THE final day of the Premier League is here, and the action is UNDERWAY around the Premier League!
Manchester City took the first step towards the Champions League, with Gundogan scoring an acrobatic effort to put Guardiola’s side ahead.
Newcastle, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest are all level, with the Blues and Forest taking on each other at the City Ground.
Aston Villa have a big task ahead of them in the second 45 minutes, as Emi Martinez was shown red for a last ditch challenge on Rasmus Hojlund at Old Trafford.
The top seven are guaranteed to be playing European football next season, but there is a scenario that eighth could also join, which Brighton and Brentford are battling for.
Elsewhere, Trent Alexander-Arnold is on the bench in his final Liverpool appearance, as the side will lift the Premier League trophy against FA Cup winners Crystal Palace TODAY.
- Kick off times: 4pm BST
- TV channels: Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event
- Live streams: NOW TV
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Follow ALL the action from the final day with our live blog below…
KICK-OFF!
Back underway at the City Ground.
The last – and biggest – 45 minutes of the campaign!
Bit of a break…
Delay to the second half kick-offs in the games involving the Champions League hunters.
That Emi Martinez red card meant the half time whistle at Old Trafford was a bit later than the rest.
And the Premier League are determined that all games involving those in contention will kick off at the same time…
From Jack Rosser at Portman Road
There has been a real lack of intensity from both sides at Portman Road, but the Hammers are ahead thanks to an Ipswich clanger.
The real star of the first half has been 40-year-old Lukasz Fabianski.
The Pole, playing his final game for the club, is putting on a display to show he’s still got it.
There have been a couple of fine balls over the top, two very good saves and even a Cruyff turn.
How we look at the break
The positions from 1-7 have stayed the same throughout that 45 minutes and look the same at the break.
The only change in the games that matter is Brentford finding themselves in 8th spot as they lead Wolves and Brighton trail at Tottenham.
That could prove crucial depending on other results and Chelsea in midweek!
Forest knew they needed to win and needed Newcastle or Villa to step up.
The Toon have been lacklustre and Villa are now down to 10 men, yet both games are still 0-0.
Is it written in the stars for Nuno and co?
From Dave Kidd at the City Ground
It’s been anxious, fractious stuff at the City Ground with the height of the stakes all too apparent for both Forest and Chelsea.
Pedro Neto and Chris Wood have squandered close-range volleyed chances and Anthony Elanga had a penalty shout turned down after a tangle with Cole Palmer.
But it’s very much nil-nil with a big 45 to come.
From Martin Blackburn at Old Trafford
Has Emi Martinez just blown Aston Villa’s chances of Champions League football?
His rush of blood as he raced out to body check Rasmus Hojlund earned a red card – and has left his team in big trouble.
They weren’t performing at all with 11 men either and are lucky to still be on terms. A huge effort is needed from them from here.
Across the grounds
As for the rest of the league, here’s how the matches shape-up at half-time:
- Bournemouth 0-0 Leicester
- Fulham 0-1 Man City
- Ipswich 0-1 West Ham
- Liverpool 0-1 Crystal Palace
- Man Utd 0-0 Aston Villa
- Newcastle 0-0 Everton
- Nottm Forest 0-0 Chelsea
- Southampton 0-1 Arsenal
- Tottenham 1-0 Brighton
- Wolves 0-1 Brentford
Latest updates – Arsenal break deadlock
Arsenal is now in the lead!
Kieran Tierney, making his final game for the Gunners before rejoining his childhood club Celtic, taps in at the near post after Ben White crosses low into the area.
What a fitting way to leave Arsenal.
- Wolves 0-1 Brentford
- Southampton 0-1 Arsenal
- Newcastle 0-0 Everton
- Liverpool 1-0 Crystal Palace
- Tottenham 1-0 Brighton
HT: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Chelsea
Goalless at the break in a pretty nervy and first half, which has made it rather dull.
But it’s still all to play for after the break!
Newcastle 0-0 Everton – HALFTIME
David Moyes’ men have played the role of frustrators expertly.
Newcastle United’s key men have had little space to operate, with a spew of corners sourcing their best chances.
As it stands, the result will confirm Champions League status.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Chelsea
Cucurella drags down Elanga in front of the dugouts, yet still no yellow card…
One minute added on as the floated free kick is pretty awful and straight to Sanchez.
Man Utd 0-0 Aston Villa
45+1. Emiliano Martinez is sent off!!
The Aston Villa goalkeeper – so often brilliant, so often stupid – has done it again, ending a first half in which he has been excellent with a moment of utter madness.
Matty Cash’s woeful backpass from halfway is seized upon by Rasmus Hojlund but, with Martinez miles out of his goal, the striker’s first act is to push the ball left past the keeper.
What follows is absurd with Martinez launching himself straight at the Dane, clattering into him at full force.
Referee Thomas Bramall is straight over with the red card, and there can be few complaints – despite the fact that Hojlund’s touch is so heavy.
This is likely to be Martinez’s last game for Villa, and it’s ended 45 minutes early and in ridiculous fashion.
Newcastle 0-0 Everton
45 – Isak unable to etch his multi-facted dangerousness into this game yet.
Everton centre-halves continue to marhsall him out of the danger zones as Barnes is unable to find him across the ball after a wonderful Guimarães back heel cuts the Toffees apart.
One minute added.
Fulham 0-1 Man City
43. The Cottagers go close again with half-time looming.
Tom Cairney – who is looking like prime Kevin De Bruyne – sprays a pass out to Harry Wilson on the right. He cuts inside, fires, and forces Ederson into a sharp save.
Andreas Pereira is first to the rebound, only to shoot into the side netting.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Chelsea
42. MASSIVE CHANCE for Chris Wood!
So, so nearly a huge goal before the break and he’ll be kicking himself not to have it.
He’s been crying out for service all afternoon and gets it when Aina curls a terrific ball into the box from the right.
Sanchez comes off his line to claim the low ball in but Wood nips in ahead of him and makes contact but diverts it a yard over!
Ipswich 0-1 West Ham
43. West Ham grab the lead at Portman Road shortly before the break!
Ipswich have enjoyed the better of the first half, but it’s the visitors who have struck first through James Ward-Prowse.
It’s a straightforward finish from the midfielder, who steers home right-footed following good work from Jarrod Bowen.
The Hammers captain had done well to take advantage of a mistake from his opposite number Sam Morsy before his unselfish act in the box.
Man Utd 0-0 Aston Villa
39. Aston Villa finally start to edge their way into this encounter.
John McGinn has had a couple of sighters in the last few minutes, although hasn’t been willing to put any faith in his right foot.
Now the visitors force a corner, although it turns out to be one that doesn’t trouble Altay Bayindir in the United goal.
In terms of the Champions League chasing clubs, only Manchester City have found the back of the net. Newcastle’s home game with Everton and the crunch clash between Forest and Chelsea remain goalless.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Chelsea
39. Ironic cheers around the City Ground as Wood wins a free kick on halfway.
That’s taken short and Elanga tries to drive down the left and cut into the box but it’s Palmer doing the defensive work to shove him off the ball and get it clear.
Latest updates – Liverpool trail, Brentford up to 8th
Dean Henderson keeps Palace ahead.
Luis Diaz spins and shoots after Mo Salah floats a beautiful pass into his path, but Henderson saves with his legs and the ball travels behind for a corner that is easily cleared.
As he attempts to leave his impact on the game, Diaz has already had three opportunities.
- Wolves 0-1 Brentford
- Southampton 0-0 Arsenal
- Newcastle 0-0 Everton
- Liverpool 1-0 Crystal Palace
- Tottenham 1-0 Brighton
Fulham 0-1 Man City
35. Tom Cairney almost gets Fulham back on level terms in West London.
The Cottagers captain is unfortunate when his volley crashes into Bernardo Silva, and then he goes even closer when Andreas Pereira tees him for a second go.
A trademark left-foot curler follows and is inches wide of Ederson’s left-hand post.
Newcastle 0-0 Everton
37 – Gordon hits the byline with the knowledge he has the immediate advantage on Young with a yellow card and gets his cross in which Mykolenko nicks out for another corner.
It follows a series of corners from Tonali, with Botman seeing two efforts stopped by Pickford.
From Martin Blackburn at Old Trafford
A surprisingly positive start from United amid the gloom – as they bid to at least give their supporters something to smile about.
Mount and Fernandes should both have given the home side an early lead while sub Dalot struck a post.
But as we know, United don’t score nearly enough goals – and fans will be starting to feel like they’ve seen this movie before.
Villa have yet to get going.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Chelsea
31. First yellow card of the game and it’s Elliot Anderson who picks it up.
His tenth of the season as he wiped out Noni Madueke on halfway.
The Forest fans unhappy about that one. Not so much he received a yellow as it was reckless, but that Chelsea have maybe got away with one or two before that.
Hopefully that sparks the game into life a touch.
Nottingham Forest 0-0 Chelsea
29. What a chance – and what a miss!
Chelsea catch Forest a bit out of position at the back and Palmer finds himself out on the right.
His cross in with his weaker right foot is a cracker and Neto – on the stretch and finishing awkwardly – can’t keep the ball down six yards out and blazes well over!
Newcastle 0-0 Everton
31 – The pace quickens as Livarmento cuts inside and mustards his pass to Tonali.
The Italian is urged to shoot, which he obliges and Pickford answers his call to action with a parry that Isak can’t rebound in as the Everton goalkeeper recovers quick.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
