Fortunebets
Spanish striker Pedro has played his last league game for Chelsea, manager Frank Lampard has confirmed.
The forward, who will be 33 on Tuesday, came on for the final few minutes of Sunday’s 2-0 Premier League win over Wolves.
Pedro, signed from Barcelona for £21m in 2014, helped Chelsea secure the Premier League title in 2016-17 and also won the FA Cup and Europa League.
Reports suggest that he is set to join Serie A club Roma on a free transfer.
Cristiano Ronaldo dedicated Juventus’ record-extending ninth successive Serie A title ‘to the fans’ as they defeated Sampdoria in Turin.
The forward scored his 31st league goal of the season from Miralem Pjanic’s short free-kick and Federico Bernardeschi sealed the victory.
Maurizio Sarri’s side are the only team to win nine consecutive titles in one of Europe’s top five leagues.
It extends their own record, which Bayern Munich had matched in June.
Ronaldo missed the chance to get closer to Ciro Immobile’s tally of 34 at the top of the Serie A goal charts as he struck a penalty against the crossbar in the final minutes.
Juventus had missed the chance to claim the title in what manager Sarri described as a “messy” defeat at Udinese on Thursday and began Sunday’s match with just one win in their last five games.
They were far from their free-flowing best and were forced to withstand plenty of pressure in the second half but Bernardeschi’s goal from Ronaldo’s saved attempt ensured former Chelsea manager Sarri won the first league title of his managerial career.
Sampdoria’s hopes of finding a way back into the match ended as they were reduced to 10-men following a second booking for Morten Thorsby.
Ronaldo’s goal sees him move to within three of leading Serie A goalscorer Immobile, who scored a hat-trick in a 5-1 win over Verona earlier on Sunday.
“I told the players ‘if you win with me who has never won anything, it is because you are really strong’,” said Sarri, whose only major trophy win was the Europa League with Chelsea in May 2019.
Sheffield United boss, Chris Wilder has appealed to his management that his team needs some bolstering if they must out perform their current status in the just concluded premier league season.
Speaking after the 3-1 loss to Southampton, Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder admitted that if his side want to progress further up the Premier League table then they need to invest in better players.
The Blades finished 9th on the log despite losing 3-1 to Southampton on final match day.
Chris Wilder’s men outclassed other new returnees to the premier league, Norwich City and Aston Villa, Only Villa managed to escape relegation on final match day after getting a draw against Westham United.
Despite missing out on European football for next season, Chris Wilder believes his team needs more bolstering if they must perform better next season.
Kevin De Bruyne is adamant he has broken Thierry Henry’s Premier League assist record.
The Man City playmaker scored twice and assisted one goal in his side’s final-day 5-0 win over Norwich on Sunday.
That assist put De Bruyne level with Henry’s record (20) from the 2002/03 campaign.
In a 3-0 win at Arsenal last December, De Bruyne harshly had an assist taken off him for a Raheem Sterling goal.
The 29-year-old’s cross took a faint deflection off a Gunners defender before reaching Sterling, who tapped the ball in.
Speaking after the Norwich thumping, De Bruyne appeared to reference that goal and another one.
He said: “I have got two more assists. You guys took two away from me.
“I’m still claiming that one. For me I was already there [level with Henry’s record].”
De Bruyne, who also scored 13 league goals this season, came second to Jordan Henderson as the Liverpool captain won the PFA Player of the Year award.
While Henderson’s stats were nowhere near the Belgium midfielder, he led Liverpool to a first top-flight title in 30 years.
Only Barcelona star Lionel Messi (112) has more league assists than De Bruyne (101) since his arrival in England in 2012.
Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy became the oldest player to win the Premier League Golden Boot after finishing the season with 23 goals.
The 33-year-old ended up a goal clear of Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Southampton striker Danny Ings, both on 22.
Vardy is the ninth English player to win or share the Golden Boot.
Last season Liverpool duo Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah and Arsenal’s Aubameyang shared it with 22 each.
Vardy still finished clear despite failing to score on the final day as Leicester lost 2-0 to Manchester United to miss out on a Champions League place.
“It’s a wonderful individual achievement,” said Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers. “We wouldn’t be where we are without his quality and goals.
“He’s a joy to work with, has a great mentality and has such quality. It’s a huge accolade and we’re all delighted for him.”
Former England striker Vardy scored more in 2015-16, Leicester’s title-winning season, with 24 goals – but missed out that time to Harry Kane’s 25.
Manchester United secured a place in the Champions League at the expense of Leicester City with victory at King Power Stadium.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side needed a point from this decisive final-day meeting to confirm a place in the top four – and break the hearts of the Foxes, who were in a Champions League spot for so much of the season.
Leicester needed victory once Chelsea took command at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers but their dreams were dashed as Bruno Fernandes scored a 71st-minute penalty after Anthony Martial tumbled under challenge from Wes Morgan and Jonny Evans.
Both sides had their chances, with Leicester City keeper Kasper Schmeichel saving well from Marcus Rashford in the first half and Jamie Vardy seeing a header glance off the frame of the goal after the break.
Leicester pressed but could not break Manchester United down and their misery was compounded when Evans was sent off against his former club for a wild, late lunge on Scott McTominay.
Manchester United confirmed the formalities seconds from time when substitute Jesse Lingard robbed Schmeichel and rolled the ball into an empty net.
It is a result that fulfils the usual minimum requirement of Champions League qualification for Manchester United.
But while Leicester City’s fifth-placed finish is highly creditable and earns a place in the Europa League, this will undoubtedly be a huge disappointment and anti-climax after being in a position to reach the Champions League for so long.
Bournemouth’s five-year stay in the Premier League came to an end despite beating Everton at Goodison Park as Aston Villa’s draw at West Ham meant they were relegated to the Championship.
The Cherries needed a win, and for Watford and Aston Villa to both lose against Arsenal and the Hammers respectively, if they were to retain their top-flight status.
The Hornets lost 3-2, but a 1-1 draw for Aston Villa ensured survival for Dean Smith’s side.
It was a disappointing outcome for Bournemouth, who had done all they could in their game to give them hope of staying up.
Eddie Howe’s side looked determined to fight for their survival right from the outset and deservedly went ahead when Joshua King scored from the penalty spot after Richarlison handled inside the area.
Bournemouth could have had a second penalty soon afterwards for a handball by Lucas Digne but neither the referee or the video assistant referee felt there was an infringement.
Despite all their dominance, the visitors conceded an equaliser as half-time approached when Moise Kean tapped in Theo Walcott’s cross.
But Bournemouth restored their lead just before the break as Dominic Solanke headed in from Diego Rico’s delivery.
The second half was nervy affair as the Cherries looked to hold onto their slender lead, but they grabbed a third and much-needed breathing space in the final 10 minutes after Jordan Pickford let a tame Junior Stanislas shot slip under his gloves and into the back of the net.
The visitors had done all they could to ensure survival, meaning all eyes were on events at West Ham, but a point was enough to keep Aston Villa in the top flight at Bournemouth’s expense as Howe’s side finished 18th.
Chelsea sealed fourth place in the Premier League to wrap up qualification for next season’s Champions League with a comfortable victory over Wolves.
Frank Lampard’s side needed a point from the potentially nervy encounter at Stamford Bridge in order to clinch a top-four place – but they claimed all three in style.
Mason Mount’s delightful 25-yard curling free-kick and Olivier Giroud’s effort from close range were just 144 seconds apart just before half-time and they settled the contest.
The defeat means Nuno Espirito Santo’s men finish seventh behind Tottenham on goal difference after Jose Mourinho’s side drew 1-1 at Crystal Palace.
However Wolves’ league position could still be enough to claim a Europa League place for next season, should the Blues beat Arsenal in the FA Cup final next month.
Chelsea ended the season on the same points as Manchester United, who beat Leicester City 2-0, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side finish third on goal difference.
Jurgen Klopp has dismissed any notion his team is arrogant after Frank Lampard’s warning and has told his Chelsea counterpart he needs to learn to not talk about whatever happens on the touchline postmatch.
Lampard was critical of Liverpool’s touchline conduct in their midweek Premier League match, which Liverpool won 5-3 at Anfield. The Chelsea boss later clarified he was not annoyed with Klopp’s conduct, but with the “people behind the bench.”
He warned Liverpool “don’t get too arrogant” with their success postmatch. And speaking Friday, when Klopp was asked about Lampard’s warning, he gave his take on Lampard’s criticism and said the Chelsea manager needs to learn when to stop talking about what happened on the field.
“We are not arrogant. Frank was in a competitive mood, I respect that a lot,” Klopp said. “From my point of view, in this situation [mid-match] you can say pretty much what you want… he came here to win the game, or get a point to help with Champions League qualification and I respect that.
“What he has to learn is to finish it with the last whistle and he didn’t do that. Speaking afterwards about it, is not OK. Frank has to learn this, he has a lot of time to learn as he’s a young coach, but he has to learn this.
“We are not arrogant, we are pretty much the opposite. Final whistle, close the book and he didn’t do that and that’s what I don’t like.”
Klopp clarified his view, adding that he would not have spoken about Lampard, had he not been asked about the Chelsea boss’ postmatch comments in Friday’s news conference teeing up Sunday’s match against Newcastle.
“As he spoke afterwards, it makes sense to speak about what I mean,” Klopp added.
The Liverpool manager was speaking on the day his captain Jordan Henderson was named Football Writers’ Association’s Footballer of the Year.
And he paid tribute to Henderson, saying: “Resilience made him the player he is now. Talent or attitude? It’s a mix and Henderson is the perfect answer to that. If you want to have a guy who has fought his way through to become one of the best players in the league and this year everybody acknowledged that. I am really proud of him and he’s an exceptional captain.”
The 2020-21 Premier League season has been scheduled to begin on September 12.
Premier League shareholders agreed the start date for next term on Friday, with the final match round of the campaign set to take place on May 23, 2021.
The Premier League will continue to consult with the FA and EFL with regard to the scheduling of all domestic competitions.
Liverpool are champions of the 2019/2020 season after 30 years wait for the English title.
The reds beat former holders Manchester City to the price after narrowly missing out of the premier league in the 2018/2019 season.
Jurgen Klopp’s men lost the title by just one point last term but won the UEFA Champions League instead.
Liverpool will now lead the charge to start the defense of the title by September