EPL final day: Chelsea finish fifth, Salah takes golden boot, Wenger bows out with win

Chelsea were disgraced 3-0 by Newcastle and finish fifth, losing out on the final spot for next season’s UEFA Champions League to Liverpool, who comfortably dispatched Brighton 4-0 at Anfield.

In a lethargic performance for the deposed EPL former champions, Dwight Gayle bundled in the opener on 26 minutes, and there were further goals in the second half to the delight of the spectators at St. James’ Park stadium. Ayoze Perez scored the second on 59 minutes through a smart finish. Off form midfielder, Bakayoko’s poor clearance was gathered by Jonjo Shelvey, who’s 25-yard strike was smartly converted by Perez’s faint touch. Perez tapped in the third five minutes, tapping in Lejuene’s cut-bak to finish into an open net.

Manager Arsene Wenger signed off from Arsenal with a 1-0 away win at Huddersfield- their first away win of 2018- thanks to Pierre-Emerick  Aubameyang’s goal. Huddersfield had three clear chances in the first ten minutes of the first half but Ospina saved well and a goal-line clearance followed before the home side blew high and wide from six yards. Aubameyang delivered the sucker punch on 38 minutes, sliding in to convert Ramsey’s cross at the back post to give Arsenal the lead.

At Old Trafford, Manchester United won 1-0 to give Mourinho’s departing assistant, Rui Faria, and retiring midfielder, Michael Carrick, a befitting send off. Marcus Rashford scored the winner in the 34th minute, tapping in from close range after Juan Mata sprang the offside trap and selflessly passed to the 20-year old.

In a dead rubber match at Wembley, Tottenham came back from two goals down to win 5-4 against Leicester City in an entertaining match. Erik Lamela and Harry Kane both scored a brace for Tottenham, but Kelechi Iheanacho’s goal for Leicester was the pick of the bunch. Iheanacho put the Foxes 3-1 up with a belter of a strike three minutes into the second half. The attacker who is expected to play a pivotal role for Nigeria at the upcoming World Cup evaded the challenge of Victor Wanyama before firing an unstoppable strike into the top corner.

It was fanfare at Anfield at full time of a 4-0 win over Brighton, Mohamed Salah presented with three different awards for his stellar performance in his first season with Liverpool. PFA player of the season and the League’s best player, Mohamed Salah opened the scoring to confirm his golden boot award, and assisted Liverpool’s third for Nigerian-born striker, Dominic Solanke’s maiden EPL strike. The win means the Merseyside club finish fourth and take the last spot for English clubs in next season’s UCL. Salah’s 32nd strike confirmed the Egyptian forward as the top marksman in EPL ahead of Harry Kane who finished with 30 goals.

In other games, Swansea confirmed their looming relegation from the EPL with a 1-2 loss at home to relegated Stoke City.

Southampton lost 0-1 at St. Mary’s stadium to Champions Manchester City, thanks to a last-minute goal by Gabriel Jesus. The win means Pep Guardiola’s side finished with 100 points- a record haul in the EPL- and scored a record 106 goals, while only losing just twice in the league.

RESULTS

Burnley 1-2 Bournemouth

Crystal Palace 2-0 West Brom

Huddersfield 0-1 Arsenal

Liverpool 4-0 Brighton

Manchester United 1-0 Watford

Newcastle 3-0 Chelsea

Southampton 0-1 Manchester City

Swansea 2-1 Stoke

Tottenham 5-4 Leicester

West Ham 3-1 Everton