed Wenger to celebrate victory in his 828th and final top-flight match in charge at the 54th different ground he has visited as Gunners boss in the competition.A guard of honour greeted Wenger as he made his way out onto the pitch and two planes carrying banners wishing him a fond farewell were flown over the ground during the first half.

There was little to shout about on the pitch, with Arsenal secure in sixth place and Huddersfield having guaranteed their survival with their 1-1 draw at Chelsea on Wednesday.Aubameyang's close-range finish was enough to separate the teams despite some second-half pressure from the hosts, giving Wenger a fitting farewell ahead of a new era in north London after 22 years at the helm.


Steve Mounie brought a good save from David Ospina with an early header in a quiet opening 15 minutes, during which two planes bearing banners paying tribute to Wenger were flown over the stands.
It prompted an exchange of taunts from the two sets of fans, but they were united in their ovation for Wenger in the 22nd minute, with the action on the pitch doing little to inspire the same sort of applause.

That was until Arsenal produced a fitting moment of team magic 38 minutes in. Having won back possession 30 yards from the Huddersfield goal, Henrikh Mkhitaryan combined with Alexandre Lacazette and Aaron Ramsey, whose cross towards the right-hand post was poked in by Aubameyang.

The home side stepped up the pressure in the second half, Ospina doing well to tip a Tom Ince shot around the left-hand post and Rob Holding heading into the side-netting of his own goal.

Lacazette wasted a good chance for a second for Arsenal, chipping the ball straight into Jonas Lossl's hands, and Danny Welbeck was then denied by the Huddersfield keeper when he should really have done better.Aaron Mooy blasted a half-volley off the crossbar, but Arsenal were able to see out a fond farewell for Wenger, and end a seven-game losing run away from home in the league in the process.

 

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Swansea City 1 Stoke City 2: Relegation confirmed after Swans fail to produce miracle


Swansea City's seven-year stay in the Premier League came to an end on Sunday with a 2-1 loss against already relegated Stoke City at the Liberty Stadium.Carlos Carvalhal's side needed a win, a Southampton loss and a 10-goal swing in order to preserve their place among the elite, having netted only twice in their last eight top-flight games.

Faced with that immense challenge, there was still room for sentiment as stalwart Angel Rangel started in his final outing for the hosts, with Leon Britton on the bench at the end of his long Swans career.And Swansea – who look set to part company with Carvalhal – were soon celebrating when Andy King stroked home the opener, prompting chants of 'we want 10' from the Stoke end, with former Potters boss Mark Hughes at the Saints helm.

It was the first time the Welsh club had taken the lead in a match since the 4-1 victory over West Ham in March, which came towards the end of a run of 18 points from Carvalhal's opening 10 games in charge.Having taken over in December with the side rock-bottom on only 13 points, the Portuguese looked to be leading a remarkable revival, but their demise was confirmed amid some signs of protest at the club's hierarchy.

Badou Ndiaye lobbed in the leveller and Peter Crouch scored what proved to be the winner before the break, converting the 1000th Premier League goal of the season, while Xherdan Shaqiri missed a penalty in a drab second half.The two sides will next meet in the Championship, with Paul Lambert's men having had their fate sealed following last weekend's 2-1 loss at home to Crystal Palace.


To Swansea's credit, there was a vibrancy and attacking vigour to their first-half play and Jordan Ayew fired an early free-kick into the wall before an almighty scramble in the box, with Jack Butland standing firm.But the England goalkeeper was wrong-footed when King collected Andre Ayew's flick-on and side-footed home to break the deadlock 14 minutes in.

An excellent opportunity to double that advantage followed within three minutes, but Wayne Routledge curled an effort wide from inside the box.However, after Jordan Ayew saw a strike repelled by Butland, the visitors broke away to level through Ndiaye's confident finish following an excellent assist from Shaqiri.

And Lambert's side forged ahead before the interval, Crouch stooping to head in a cross from Lasse Sorenson, the youngest player to start a Premier League game for Stoke at 18 years, 204 days.Jordan Ayew's fine free-kick had Butland scrambling across his goal, but the ball flashed just past the post to send Swansea in at the break wondering how they were behind.

Lukasz Fabianski prevented further damage with a save from Shaqiri's 54th-minute spot-kick after Mike van der Hoorn had handled in the box.The remainder of the contest yielded further proof of Swansea's goalscoring troubles, with Tammy Abraham and Andre Ayew denied, while Britton's introduction was a welcome distraction from the pain of the home side's 21st Premier League loss of 2017-18.

 

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Crystal Palace 2 West Brom 0: Eagles sign off in style


Crystal Palace signed off from an impressive Premier League campaign in a buoyant mood with a 2-0 win over West Brom on Sunday.

Wilfried Zaha and Patrick van Aanholt netted inside the final 20 minutes to add further gloss to Roy Hodgson's remarkable revival act at Selhurst Park.The veteran Englishman took over from the sacked Frank de Boer with the Eagles in a perilous position but will feel a keen sense of redemption after leading his boyhood club to a highly-creditable finishing place of 11th.




Though Darren Moore's five-match unbeaten run came to an end at the final hurdle, the West Brom caretaker can take similar satisfaction from a brief, encouraging stint that has seen him collect more points than both Tony Pulis and Alan Pardew in a largely miserable season for the Baggies.They will attempt to make a quick return from the Championship next term – having been relegated by Southampton's midweek win at Swansea City – and Moore, who will meet the board this coming week, has made a compelling case to be entrusted with that responsibility.

This final outing, though, was all about Hodgson and regular match-winner Zaha, who broke the deadlock in the 70th minute from a Van Aanholt assist, the Netherlands international doubling the advantage eight minutes later.


Bright sunshine and an optimistic crowd created an expectation of entertainment and the two sides initially seemed willing to oblige with Luka Milivojevic and Grzegorz Krychowiak both firing narrowly wide in the opening 10 minutes.Palace appeared the more likely to find an early way through and might have done so had James McArthur opted to shoot inside the box rather than squaring for an off-balance Zaha, whose mishit finish was met by Ben Foster's outstretched boot.

The Baggies soon settled into the compact shape Moore has successfully crafted and while it prevented them from posing a genuine attacking threat, they did nullify the danger of Zaha through to the end of a scoreless first half.The hosts stepped up the intensity soon after the restart as Foster first held Ruben Loftus-Cheek's meek attempt, before Ivory Coast international Zaha sliced wide from Van Aanholt's cut-back.

And they should have gone ahead when Zaha led a counter-attack to the edge of the area and laid a pass into the path of Andros Townsend, who slipped as he pulled the trigger and failed to even test Foster in a one-on-one.Instead, it was left to the Eagles' main man to do the damage. Van Aanholt overlapped again on the left and his low cross was this time diverted into the bottom-right corner by Zaha, his ninth league goal of an exceptional individual campaign.

Provider for the opener, it was the left-back Van Aanholt who applied the finishing touch as he got on the end of a neat one-touch move, rounded Foster and squeezed the ball home to round off Palace's impressive end to the season.

 

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West Ham 3 Everton 1: Lanzini double gives Moyes hope for the future


Marko Arnautovic and Manuel Lanzini scored spectacular second-half goals as West Ham ended the season with a 3-1 victory over Everton that secured David Moyes' side a final position of 13th in the Premier League table.

Lanzini took advantage of the gaps in front of Everton's defence to give West Ham the lead shortly before half-time with a low, left-footed drive from outside the box and Arnautovic netted the pick of his 11 league goals this term just after the hour mark.

Oumar Niasse pulled one back for Everton after 74 minutes, but only after he had missed a golden opportunity earlier in the game, while Wayne Rooney - who is rumoured to be negotiating a transfer to the MLS - was not in Sam Allardyce's matchday squad.A brilliant solo effort from Lanzini made it 3-1 with just under 10 minutes left and the London Stadium crowd enjoyed a rare happy afternoon, but if Moyes was hoping to end the campaign with a performance to savour, he didn't quite get it.

Allardyce, meanwhile, was left to rue his side's wastefulness in front of goal, but will hope that a final league position of eighth will be enough to keep him at the club next season.


West Ham's patient early build-up play almost paid off when the ball fell to Mark Noble in the penalty area, but his shot from close range found Jordan Pickford in fine form, the Everton goalkeeper diving down to his left to make a one-handed block.

Hammers wing-back Arthur Masuaku was forced off with an ankle injury following a clumsy challenge from Ramiro Funes Mori, who was booked, before Lanzini teed up Joao Mario to lash the ball narrowly wide to the right of Pickford's goal from 20 yards.A mistake by Angelo Ogbonna allowed Niasse a one-on-one with Adrian just after the half-hour mark, but the Senegalese striker aimed too close to the goalkeeper, who saved his low shot with an outstretched leg.

Niasse was made to rue his miss six minutes before half-time when Arnautovic failed to control Cheikhou Kouyate's pass but the ball fell kindly to Lanzini who strode forward before driving a shot into the bottom-right corner of the net.West Ham continued to control the tempo of the game in the second half before Arnautovic delivered a moment of brilliant, receiving the ball from Edimilson Fernandes before turning Michael Keane and letting rip with a swerving shot from 25 yards that was simply too powerful for Pickford.

Arnautovic had a headed goal disallowed before Declan Rice's failure to deal with a near-post corner at the other end allowed the ball to reach Niasse, who skilfully controlled the ball before lashing it high into the net from the edge of the six-yard box.Just as Everton looked set to mount a comeback, Pablo Zabaleta's cross-field ball found Lanzini, who cut inside before curling a right-footed shot into the top corner of the net beyond the diving Pickford.

Adrian made a superb double-save in the dying minutes before James Collins came on for what is likely to be his final West Ham appearance, and for once the atmosphere around London Stadium was harmonious and celebratory at the end of a gruelling season.

 

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Burnley 1 Bournemouth 2: King and Wilson gatecrash Clarets' European party


Josh King and Callum Wilson spoiled Burnley's European qualification party with second-half goals to help Bournemouth earn a 2-1 win at Turf Moor on the final day of the Premier League season.

The Clarets were already guaranteed a seventh-place finish before Sunday's game – their highest top-flight position since the 1973-74 campaign, when they placed sixth.It looked like they would end 2017-18 with a return to winning ways after four matches without a victory, before King levelled with a fine strike and Wilson netted the winner in injury time.




Chris Wood had given Sean Dyche's side a first-half lead, inadvertently diverting Ashley Westwood's goal-bound effort past Asmir Begovic in the 39th minute.Jeff Hendrick squandered a good opportunity to put the game beyond Eddie Howe's side early in the second half - something they would later pay for.

After a wonderful campaign, Dyche and Burnley's attentions will now turn to building on their Premier League success next season and gearing up for a first European adventure since 1966-67.


Nick Pope, who still harbours hopes of making England's World Cup squad, got down well to repel Lys Mousset's low drive after a surging run from Jordon Ibe.The Burnley goalkeeper was called into action again moments later to push away Charlie Daniels' powerful drive from just inside the penalty area.

The hosts belatedly created an opening of their own just after the half-hour mark, but Jack Cork dragged his shot from the edge of the area disappointingly wide of Begovic's right-hand post.

The Clarets' more positive approach towards the end of the first half was rewarded six minutes before the interval when Wood scored his 10th Premier League goal of the season – not that he knew a great deal about it.Stephen Ward's cross was fired towards goal by Westwood, clipping the former Leeds United striker's heel just a few yards out and looping over the wrong-footed Begovic.

Hendrick should have doubled Burnley's advantage shortly after the restart, but fired straight at Begovic from 15 yards, while Ibe flashed an effort wide of Pope's far post.

Burnley's hopes of ending the season with a win were extinguished with 16 minutes remaining when King took advantage of some generous defending.The home defence made a real mess of clearing after Pope had kept out substitute Jermain Defoe's close-range effort, allowing King to cut in from the left and whip a fierce drive into the far top corner.

Their woe was compounded in the third minute of added time when Kevin Long was caught in possession by Defoe, who unselfishly squared to Wilson to stroke past Pope and seal the win.

Hendrick should have doubled Burnley's advantage shortly after the restart, but fired straight at Begovic from 15 yards, while Ibe flashed an effort wide of Pope's far post.

Burnley's hopes of ending the season with a win were extinguished with 16 minutes remaining when King took advantage of some generous defending. The home defence made a real mess of clearing after Pope had kept out substitute Jermain Defoe's close-range effort, allowing King to cut in from the left and whip a fierce drive into the far top corner.

Their woe was compounded in the third minute of added time when Kevin Long was caught in possession by Defoe, who unselfishly squared to Wilson to stroke past Pope and seal the win.

 

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Salah betters Ronaldo and Suarez to set Premier League goal record

Mohamed Salah has set a new record for Premier League goals in a 38-game season, with the Liverpool forward recording his 32nd effort of the campaign against Brighton.

Heading into the final fixtures of 2017-18, the Egypt international sat level with three modern day icons on the English top-flight roll of honour.A remarkable debut campaign at Anfield had seen him net 31 times, the same return that Alan Shearer managed at Blackburn in 1995-96.

Cristiano Ronaldo also achieved the feat while with Manchester United in 2007-08, before Luis Suarez carried Liverpool agonisingly close to title glory with an identical haul in 2013-14.

Salah has now blasted past them all, with the 25-year-old continuing to raise the bar in a stunning season.He had gone three games without finding the target heading into a meeting with Brighton on the final day, but needed just 26 minutes against the Seagulls to rediscover his shooting boots.

Having started that contest three clear of Tottenham’s Harry Kane in the race for the Golden Boot , Salah also added another prestigious prize to his ever-growing collection."This one is very special to be honest, the golden boot," Salah told Sky Sports after being confirmed as the top goalscorer in the Premier League . "But as I have said before many times, it's always on my mind to help the team win games.

"So now we're in the Champions League next year and I've won the award, so I'm very proud. I'm always trying to improve, I'm improving year after year."It's very special to break the record here [at Anfield]. I will do my best to win it next season!"

To further emphasise just how prolific Salah has been this season, his effort against Brighton means that he will end the campaign having failed to breach just two of his 19 Premier League opponents.Only Manchester United and Swansea have managed to contain Liverpool’s talisman this term.

Prior to taking the field against Brighton, Salah had been confirmed as the Premier League Player of the Season for 2017-18.That gong has been added to PFA Player of the Year and FWA Football of the Year awards which have already come his way.

 

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Congratulations Salah!

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Icardi open to move if Inter want to sell


Mauro Icardi has admitted he could leave Inter in the next transfer window - but only if it is in the best interests of the club.

Luciano Spalletti's side suffered a 2-1 loss at home to Sassuolo on Saturday, leaving their hopes of finishing in Serie A's top four hanging by a thread.The San Siro result secured Roma third place and, if they beat Crotone on Sunday, Lazio will join their neighbours in securing the final spot in next season's Champions League.

Icardi has been linked with a move away from the Nerazzurri in the past, while UEFA's financial fair play rules could see Inter forced to cash in on their prized asset.The Argentina striker - who has scored 28 league goals - has confirmed he will discuss his future with Inter at the end of the season."I repeat every year, I will speak to the club," Icardi told Sky Sport Italia.

"If it's good for the team that I stay, then I'll stay, otherwise I will leave. I always do what is best for the club and the team. When the season ends, we'll talk to the club and see what is best for them."A free-kick from Matteo Politano and Domenico Berardi's wonder strike sealed Sassuolo a league double over Inter, who pulled a goal back through Rafinha but still suffered a disappointing defeat on home turf.

Icardi praised the performance of visiting goalkeeper Andrea Consigli, leaving Inter - who travel to Lazio next weekend - likely to finish in fifth place in the final table."We are very disappointed, we could not take the three points we expected," he added.

"Sassuolo played a great game; their goalkeeper [played] the game of his career. If the ball does not want to go in, there's not much you can do, but we tried anyway."

 

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Dani Alves: My soul left my body when I knew I'd miss the World Cup


Dani Alves described the heart-breaking moment that his "soul went out of [his] body" as he injured his knee to crush his dreams of playing at the World Cup this summer with Brazil.

The Paris Saint-germain full-back limped out of a Coupe de France final victory over Les Herbiers and knew immediately that he would play no part for his country in Russia this summer.Original reports suggested that the 35-year-old may be out for around three weeks, but ligament damage has left him facing much longer on the sidelines .

Alves admits to allowing himself a brief moment of anguish after discovering his fate, but concedes that he has enjoyed the most remarkable of careers and cannot have too many complaints at missing out on one major international tournament.

The former Barcelona and Juventus defender told The Players’ Tribune : “When I felt the pain in my knee, my soul went out of my body. I knew from the moment that I hit the ground that I was not going to be on the plane to Russia for the World Cup.“In the changing room, the PSG doctors told me that we would have to wait until the next day to get the results of some tests, but I knew in my heart that it was over.

“Everyone came in celebrating with the Coupe de France trophy, and I never want to show any negative emotion around my teammates — if you know Dani Alves then you know I’m always one happy motherfucker — so I was smiling and trying to have fun. But everybody could see in my eyes that something was wrong.

“I only cried one time, when I was by myself. And let me tell you something — I don’t want anybody to cry for me. I don’t want anybody to feel sorry for me. I have lived my dreams. Dani Alves is not going to the World Cup, but he is still one happy motherfucker.”

Alves is now readying himself to support Brazil from afar, with it his opinion that a talented squad can go all the way and secure a sixth global crown .He added: “I believe that this team can win the trophy.

“We have the talent and the superstars, but more importantly, we also have a maestro. Tite has been able to create an incredible ambience since he took over the team, and he’s shown the players that we cannot be soloists. We must be in perfect harmony in order to achieve our dreams.

“I have been with the senior team for 12 years, and this is the strongest our connection has ever been — in organization, in structure, in ideas, in everything.We have a good mix of younger players, like Gabriel Jesus and [Philippe] Coutinho, and also the older players who remember the heartache of the last World Cup and want to make things right.”And on his future plans, Alves added: “I don’t consider myself a veteran. As you can see, my spirit is about 13 years old.

“Who knows, maybe when the 2022 World Cup comes around, I will still be competing for a place on the team. My body will be 39, but my spirit will have only turned 17.”

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Mancini to leave Zenit ahead of anticipated Italy appointment


Roberto Mancini is to leave Zenit by mutual consent amid reports he is on the verge of being announced as the new Italy coach.Mancini is thought to have become the Italian Football Federation's preferred candidate after being turned down by Carlo Ancelotti.

And his appointment as national team boss moved a step closer on Sunday, as Zenit confirmed the ex-Manchester City manager's contract would cease on Monday.

Italy have been searching for a new coach since Gian Piero Ventura was sacked in the wake of the country's failure to qualify for the World Cup.Mancini took charge of Zenit in June but has only been able to guide them to fifth in the Russian Premier League with one game to go.Zenit host bottom club SKA Khabarovsk in their final match of the season on Sunday.

 

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Pochettino urges Tottenham board to take risks and follow his 'clear idea' to next level


Mauricio Pochettino laid down a clear challenge to Tottenham's hierarchy by urging the club to be "brave and take risks" as they look to bridge the gap to the Premier League's big spenders.

Spurs finished the campaign with an enthralling 5-4 victory over Leicester City in their last game at Wembley ahead of moving to their new stadium on the site of their old White Hart Lane ground, Erik Lamela and Harry Kane each scoring twice in a pulsating end-of-season fixture.The dramatic win, which was achieved despite the Foxes going 3-1 ahead, ensures Spurs finish third in the table, but the critics have once again sharpened their knives at Pochettino's failure to land a trophy.

There has been speculation that Pochettino may not be at the helm next season and the Argentine laid down the gauntlet to chairman Daniel Levy to invest in his "crazy ideas" if they are to regularly compete."We are thinking now we need to make our new stadium home and we know it will be tough in the beginning to settle there," he told a post-match news conference.

"I have a very clear idea of what we need to do. I don't know if the club will agree with me or not, but we are going to talk next week to create what I think we need to do together to improve.

"Until today it was so difficult to talk about the future, but from now we need to decide the way and how we are going to operate in the future."Our fans need to know what we are going to do and our fans need to feel the reality of the club and we need to tell the truth and create a very good expectation we can achieve. We cannot create dreams that we are not going to achieve.

"The first step is to be close and challenge the sides who invest more than us and find a way. We need to think our reality is different and our fans need to think and be happy and support us because we are not a club who will spend crazy money.

"I think Daniel is going to listen to me, but you know sometimes I might have some crazy ideas. With our unbelievable fans, sometimes you need to be brave and take risks. I think the club is in a moment where they need to take risks."

Pochettino, who confirmed that centre-back Jan Vertonghen missed out as a precaution with a tight calf, hailed his side for their fighting performance."That final game, it was such an exciting game. I think it was a crazy game. A lot of emotion during the game but in the end we achieved the victory and achieved third position in the table," he added.

"Still we need to improve one step more to try to fight for winning big trophies, but I think we are in a very good way."

 

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FA Cup final will not be my Chelsea farewell, says Conte


Antonio Conte is not treating Sunday's 3-0 defeat to Newcastle United as his final Premier League match in charge of Chelsea.The Blues missed out on Champions League qualification with a miserable display at St James' Park – though three points would have proved insufficient to earn a top-four spot with Liverpool winning at home against Brighton and Hove Albion.

Chelsea will try to finish the season on a high when they face Manchester United in the FA Cup final next weekend, and Conte, whose contract expires in June 2019, is not thinking about moving on.

Asked if the outing at Wembley would be his last with the club, Conte replied: "No, I don't think so. In this season, for sure."I am committed to this club, this is important for me. Not speculation around me. It is important what the club thinks, not you."I have a contract and the club know very well the situation. After Saturday we go on vacation and then we will see next season."

The Italian was critical of his team's "approach and desire" against Newcastle and refused to discuss the ramifications of missing out on a spot in the Champions League. "I think I am the last person to speak about this," said Conte. "You can ask the club about the damage."I am working with my players this season and it is not right to say something about this. Other people can judge our season.

"For sure we must change, if we play a game like this in the FA Cup we don't have a chance. We have six days to change our approach and desire and will to fight."For this I am the first person to answer as I am the coach of this team and I am the first person to answer for this game."

Having won Serie A three times in as many years for Juventus and triumphed in his debut Premier League season, Conte was hurt by failing to secure the top-flight title."I like to play to win. This is my first season that I didn't win the title. Three with Juventus and one with Chelsea and when I start I have always won," he said.
"There is a great disappointment for me as I like to play to win."

 

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Mourinho waiting for Carrick to step into assistant role as Faria successor


Jose Mourinho will not look for a new assistant manager to replace Rui Faria as he expects retiring Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick to eventually become his second-in-command.Faria will leave Old Trafford this summer, ending a 17-year partnership with Mourinho that has lasted through spells at Porto, Chelsea, Inter, Real Madrid and United.

After their second-place finish in the Premier League, Mourinho faces pressure to turn the Red Devils into Premier League challengers next season - no small task after Manchester City ended the campaign with a 19-point advantage.

But Mourinho perceives there to be no need to seek an immediate replacement for his good friend because he sees a long-term successor in Carrick.The 36-year-old ended his top-flight career by setting up the decisive goal as United ended the campaign with a 1-0 win over Watford and will step into Mourinho's background staff, where a vital role awaits further down the line.

“I will organise my coaching staff in a way where the assistant manager job doesn’t exist. I’m going to have coaches, assistant coaches, fitness coaches," the Portuguese told reporters.“Obviously we have specialists in different areas connected to the performance and my analysts. I’m not going to have an assistant manager.

“The reason is that I think it will be Michael Carrick in the future, when he has his badges and his pro licence and he makes the bridge between the player to an assistant.

“People think one day you are a player and the next you are a coach. It doesn’t work like that. You need to practice.“I have nobody in the world of football ready to be my assistant manager, so I prefer to structure my staff so there is space for their education and improvement, and I think naturally when Michael has his badges, with the personality, friendship and honesty he has, I think the job will be for him.”

Carrick joined United from Tottenham in 2006 and has played over 460 games for the Old Trafford side, winning the Champions League and five Premier League titles.

 

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The End Of Another Great Braclays Premier League Season!

Godak hoda season ekakSeason eka purawatama Manchester City performance godak hodai32 wins.100 pointsDeserved winners

Golden boot winner Salah ge performance nam kiyala wadak naha.Liverpool debut season ekema top scorer una

Golden Glove winner De GeaDe Gea gen ape team ekata wechcha effect ekanam kiyala wadak nahaOur player of the yearPattama saves set ekakma kala season eka purawatama.

& Farewell to Arsene Wenger & Michel Crarrick

All round Manchester United season eka gatthama sucessful season ekakLast season ekata wada hoda improvement ekak thiyanawa2nd place finishSAF retire unata passe gatthu hodama EPL place eka & 81 points

Habai meeta wada hoda fight ekak title ekata denna thibbaKohomath ape athin 16-18 ponits wage miss una.Must win matches kihipayakma draw una & lost una.eka loku paduwak + improve wenna one sides nam godak have.Specially attacking threat & creativity nam godak madi.Season eka purawatama dakka deyak thamai final third eke godak welawata fail wenawa.Finsihing unath madi.Ewagema thamai godak slow passing / moments unath.meh tikanam next season eka patan gannakota hadagannama wenawaAttcking player kenek + Mid player kenek nam aniwa onama wenawa

Anyway allround gatthama hodai Manchester United play karapu widiya season eke

Godak matches hodin control kalaNext season ekedi meh season eke wechcha mistakes hadagena play karamu

De Gea,Lukaku,Mata,Rash,Young,Smalling,Valencia,Matic superb!

next Chelsea FA cup final match eka

Good Luck Manchester United!​

 

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Sampdoria 0 Napoli 2: Away win not enough as Juventus seal Scudetto.


Napoli's deserved 2-0 triumph at Sampdoria was not enough to maintain a Serie A title challenge as Juventus' latest triumph was confirmed on Sunday.
Victory away at Juve looked to have given Napoli the opportunity to push all the way for a first Scudetto since 1990, but a failure to win either of the subsequent two matches put paid to their challenge.


And so, with Juventus drawing at Roma, a dominant Napoli display at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris counted for little, despite a marvellous strike from substitute Arkadiusz Milik just 75 seconds after his introduction that was followed by a Raul Albiol header.

The Partenopei had looked destined for a frustrating third winless game after Dries Mertens saw an early goal contentiously ruled out and Samp's debutant goalkeeper Vid Belec repeatedly denied Lorenzo Insigne.But Maurizio Sarri and his men can draw encouragement from a 27th league win of the season, even amid talk the coach could depart in the coming weeks, having seemingly taken Napoli as far as he can.

Controversy has rarely been far away where Napoli are concerned during the run-in and a bizarre early call went against the visitors in this one. Mertens was flagged as he stood in an offside position when finishing smartly following a corner, yet home defender Joachim Andersen appeared to have nodded the ball his way. However, the VAR ruled in Sampdoria's favour, much to the forward's disbelief.

Napoli kept up the pressure, though, and Belec awkwardly parried Insigne's curler over the top, before making a rather more accomplished stop from an Albiol header.Another unorthodox save followed to keep Piotr Zielinski out and Insigne again cut in from the left to send an effort whistling past the far post.Gianmarco Ferrari nodded against the crossbar at the other end shortly before the break, but Napoli were back on top following the restart and Insigne again went close.

Although chances arrived with less regularity and Belec blocked superbly when Insigne was able to wriggle free in the area, Milik made an instant impact.Dipping onto his left foot around 20 yards from goal, the Napoli forward curled a majestic strike up and past Belec to ensure that Napoli would at least force Juventus to get a result.That they did, though, and only personal pride was secured as Sarri's side added to their lead through Albiol in the final 10 minutes.