Manchester United, Chelsea seal Champions League spots as Leicester misses out

Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United celebrates scoring their first goal during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Manchester United at The King Power Stadium on July 26, 2020 in Leicester, England.

Manchester United and Chelsea grabbed the final two Champions League places at the expense of Leicester City on the final day of the English Premier League season.

The three teams were separated by just one point heading into Sunday and Chelsea beat Wolves 2-0 at home to book one of the spots with both goals coming in first-half injury time.

That meant Leicester needed to beat Manchester United for the other place but instead lost 2-0 at home thanks to a Bruno Fernandes penalty in the 70th minute after opposing striker Jamie Vardy -- who still finished as the league's top scorer -- hit the post.

Former United defender Jonny Evans was sent off in injury time for a foul on Scott McTominay, with Jesse Lingard later adding the second goal.

Manchester United and Chelsea finished on 66 points -- United got third with a better goal difference -- and Leicester City 62.

United was set to lose around £70 million ($90 million) had it missed out on the top four but flourished in the league since it restarted in June after being halted due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Red Devils trailed Leicester by 11 points in January.

Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers said on the eve of the game it would still be a good season for his side if it didn't qualify for the Champions League but he is sure to be bitterly disappointed.

Not only did Leicester lead United by double digits but in December it held a 14-point cushion in the race for the top four.

At the bottom of the table, Watford and Bournemouth suffered relegation to join Norwich City, which was already down.

Aston Villa's 1-1 draw at West Ham meant it finished on 35 points, one more than Watford and Bournemouth.

Watford fell 3-2 at Arsenal despite an impressive fightback from 3-0 down while Bournemouth's 3-1 win at Everton wasn't enough to see the Cherries stay in the division.

Elsewhere champion Liverpool didn't start its potent front three of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino at Newcastle but rallied for a 3-1 win to finish on 99 points, one more than Manchester City's tally from last season.

Newcastle scored in the first minute through Dwight Gayle before towering defender Virgil van Dijk leveled before halftime, Divock Origi netted in the 59th minute and Mane in the 89th.

Second-place Manchester City crushed Norwich 5-0 in Spanish playmaker David Silva's last league game for City after 10 years at the club.

Silva didn't score despite several good chances. Kevin de Bruyne instead scored twice.

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