Well that’s the last day of the 2014-2015 Premier League season over. Some found it agonising, some delightful and some relaxing knowing they were safe or had little left to play for. The day brought surprises, excitement and nerves. For some they endured every emotion. Here is the Premier League final day review.
The main focus was of course at the bottom of the table, here third from bottom Hull City needed to beat Manchester United and fourth bottom Newcastle United needed to beat West Ham to guarantee safety. Here’s what happened in both games.
Hull City vs Manchester United
The first half saw United’s Wayne Rooney hit the bar early on. Hull City went on to have two first half goals disallowed. United’s Marouane Fellaini was deservedly sent off in the second half for a bad tackle on Hull’s Paul McShane. Hull had several good chances but could not find the back of the net to give their fans hope. Final score: 0-0, meaning Hull were relegated.
Newcastle vs West Ham
Newcastle faced a West Ham side with little to play for. Immediately after this game, Sam Allardyce was relieved of his duties as West Ham manager. Nerves were in abundance around Newcastle and rightly so. Halfway through the season a relegation battle didn’t look on the cards as they sat in midtable, but now they knew a defeat or a draw and a Hull win would see them relegated. They needn’t have worried. West Ham didn’t really show up and two second half goals sealed Newcastle’s Premier League safety. Final score: 2-0.
With the final results in, it meant Hull City stayed third from bottom and were relegated to the Championship along with QPR and Burnley. Newcastle leaped up to 15th place. However with their end of season form of four points from eleven games, changes will be needed throughout the club if they are to avoid another relegation battle.
At the top end of the table there were still Europa League places to be decided. A fifth place finish would guarantee that team an automatic entry into the Europa league as would sixth place due to Chelsea’s Capital One Cup victory. A seventh place finish would only see that team qualify if Arsenal win the FA Cup this Saturday. Here’s what happened.
Stoke City vs Liverpool
Liverpool began the day in fifth place knowing a victory would keep them there. Stoke, with a midtable place guaranteed, could relax and play without any pressure. They did just that, but few if any would have expected what would happen next. By half-time the score was 5-0 to Stoke. Two quick goals from Diouf helped Stoke on their way to this extraordinary scoreline. A small silver lining for Liverpool fans came in the second half when departing captain Steven Gerrard scored on his last appearance. Unfortunately for Gerrard and Liverpool, ex-player Peter Crouch restored Stoke’s five goal advantage near the end. Final score: 6-1.
Everton vs Tottenham
A Tottenham win would see them guarantee European football next season. Everton had already guaranteed themselves a midtable finish but could gain a top half finish if they won. A Harry Kane first half header secured the three points for Tottenham. Final score: 0-1.
Manchester City vs Southampton
Frank Lampard finished off his Premier League career with a goal before he finally heads off to the USA. Southampton needed a win to guarantee a European place. Whatever happens though, Saints fans must be very happy with the season they have had. Unfortunately for their supporters Manchester City were in no way wanting to hand out favours as along with Lampard’s farewell goal, a late strike from Sergio Aguero secured all three points for the league runners-up. Final score: 2-0.
These results mean Tottenham finish in fifth place, Liverpool in sixth and Southampton in seventh. Southampton will now have everything crossed that Arsenal defeat Aston Villa in the FA Cup Final so that European football be heading to Saint Mary’s next season.
Elsewhere, champions Chelsea bid farewell to Didier Drogba by finishing off their season with a 3-1 victory over an already safe Sunderland. Steven Fletcher gave the Black Cats the lead but a Diego Costa penalty and two second half Loric Remy goals secured the points.
Arsenal finished off their season with a 4-1 home victory over West Bromwich Albion. This included a first half hat-trick from Theo Walcott. Even though a third placed finish was almost certain before today’s game, this victory guaranteed Arsenal third place and more importantly an automatic entry into the Champions League. Crystal Palace secured an excellent and unexpected top half finish with a 1-0 victory over Swansea City. FA Cup finalists Aston Villa lost 1-0 at home to relegated Burnley and Leicester, who completed their very own great escape last weekend, completed their excellent end of season form with a 5-1 victory over relegated QPR.
With the Premier league season now over, clubs and fans alike can now begin to look forward and prepare for the new season. With no World Cup or European Championship to act as a distraction, fans will be keeping an even closer eye on all developments and rumours that concern their club and others in their league. Have a good summer and here’s to next season being a good one.
