The battle to escape the final Premier League relegation spot: 2021/22

[James]

With Norwich City’s relegation now confirmed and Watford due to join them next weekend, many nervous eyes now turn to the final relegation spot in the Premier League.

Everton looked isolated in 18th before today, but now the 3-way shootout to evade the final relegation spot is back on.

Burnley have been in red hot form — but have they peaked too early?

Everton earned a brilliant result today against Chelsea — but are they too reliant on their home form? (not won away since August)

Leeds were doing well, but they have been pulled back underwater now — is their squad too small, and do they have too many injuries?

All sides have weaknesses.

There are numerous difficult fixtures to come.

This one is too close to call.

Vote for your relegation choice.

 

[Firebat]

Burnley's turnaround in form has been miraculous, while Everton's home form is very strong.

I would be most worried for Leeds to be honest.

 

[Firebat]

Everton boss Frank Lampard says there is still a long way to go in the relegation battle despite a 1-0 win over Chelsea

Everton manager Frank Lampard insists there is still a long way to go in the battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League despite his side's crucial 1-0 victory over Chelsea.

A hugely-significant 1-0 win came courtesy of Richarlison's fourth goal in five matches and a brilliant second-half goalkeeping performance from Jordan Pickford.

Lampard's side have taken 10 points from the last 12 at home and a raucous Goodison, both outside before the game and inside throughout, will play a huge part in their future with two more home matches remaining.

Burnley and Leeds, with an inferior goal difference, are only two points away and Everton have a match in hand - at home to Crystal Palace three days before the final day of the season - so their destiny remains in their hands.

However, Lampard remains cautious.

https://www.skysports.com/football/...egation-battle-despite-a-1-0-win-over-chelsea

 

[James]

This has “last day of the season decider” written all over it !

 

[MenInG]

Nail-biting for some!

 

[James]

Nail-biting for some!

Sort of.

As a Leeds fan I have already made peace with prospects of the Championship.

There are advantages and disadvantages to being in both the Premier League and the Championship.

Would prefer to stay up.

 

[Maher96]

It’s getting tough, Lampards Everton are in a mess but with a massive result.

They basically have it in their own hands and must win every game.

Leeds face Arsenal who are fighting to stay in the top 4.

End of the season is getting intense for most teams and hard to predict currently.

 

[Saj]

I still feel it will be Burnley who go down.

Everton's home form and support could be vital.

 

[James]

Watford will be relegated today if they don’t win at Selhurst Park.

 

[James]

Watford 0-1 down to Palace…

Burnley 0-2 down to Villa…

 

[MenInG]

All over and Watford join Norwich in being relegated to the Championship.

 

[IAJ]

I still feel it will be Burnley who go down.

Everton's home form and support could be vital.

Burnley losing today is a golden opportunity for Leeds.

Lol, Burnley will met Villa again in less than 2 weeks.

 

[James]

Shocking result for Burnley, a 0-3 loss in arguably their most winnable remaining fixture.

Golden opportunity for both Leeds and Everton now to pull away from them.

 

[James]

All over and Watford join Norwich in being relegated to the Championship.

A completely meek surrender from Watford.

Hodgson already as good as thrown in the towel and the players not at all interested.

There are videos after the game, genuinely, of Hodgson happily applauding the Palace fans (his old club) and ignoring the away end.

At least in the case of Norwich they were trying their best, and it will be the same with the final team to be relegated from the PL this season — Burnley, Leeds and Everton are playing with passion, effort, and pride at the moment, if not always much quality.

Watford are a shambles and a disgrace, hope they never come back up from the lower leagues.

 

[James]

As above…

<b>Ben Foster criticises Watford team-mates' attitudes after relegation</b>

Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster said some of his team-mates have not been prepared to give maximum effort over 90 minutes after the Hornets' relegation from the Premier League was confirmed.

Watford were sent down for the second time in three seasons after a 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace.

Foster blamed Watford's downfall on poor home form and inconsistency.

"You just don't really know what you're going to get from us, to be perfectly honest," the 39-year-old said.

"We've got too many players who are happy to put it in for an hour, 70 minutes, but then probably fall off and happily let it go in the last 20 minutes.

"You can't have that. When you're a team like us, the minimum is giving it everything you've got. The ability you can forego a little bit and accept that you might not have the quality of some players, but you've got to put the effort in."

Watford went into the game at Selhurst Park with their fate all but sealed following last week's home defeat by Burnley, which Foster admitted "really took it out" of the Hornets squad.

"You could see the confidence was low, we were really lacking today," added the former England keeper, who was also part of the Watford side that suffered relegation at the end of the 2019-20 season.

"Last week's defeat by Burnley really took it out of us. We knew before the game that it was nigh-on impossible. We wanted to come and compete, and I think we did."

Palace's winner arrived through a first-half Wilfried Zaha penalty after Watford defender Hassane Kamara - who was later sent off - was judged to have used his arm to block a Michael Olise header.

"We felt it probably wasn't a penalty so we feel a little bit hard done by," said Foster.

"But credit to the lads in front of me today. They gave what they could but the confidence was lacking."

Earlier this week, Watford boss Roy Hodgson indicated that his managerial career will end when he departs Vicarage Road at the end of the season, and the 74-year-old was given a warm reception by the Palace fans when he returned to Selhurst Park to face the side he left last year.

Hodgson replaced Claudio Ranieri at Watford in January, and Foster praised the former England manager's efforts over the last four months.

"Roy's been fantastic," he said. "He came in and got a group of lads who were a bunch of misfits, to be perfectly honest, and got us playing a style where we know we're all on the same page at least.

"We know that we can be competitive when we're doing it properly, but in some games we've had some stupid mistakes and then heads drop. Confidence is a massive thing in sport and within our team it's a huge problem.

"It's been a really tough season for us all. Hopefully in the Championship next season we can do what we did last season and give the fans something to smile about, and hopefully bounce back at the first time of asking."

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live after the game, Hodgson took exception to the media saying Watford's relegation had been confirmed at Palace, saying he considered his side's return to the Championship to be rubber-stamped after the loss to Burnley.

"My emotions are more veering towards the reception [from the Palace supporters] because we were relegated last week," said Hodgson, who also outlined his belief that Watford's squad are capable of securing an immediate top-flight return next season.

"I don't quite understand why the mass media continue to suggest that it's only today we were relegated. When we lost the last game and were 12 points behind two or three teams and with a much inferior goal difference, even the greatest optimist in the world would have suggested, well, that's probably it as far as we're concerned.

"So today I'm doubly pleased. I'm delighted with the reception from the fans - that really touches my heart - and I'm so pleased they feel I was able to be of use to the club during my time here.

"But I'm also very pleased with the team's performance because that was a very tough game for us."

 

[James]

Looks like Leeds or Burnley for the final relegation spot now.

Both on 34 points. Burnley have far superior goal difference. But they have two consecutive tough away games coming up — whereas Leeds are playing at home twice during the same period.

I think it is marginally (55-45) in favour of Leeds to stay up. But it could so easily go either way.

 

[Firebat]

Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch had a feeling of "deja vu" after his side conceded early and had a player sent off in the 3-0 defeat by Chelsea which keeps them in the relegation zone with two games to go.

Watford ended a club record run of 11 successive home defeats and Everton moved a point closer to Premier League safety after a dismal 0-0 game at Vicarage Road.

State of play right now:

 

[James]

Crikey the Premier League has some poor sides in it this year.

Norwich atrocious, Watford abysmal, both down; whereas Everton, Burnley and Leeds aren’t much better — they all seem to be stuck in a position where they could go down, and can’t find the quality to haul themselves away from it.

Everton I think have a slight edge and will get out of it in the end, but Burnley and Leeds both look dreadful and either of them could drop to be honest. (and whichever of them stays up could easily just be relegated next year if they don’t improve massively.)

 

[Saj]

The way Leeds are playing they look doomed.

Burnley can scrap and fight for a few points but Leeds look like a team who have no confidence or any points in them.

 

[James]

It could be all but confirmed this weekend if Burnley win and Leeds lose.

 

[James]

Leeds out of the relegation zone with a point!

Burnley slip down to 18th and have two very tough games to come.

 

[James]

Everton losing at home to Brentford.

They are still in the mix.

 

[James]

This is really heating up now.

Barely anything separating the three teams who are left in the mix for that final drop spot.

 

[OldWarHorse]

Burnley winning, Everton losing at home at HT.

Its all turned around

 

[James]

Burnley 1-0 up with a penalty.

Everton losing and bang in trouble now.

Not in Leeds’ hands at the moment.

 

[James]

Villa 1-1 Burnley

Everton 2-2 Palace


This is a rollercoaster!

 

[James]

Everton win! And stay up!

 

[James]

So it’s Burnley or Leeds now.

Both on 35 points.

Burnley with the superior goal difference.

Going down to the wire on the last day.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Amazing comeback by Everton after half time.

Lampard's half time team talk must have been very passionate. After this performance they deserve to stay up.

Burnley hold on to draw with Villa, a good result for them.

AS it stands, Leeds are going down imo. Cant see them beating the Bees , at best a draw which wont be enough.

 

[James]

Think Leeds are off down.

Everton and Burnley have just been that little bit better than Leeds at the key moments.

Could be more twists to come, so let’s see.

But I do think Leeds will marginally go down.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Im glad that everton stay up. The merseyside derby has recently been a one sided affair but its iconic.

 

[Firebat]

What a turnaround from 2 goals down to secure safety in the last home game of the season. Great drama.

 

[silentkiller187]

Leeds and Burnley are threatening legal action against Everton and the Premier League over the handling of the club's finances.

Both clubs wrote to the league last week regarding Everton's most recent accounts which showed losses of £120.9m for the 2020-21 season.

They have posted losses of £372m over the past three years.

League profitability and sustainability rules allow for losses of £105m over a three-year period.

Everton say that Covid-19 losses over the past two seasons amount to £170m, which can be deducted from their total.

But that figure has caused surprise among some Premier League teams because it dwarfs clubs of a similar size.

Earlier this week, Newcastle posted Covid-19 losses of £40m over the past two seasons, while Aston Villa said theirs amounted to £56m.

Everton, who have been involved in a relegation battle with Leeds and Burnley, secured their Premier League status on Thursday with a 3-2 win over Crystal Palace.

But they are confident they are compliant with Premier League rules and have been "working formally" with the league.

Burnley and Leeds want an independent commission to assess Everton's finances urgently.

It is understood they are viewing the matter as one of sporting integrity given that the Toffees spent more money in the last transfer window by signing Dele Alli, Vitaliy Mykolenko and Nathan Patterson in deals worth an initial £35m, rising to as much as £70m.

Burnley, Leeds and the Premier League declined to comment when contacted by BBC Sport.

When releasing their accounts in March, Everton said their actual losses were about £170m over three years because Covid losses can be written off, with the figure calculated as an average over the last two seasons.

They said other costs, which can also be deducted, include spending on their new Bramley Moore Dock stadium and on the club's academy and the women's team, bringing their finances into line.

Everton said in March they remain in a "secure financial position" after further support from their owner Farhad Moshiri, who has put more than £600m into the club since he first bought shares in the club in 2016.

But they have suspended sponsorship deals with companies owned or part-owned by Alisher Usmanov, after the Russian billionaire was sanctioned by the UK government and European Union following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Usmanov is a close business associate of Moshiri and also paid Everton £30m for naming rights of their as yet unbuilt stadium, which is set to open in 2024.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61529371

 

[Firebat]

Everton 'confident' they have complied by FFP rules after Burnley and Leeds threaten legal action

Everton insist they are "confident" they have complied with Premier League Financial Fair Play rules amid threats of legal action from Burnley and Leeds.

Leeds and Burnley wrote to the Premier League last week to question whether they had broken Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules after they recorded losses of £371.8m over the last three years.

In an exclusive in The Times newspaper on Friday afternoon, it was reported that both clubs also indicated their right to make legal claims against the league and Everton.

Premier League rules allow clubs to lose a maximum of £105m over three years.

Clubs have been allowed to write off losses caused by the pandemic; in their latest accounts Everton said £170m of their losses were caused by the pandemic.

Burnley and Leeds want Everton's finances thoroughly investigated and have asked for an independent commission to be set up to decide whether Everton have broken Premier League rules and whether they have a case to answer.

They have asked for the commission to be set up within six weeks of the date of their letter (May 13).

If there has been a breach they want rules to be enforced, and the maximum punishment is a points deduction.

They want this dealt with before next season's fixtures are released on June 16. They want a quick resolution - unlike the Premier League's investigation into Manchester City's alleged breaches of financial fair play rules which have been going on for more than three years.

There is believed to have been encouragement from other Premier League clubs to take this course of action.

A joint letter was sent to Premier League chief executive Richard Masters by email on Friday 13 May, signed by Burnley chairman Alan Pace and Leeds United chief executive Angus Kinnear.

Burnley or Leeds will be relegated on Sunday, while Everton avoided relegation by beating Crystal Palace on Thursday night.

An Everton spokesman said: "We have worked closely with the Premier League to make sure we are compliant. We are comfortable we have complied with the rules.

"External auditors have told us what we can and cannot claim against the pandemic. If clubs want to take legal action that's their decision."

The Premier League, Burnley and Leeds declined to comment when contacted by Sky Sports News.

https://www.skysports.com/football/...after-burnley-and-leeds-threaten-legal-action

 

[MenInG]

Burnley forward Ashley Barnes says that referees "want us gone" from the Premier League.

The 17th-placed Clarets are effectively certain of avoiding relegation if they beat Newcastle at home on Sunday (16:00 BST).

They are level on points with Leeds, who are 18th, but Burnley's goal difference is 20 better.

"In recent seasons people look at us and think we're a hard team, being ugly," 32-year-old Barnes said.

"No disrespect, I think people, even referees, want us gone from the league."

Burnley have had 67 yellow cards in the Premier League this season, the seventh most, plus two red cards.

Englishman Barnes also claimed that referees "buy into" the reputation Burnley may have and referred to their past two games against Tottenham on Sunday, where they lost 1-0, and the 1-1 draw at Aston Villa on Thursday.

At Spurs, a penalty was given against Barnes for handball after a video assistant review.

He added: "The whole situation when [Kevin Friend] goes to the screen at the weekend, Tottenham played on, they missed a great opportunity and everyone goes to set up for a goal-kick, but then there's VAR, it's like, 'What?'

"Then he's smiling when he comes away and no one can speak to him. Even at Villa Park we can't speak to Paul Tierney. Go and check the screen, that's what it's for. We just need consistency throughout the decisions."

When Burnley play Newcastle on Sunday, Leeds are at Brentford and Barnes said his team "just have to stay calm, stay positive and concentrate on ourselves".

"We've got it in our hands to win it at the weekend," he said.

"We've got a good group, an experienced group who know how everything works in terms of game management in these situations and hopefully we can get it over the line."

BBC

 

[Saj]

What a mess Leeds have made of this season.

Looked well-placed, then struggled, panicked, sacked their manager and now look like they are heading down.

 

[OldWarHorse]

Burnley 2 down, Leeds winning. Are they staying up now or what

 

[Firebat]

As it stands:

Burnley 0-2 Newcastle
Brentford 0-1 Leeds

17th - Leeds - 38
18th - Burnley - 35

 

[OldWarHorse]

1 each now..Hold on Leeds

 

[OldWarHorse]

Burnley lose and Leeds win. What a remarkable day in the Premier League

 

[MenInG]

Burnley were relegated from the Premier League on a dramatic final day as a home loss to Newcastle United condemned them to the Championship.

At the start of the day, Burnley were above Leeds on goal difference, but Jesse Marsch's side won 2-1 at Brentford to end the Clarets' six-year spell in the top flight.

Newcastle, who suffered an early blow when Brazil midfielder Joelinton was carried off on a stretcher, went ahead through Callum Wilson's calm penalty after Nathan Collins' needless handball as he flicked the ball away from Sean Longstaff's head.

The incident was originally missed by referee Craig Pawson and, following a video assistant referee check, he watched the incident on a pitchside monitor before pointing to the spot.

Wilson doubled the visitors' advantage 15 minutes into the second half when he was on the end of Allan Saint-Maximin's low cross and converted from six yards out.

Burnley got a goal back as Maxwel Cornet blasted in a volley after his first effort had been parried by Martin Dubravka but they could not find an equaliser in a frantic finish.

BBC

 

[Saj]

Incredible finish - Leeds escape by the skin of their teeth when all looked lost.

 

[James]

Leeds escape!
What a great job from them.

Such a tough outcome for Burnley.
They fought hard until the end.

Relegation is brutal.