Liverpool move into Champions League spots with win at Burnley

Nathaniel Phillips of Liverpool celebrates with team mate Roberto Firmino after scoring their side's second goal during the Premier League match between Burnley and Liverpool at Turf Moor on May 19, 2021 in Burnley, England.

Liverpool head into their final Premier League match with their Champions League destiny in their own hands after a 3-0 victory at Burnley lifted them back into the top four.

Victory put Jurgen Klopp’s side ahead of Leicester on goal difference and if they match the Foxes’ result against Tottenham in their last home game of the season against Crystal Palace they will clinch a Champions League spot.

Liverpool were indebted to Roberto Firmino’s strike late in the first half, back-up central defender Nat Phillips’ first senior goal early in the second and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s maiden goal of the campaign.

Winning a fourth successive league match for the first time this season meant they go into the final day as the Premier League’s most in-form team with 23 points from the last 27 available.

Tottenham were booed off after a 2-1 home defeat to Aston Villa dented their Europa League chances.

Steven Bergwijn’s first strike this term gave Spurs an early lead in front of 10,000 fans, but Sergio Reguilon’s own goal and Ollie Watkins’ first-half finish secured Villa a fully deserved win.

Tottenham will head to Leicester on the final day of the season and have to win and hope that West Ham lose at home to Southampton after they fluffed their lines.

It was a night to forget for Harry Kane, reported to have asked for a transfer this summer, and Gareth Bale, who possibly made his final home appearance for the club before returning to Real Madrid.

West Ham’s late show put them on the brink of European qualification as they came from behind to beat West Brom 3-1.

The Hammers go into their final game against Saints knowing a point will confirm a Europa League spot, while the Baggies announced after the match that head coach Sam Allardyce would step down at the end of the season.

Tottenham’s defeat to Aston Villa handed West Ham the advantage, yet they needed to come from behind at The Hawthorns after Declan Rice missed a third-minute penalty and Tomas Soucek scored an own goal.

Midfielder Soucek levelled before the break, with Angelo Ogbonna and Michail Antonio striking late to win it to leave the Hammers sixth, three points ahead of Spurs and Everton.

Everton kept their hopes alive as Richarlison’s header secured them a 1-0 win against Wolves in front of 6,500 fans at Goodison Park.

Richarlison struck three minutes into the second period and that was enough to seal Everton their first home win for two-and-a-half months.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side are still in with a chance of a top-seven finish, but have an inferior goal difference to their rivals and head to Manchester City on the final day.

Wolves’ best chance fell to Adama Traore, but his first-half effort was superbly saved by Jordan Pickford and Nuno Espirito Santo’s side can finish no higher than 12th after back-to-back defeats.

Arsenal will go into their final game with hopes of a top-six finish after scoring two stoppage-time goals to win 3-1 at Crystal Palace.

Christian Benteke cancelled out Arsenal forward Nicolas Pepe’s first-half volley, but Gabriel Martinelli struck in time added on and Pepe added his second four minutes later.

It meant Roy Hodgson’s final match in charge of Palace ended in a cruel defeat after the 73-year-old former England boss announced he will be leaving the club at the end of the season.

Hodgson received warm applause an hour before kick-off when he came out to do his pre-match media duties and a thunderous reception from 6,500 fans at Selhurst Park greeted him before kick-off.

Joe Willock scored in a sixth successive Premier League game to secure Newcastle a 1-0 victory over Sheffield United.

Willock, on loan from Arsenal, headed home Jacob Murphy’s cross at the end of the first half and before limping off late on was serenaded by a 10,000-crowd at St James’ Park to make his stay at Newcastle permanent.

David McGoldrick spurned a golden early chance to put the Blades in front, while victory for the Magpies lifted them up to 15th in the table.


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