The exciting, nail-biting finale to the 2018/2019 Premier League season came to an end yesterday and reigning champions Manchester City won the title from main challengers Liverpool by one point after they thrashed Brighton 4-1 at the Amex Stadium. However, Liverpool still have one last chance to match City’s success if they win the Champions League against Spurs, which they should do as it’s going to be a mammoth task for first-time finalists Spurs.
Liverpool won their final game 2-0 at home against Wolves and can be counted as very unfortunate not to win the title this season as their points tally would have won it any other season. This is testament to City who have raised the bar in terms of what it’s going to take their nearest rivals to catch them if they want to get back to title winning ways again.
Chelsea finished a respectable third and automatically qualify for the Champions League and still could win silverware if they beat Arsenal in the Europa League final. Spurs finished fourth and automatically qualify for the Champions League again but if either they or Liverpool win it, it will create an extra place for a Premier League team to sneak in to the Champions League through the back door. The same applies to Chelsea and Arsenal in the Europa League as if either of them wins the cup they automatically qualify for the Champions League.
Arsenal finished fifth and qualified for the Europa League again, unless they win it, and if they do it would mean Manchester United who finished sixth and will have to qualify for the Europa League, will gain a qualification place in the Champions League instead.
The EFL play offs are well underway and in League, Two Newport County and Mansfield first leg tie ended all square 1-1 and the second leg which was played yesterday should be a tense, closely fought battle like the first leg. The other EFL League Two fist leg play off was between Forest Green and Tranmere and Tranmere head in to the second leg clash with a narrow 0-1 advantage tomorrow night and are favourites to progress to the play off final having home advantage.
The League One first leg play offs started on Saturday between Sunderland and Portsmouth at the Stadium of Light and the Blackcats will head in to the second leg with a small advantage having won the first leg 1-0. The other first leg play off was between Doncaster and Charlton at the Keepmoat stadium yesterday and the Londoners were impressive racing to a 2-0 lead and will head in to the second leg tie with a good advantage after the match ended 1-2 and Charlton should progress to the play off final if they produce a similar performance.
Aston Villa and Leeds head in to their second leg EFL Championship play offs with the advantage as Villa beat West Midlands rivals West Brom 2-1 at Villa Park but they did it the hard way coming from 0-1 down with two late second half goals. Leeds impressed winning their first leg tie at Pride Park beating Derby 1-0 and are favourites to progress to the play off finals.
Selections:
None.
