Home Football 99th-min equaliser in huge relegation twist; Reds slip up as Spurs flop again: PL Wrap

99th-min equaliser in huge relegation twist; Reds slip up as Spurs flop again: PL Wrap

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99th-min equaliser in huge relegation twist; Reds slip up as Spurs flop again: PL Wrap

Manchester City won the Premier League for the fifth time in six seasons after second-placed Arsenal lost 1-0 at Nottingham Forest, taking a first step to a possible golden treble of trophies.

But earlier on Saturday, Manchester United and Newcastle were left on the brink of qualifying for next season’s Champions League after Liverpool’s 1-1 draw against Aston Villa.

And Everton scored a late – LATE – equaliser in a massive boost to their bid to avoid relegation.

United’s 1-0 victory at Bournemouth, combined with Liverpool’s failure to beat Villa, left Erik ten Hag’s men and Newcastle within touching distance of ensuring top-four finishes.

MORE: City reign supreme in Premier League three-peat after Arsenal collapse again

Everton find equaliser in 99th minute! | 00:46

Fourth-placed United and Newcastle, in third, are both three points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool, who have only one game left.

Newcastle can seal their spot with a draw or win against Leicester on Monday or Chelsea on May 28.

United take their turn at securing the lucrative top four place against Chelsea on Thursday and Fulham next weekend, with Liverpool now likely to have to settle for a place in the Europa League.

At the Vitality Stadium, United took the lead in the ninth minute through Casemiro’s acrobatic bicycle kick from close-range.

“We are nearly there, but we are not there. I don’t care what happens in Liverpool, it’s about us,” Ten Hag said.

Manchester United's Brazilian midfielder Casemiro (C) celebrates after scoring the opening goal.
Manchester United’s Brazilian midfielder Casemiro (C) celebrates after scoring the opening goal.Source: AFP

At Anfield, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was watching from the stands as he served a touchline ban following his recent rant about referee Paul Tierney.

Villa wasted a 22nd-minute penalty when Ollie Watkins fired wide after the striker was brought down by Ibrahima Konate.

Despite Watkins’ miss, Unai Emery’s team went ahead in the 27th minute through Jacob Ramsey’s volley from Douglas Luiz’s cross.

Roberto Firmino and James Milner, set to leave Liverpool at the end of the season, came on for their Anfield farewells in the closing stages.

And it was Brazilian forward Firmino who rescued a point with his close-range finish in stoppage-time.

“We would have loved to make it exciting for another week, but we will make the Europa League our competition. I am not that spoiled,” said Klopp.

Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool during the defeat.Source: Getty Images

For Liverpool’s local rivals Everton, dreams of European football have long been replaced by the need to avoid relegation.

Yerry Mina’s last-gasp equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Wolves boosted the Toffees’ hopes of avoiding playing in the second tier for the first time since 1954.

Sean Dyche’s men fell behind after 34 minutes when Adama Traore’s shot was pushed out to Hwang Hee-chan, who netted from close-range.

Mina bundled in Everton’s leveller nine minutes into stoppage-time to leave them fourth bottom, two points above the relegation zone.

Third-bottom Leeds would go above Everton with a win at West Ham on Sunday, while second-bottom Leicester would also leapfrog Dyche’s team if they beat Newcastle on Monday.

Yerry Mina of Everton celebrates with teammates after scoring the late equaliser.Source: Getty Images

Tottenham’s season to forget hit a new low with a 3-1 home defeat against Brentford.

Ryan Mason’s side took the lead through Harry Kane’s 28th league goal this season, but a Bryan Mbeumo brace and Yoane Wissa’s late strike left them floundering in eighth place.

Frustration has mounted throughout the final weeks of a troubled season for Tottenham and fans hung banners outside the stadium pointing the finger of blame at owners ENIC, while chanting for chairman Daniel Levy to resign.

It was another disaster for Spurs.Source: Getty Images

Fulham and Crystal Palace shared a 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage.

Joel Ward of Crystal Palace celebrates with a teammate after scoring his team’s second goal.Source: Getty Images

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