Manchester United and Chelsea captured the final two Champions League spots on the final day of the longest Premier League season in history, whilst Watford and Bournemouth were sent down to the Championship.
The Blues knew they needed a win against Wolves to have the best chance of finishing in the top four, with United facing Leicester away, and only needing one point to secure their place.
Two goals in first half stoppage time were enough to secure Frank Lampard's team a top four finish in his first season as manager at Stamford Bridge, as Mason Mount and Olivier Giroud scored in the 46th and 49th minute of the first half respectively.
Full-time: Champions League football secured! 🙌#CHEWOL pic.twitter.com/uxRh0unx2c
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 26, 2020
Wow 😅 pic.twitter.com/EqoyEQOjUx
— Premier League (@premierleague) July 26, 2020
The Foxes and United played out a nervy tie, in which Brendan Rodgers' side had much of the best of the game, but they found themselves 1-0 down to United's 14th penalty of the season. Anthony Martial was brought down by Jonny Evans and Wes Morgan and Bruno Fernandes put away the 71st minute spot kick.
Evans was then sent off in injury time for a rash challenge and Jesse Lingard rubbed salt in the wound of the home side late on. Kasper Schmeichel was trying to get an attack going but the midfielder rushed on to close him down, won the ball and passed it into the open net.
It was a cruel end to Leicester's season. Injuries and a loss of form when football returned saw them unfortunately miss out on top four when they'd previously looked a shoe in, and United finished 3rd.
Down at the bottom of the table Bournemouth knew they needed a win to have any chance of staying up and they did their part by beating Everton 3-1.
The Cherries led through Joshua King after 13 minutes, Moise Kean equalised in the 41st minute but the away side were back ahead in injury time when Dominic Solanke continued his return to form with a goal.
Junior Stanislas' goal in the 80th minute secured the three points for Eddie Howe's side but they still required help from elsewhere.
It certainly came from Arsenal as the Gunners ran into an early 3-0 lead against Watford. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, chasing the league top scorer award, scored twice, including an overhead kick and Kieran Tierney bagged in between the striker's brace.
"For the despair of Watford, you contrast that with the joy of #AVFC..." 🔥
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) July 26, 2020
The Aston Villa players are still on the London Stadium pitch but they know they've pulled it off - they stay in the Premier League! ⬆ pic.twitter.com/R177LpjRLE
Troy Deeney scored a penalty before half-time to give his side some hope before Danny Welbeck scored against his former side in the 66th minute to muddy the waters but the side that sacked Nigel Pearson just two games until the end of the season couldn't complete the comeback.
It all meant nothing anyway as Aston Villa's 1-1 draw against West Ham secured their spot in the top tier next season.
Dean Smith's side started the day outside the relegation zone and they never dropped into it. Jack Grealish scored, in what might be his final game for the club, in the 84th minute to give them the lead and all but secure the points they needed.
Andriy Yarmolenko equalised one minute later but it was still enough for last season's Championship play-off winners to stay up.
source https://www.sportbible.com/football/news-last-day-of-the-premier-league-season-round-up-20200726
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