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Premier League relegation battle LIVE: Results and reaction as Everton survive

Leeds and Leicester were both relegated on the final day of the season

Michael Jones,Ben Fleming
Sunday 28 May 2023 15:49 EDT
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Everton boss Dyche on crunch relegation decider v. Bournemouth

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Everton secured Premier League survival over Leicester and Leeds on a nervous and tense final day. Needing to defeat Bournemouth to claim their place in the top-flight next season things looked bad for the Toffees as the visitors took the early initiative at Goodison Park.

At the King Power Stadium, Harvey Barnes gave Leicester the lead over West Ham with Leeds falling behind to Tottenham up at Elland Road. That was how things stood at half-time with the Foxes out of the relegation zone and Everton in trouble.

The second half began and Leeds fell further behind Spurs effectively putting them out of the battle. Leicester extended their lead over the Hammers to gain control of their and Everton continued to struggle.

Then, Abdoulaye Doucoure received the ball on the edge of the box and smoked home a wonderful strike to put Everton in front. Sean Dyche’s men lasted through 10 minutes of stoppage to collect their three points and clinch their place in the top-flight.

Relive the action from the Premier League final day below:

Premier League 2022/23 season awards: Best player, manager, transfer flop and breakthrough act

Another season of Premier League thrills and spills is coming to an end, and it is that time of year when our writers run the rule of who flew and who flopped in this campaign.

Erling Haaland took his first season in England by storm as Manchester City held off an unexpected challenge by Arsenal to win the title, their fifth in six seasons. Newcastle outstripped all predictions to finish in the top four, Brighton and Aston Villa produced outstanding campaigns despite managerial changes, while Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham all toiled.

At the other end of the table, Leeds United sacked Marcelo Bielsa but couldn’t revive their season under Javi Gracia, Everton and Leicester struggled as Frank Lampard and Brendan Rodgers paid the price with their jobs too, while Southampton sank.

Here are our writers’ end-of-season awards, and if you’d like a laugh you can take a look back at our pre-season predictions too:

Premier League 2022/23 awards: Best player, manager, transfer and more

There was only one real option for player of the season - but who defied expectations to steer his side to safety, and which club smashed their transfer record on a £35m striker who failed to score a single goal?

Mike Jones28 May 2023 14:44

Leicester vs West Ham

West Ham have lost their previous three Premier League away fixtures, failing to score in their last two matches on the road. They could lose 13 away games in a top-flight season for the first time in 31 years.

Will they be a thorn in Leicester’s side today?

Mike Jones28 May 2023 14:40

Leicester vs West Ham

Dean Smith spoke on what it’s like to be facing the Hammers in this crunch game as Leicester try to secure Premier League survival.

There is the possibility that West Ham rest some of their first choice starters as they instead focus on the Europa Conference League final but Smith isn’t sure that will be the case.

“I have no idea what David [Moyes] will be thinking about his team,” he said. “The final’s 10 days away after this game. I wouldn’t expect too many changes.

“He’ll want to finish the Premier League season on a high. I think our players want clarity of what their positions are and what we’re asking of them, with and without the ball.

“Our job is to give them that clarity. It doesn’t get any clearer for me – we have to win. That’s all they need to know.”

Mike Jones28 May 2023 14:36

Leicester vs West Ham

Leicester have failed to keep a Premier League clean sheet in 12 consecutive top-flight matches at the King Power Stadium since beating Leeds 2-0 in October.

Will they manage one this afternoon?

Mike Jones28 May 2023 14:32

Bad decisions and poor signings – where has it gone wrong for Leeds?

Leeds stand on the brink of Premier League relegation after Sunday’s 3-1 defeat at West Ham.

The Yorkshire club’s three-season stay in the top-flight will be over if they fail to beat Tottenham next Sunday and, depending on other results, victory on the final day might not be enough to save them.

Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the reasons why it has gone wrong at Elland Road:

Bad decisions and poor signings – where has it gone wrong for Leeds?

The Whites are on the verge of heading back to the Championship.

Mike Jones28 May 2023 14:28

Leeds vs Tottenham

Tottenham have won their final league games in nine of the last 12 seasons (two draws, one loss), with their only defeat a 5-1 thrashing by already relegated Newcastle United in 2015/16.

Mike Jones28 May 2023 14:24

Leeds vs Tottenham

Ryan hopes to build on a promising first half performance last week against Brentford and signpost how Spurs should play in the future.

“I always thought, and I said at the start of this spell, that by the end of the season I’d like people to see how I think Tottenham should play and what I think we should look like,” he said.

“In the first half (vs Brentford), we really saw that, especially with the ball. Of course, I understand if you want to play an intense game and put high pressure on a team you have to train like that, work like that and you need time.

“We haven’t had that, but at the same time, there were some positives and encouraging signs. To be honest, I enjoyed watching us in that first half. That’s something to build on.”

Mike Jones28 May 2023 14:20

Leeds vs Tottenham

Sam Allardyce says he won’t need to keep a check on other scores as the fans inside the crowd will be aware of the results elsewhere, especially the Everton game.

The Leeds head coach was asked what his plans will be regarding the other results and he said: “The fans will tell us what the score is, it won’t need me, you can tell by the mood of the crowd,

“That happens everywhere. Of course for my escape, which has only happened last game of the season, once, in my second season at Bolton.

“Not only were we winning but we also knew West Ham weren’t winning because the fans told us.

“The only focus for our players is to win the game, we can’t do more than that.”

Mike Jones28 May 2023 14:16

‘It is theatre’: Inside the emotional chaos of a final-day Premier League relegation battle

When players talk about the anguish of a final-day relegation battle, one of the main memories that most recall is the unsettling sense of quiet. That isn’t when the final whistle goes, and reality sinks in.

It is actually during the chaos, when something happens at another game, and the news seeps through to the crowd. The players realise something big has changed. It affects performance.

“The atmosphere and pressure is palpable,” says Gareth Farrelly, who was the decisive figure in one of the Premier League’s most famous final days 25 years ago.

This may yet be the decisive factor on Sunday.

‘It is theatre’: Inside the chaos of a final-day Premier League relegation battle

It’s the most emotional day in football – and now Everton, Leicester and Leeds must buckle up for the ride, writes Miguel Delaney

Mike Jones28 May 2023 14:12

Everton vs Bournemouth

Bournemouth have lost three successive league games but the Cherries have won three of their last four away matches. Will they cause an upset against Everton today?

(PA)

Mike Jones28 May 2023 14:08

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