Ange Postecoglou said it is his responsibility to solve Tottenham’s inconsistency after slumping to a shock 2-1 home defeat to Ipswich on Sunday.
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Victory would have taken Spurs into the top four but instead they slipped to 10th after failing to recover from another slow start at home.
Ipswich celebrated their first Premier League win in 22 years thanks to first-half goals from Sammie Szmodics and Liam Delap.
Rodrigo Bentancur pulled a goal back in a second-half rally from Spurs, but it was too little, too late.
Tottenham have now fallen behind in 13 of their 15 Premier League games at home in 2024.
“It was hugely disappointing and, from my perspective, unacceptable, because we started the game nowhere near the levels we needed to be,” said Postecoglou.
“We gave ourselves a mountain to climb. In the second half, we had the ascendancy and enough opportunities to get the job done, but we didn’t do enough with it.”
Defeat continued a rollercoaster second season in charge for the former Australia manager.
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A run of one win from their opening four games was followed by five consecutive victories, including an impressive 3-0 win at Manchester United.
Postecoglou’s men have since scored impressive home wins over West Ham, Manchester City and Aston Villa, but have also lost their past three away games.
“It’s my responsibility, I’ve got to fix it,” added Postecoglou. “We’ve been inconsistent this year, fair to say, we shouldn’t be that inconsistent, and when you are, that responsibility lies with me to try to help the players overcome that.”
By contrast, it was an afternoon to remember for Ipswich as they finally got their first win back in the top flight at the 11th time of asking.
Victory lifts Kieran McKenna’s men, who had drawn five of their opening 10 matches, out of the relegation zone.
“So proud. It’s been a long time for the club, 22 years since the supporters saw a win in the Premier League,” said McKenna.
“The journey to get to here has been a big one. It feels a bit special today. “We believe we’ve been improving. We’ve picked up five out of 10 results but were waiting for the first win to validate the work and improvements. It’s a massive moment, one to cherish.”
Spurs won’t take Ipswich town lightly | 00:41
Van Nistelrooy thankful for ‘special’ period as Man Utd boss
Ruud van Nistelrooy said his four games as interim manager of Manchester United was a “short but amazing period” after ending his run unbeaten with a 3-0 victory over Leicester on Sunday.
The Dutchman, who remains a legend at Old Trafford for his goal return during a glorious playing career, also oversaw victories over Leicester in the League Cup and PAOK in the Europa League either side of a 1-1 Premier League draw with Chelsea last weekend.
Ruben Amorim will be in charge when the Red Devils next take the field away to Ipswich in two weeks’ time with Van Nistelrooy’s own future still unclear.
“We said ‘let’s make the most of these four games’, get the maximum out of it and I think we did an OK job,” said Van Nistelrooy.
“I really enjoyed it, it’s been a short but amazing period. We are in an uncertain position but we tried to do our jobs and help the club which is important.
“There are a lot of feelings there, the way the fans supported me and the team always in difficult moments it was a special moment. To close down this block of games with good results and a good connection I can’t thank them enough.”
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Bruno Fernandes continued his scoring streak under Van Nistelrooy with a powerful effort for his fourth goal in as many games.
On his 250th appearance for the club, Fernandes also had a hand in the second goal as his header was deflected into his own net by Leicester defender Victor Kristiansen.
Alejandro Garnacho then came off the bench to rifle in a brilliant third goal as United shrugged off their problems in front of goal so far this season.
The Red Devils remain down in 13th in the Premier League table but are only four points adrift of the top four.
Van Nistelrooy returned to the club where he scored 150 goals in June as an assistant to Erik ten Hag.
A decision is yet to be made over whether he will have a role in Amorim’s coaching team but the 48-year-old is proud of the work he has done in recent weeks to stabilise the club in troubled times.
“We tried to stabilise after a difficult and emotional period. We wanted to get players performing at their best, we got the right feeling to them and got them believing in themselves,” he added.
“This spell was a big responsibility, I took it very seriously. I wanted to help and get United into a better place, that was my goal.
“With three wins and a draw it’s a standard where you want to grow to as a club.”
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Neto rescues Chelsea draw as Arsenal title bid suffers fresh blow
Pedro Neto dealt a fresh blow to spluttering Arsenal’s Premier League title challenge as the Chelsea winger’s superb strike rescued a 1-1 draw in the London derby on Sunday.
Mikel Arteta’s side had taken the lead through Gabriel Martinelli’s second-half goal at Stamford Bridge.
But Neto’s equaliser 10 minutes later earned Chelsea a deserved point and left the Gunners without a win in their last four league games.
Neto’s first Premier League goal since his move from Wolves in August kept third-placed Chelsea above fourth-placed Arsenal on goal difference.
Both teams are nine points behind leaders Liverpool, but while Chelsea will be encouraged by their position after exceeding expectations in Enzo Maresca’s first season in charge, Arsenal head into the international break assailed by questions about their malaise.
Beaten 1-0 by Inter Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday, hot on the heels of last weekend’s loss at Newcastle, Arsenal have won just three of their last nine league games.
Chasing a first title since 2004 after finishing second to Manchester City in each of the past two seasons, Arsenal lack the fluency that carried them so close to the trophy last term.
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The north Londoners’ only wins in their last seven matches in all competitions came against Shakhtar Donetsk in Europe and second-tier Preston in the League Cup.
Maresca has repeatedly claimed he does not believe Chelsea are ready to challenge for the title, but the Italian has laid impressive foundations since arriving at the underachieving club in the close season.
Although they were unable to secure a first home win against Chelsea for six years, Maresca’s young team appear to be heading in the right direction at last.
Cole Palmer, the jewel in Maresca’s crown, quickly forced David Raya into action with a 25-yard drive that the Arsenal keeper tipped over.
Astutely dropping deep to take possession in midfield, Palmer led several Chelsea counter-attacks that had Arteta fretting on the touchline as Malo Gusto’s shot was blocked and Noni Madueke’s header looped wide.
Gusto should have put Chelsea ahead midway through the first half when Neto teased Ben White with some nimble footwork before whipping in a pin-point cross that the defender somehow headed over from close range.
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– Frustrated Arteta –
Chelsea had imposed their will on Arsenal with a tenacious display featuring some bruising challenges.
But their propensity for overplaying from their own goal kicks nearly proved fatal when Levi Colwill’s sloppy pass led to Martinelli forcing a good stop from Robert Sanchez.
Martin Odegaard started his first Arsenal game since August 31 after returning from an ankle injury as a late substitute against Inter in midweek.
Odegaard seemed to have laid on Arsenal’s opener when his quick free-kick found Kai Havertz, who slotted past Sanchez in the 32nd minute.
But Havertz’s celebrations were curtailed by a VAR check that showed the former Chelsea striker was offside by the narrowest of margins.
Despite that narrow escape, Chelsea had enjoyed a strong spell and they went close to earning a tangible reward when Wesley Fofana volleyed just over from Madueke’s cross early in the second half.
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Arsenal kept plugging away and snatched the lead on the hour. Surrounded by defenders on the edge of the Chelsea area, Odegaard cleverly worked just enough space to clip a sublime pass to the unmarked Martinelli and the Brazilian’s close-range strike beat Sanchez too easily at his near post.
It was exactly the sort of magical moment that Arsenal had so sorely missed in Odegaard’s absence.
Suitably inspired by his captain, Jurrien Timber almost doubled Arsenal’s lead with a buccaneering run that end with a low drive that whistled just wide.
But Arsenal’s lead was short-lived as Maresca’s tactical switch paid dividends in the 70th minute.
Moving Neto from the left to the right flank allowed the Portugal winger to cut inside for a blistering low strike that arrowed into the bottom corner from 25 yards and left Arteta holding his head in frustration.
On the day Spurs’ fiercest rivals’ title challenge took a significant hit, Ange Postecoglou showed his pragmatic hand to guide Tottenham to a big comeback win.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal were victims of their own ill-discipline once again, although William Saliba wasn’t the only player to see red in a wild night of Premier League football.
Read about all that and more in our wrap of the overnight Premier League action!
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ANGE’S ‘EYE-RAISING’ SPURS GAMBLE PAYS OFF
Throughout this Tottenham career, Ange Postecoglou has come under fire often. At times the Australian has been perceived as lacking pragmatism, and the ‘Plan B’ so loved by English football.
Translation: Instead of taking the safe option, Ange goes for the jugular. He’d rather win 5-4 than 1-0.
And yet with his side level with West Ham at half-time Ange did something many thought unthinkable. He made a pragmatic substitution.
Off went attacking midfielder James Maddison, at times the creative jewel in Postecoglou’s Spurs crown. On came Pape Matar Sarr, a more conservative and traditional central midfielder.
Speaking on Optus Sports’ Matchday Live, Premier League legend Emannuel Petit described the move as “strange because he’s (Maddison) a really good player.”
“So I was quite surprised. It’s quite strange from the manager.”
Maddison hadn’t been poor by any stretch of the imagination. He’d created Dejan Kulusevski’s equaliser and had five key passes in the opening 45 minutes, but as Ange noted post-game he needed different profiles in midfield.
“I just felt West Ham ask you certain questions in midfield areas and I just felt Pape’s running power would help us in the second half,” he explained.
“They obviously worked hard in the first half and I thought he could give us some real energy.
“I thought he did really well and he gave us a platform to be really threatening every time we went forward and clinical in our football.”
Former Brighton striker Glenn Murray described it as an “eye-raiser” but conceded the decision ultimately worked.
“Hindsight proves it was the right decision,” Murray said.
As Murray noted, Ange’s gamble paid off. Spurs scored three times in eight minutes to win and climb to seventh on the ladder. Sarr too was strong, dispossessing Jarrod Bowen as he moved towards Tottenham’s goal and finding Heung-Min Son with a beautiful assist for his 60th minute goal.
Spurs could’ve scored more too. Son hit the post in the 61st minute while the free-flowing attack continued throughout the second half, forcing West Ham keeper Alphonse Areola into three saves.
“When they are good they are nearly irresistible, Tottenham,” Connor McNamara said on commentary.
Former Spurs manager Tim Sherwood heralded the character Spurs showed during the win.
“To go behind and then come out with that character in the second half, after what happened at Brighton before the international break, I think not only the ability of his side, but the character of his side, really shone through,” he said.
Writing in The Guardian, Jacob Steinberg described Tottenham as ‘exhilarating,’ while noting ‘Ange Postecoglou was there to see another defensive implosion, but this time he would not be the coach who will have to deal with the fallout.’
Indeed the post-mortem will centralise on West Ham and new manager Julen Lopetegui, who has failed to inspire the tactical shifts expected of him in pre-season. Their second half capitulation means they sit 15th.
That game that overshadowed a five game winning streak and inspired further doubts about Postecoglou’s Premier League suitability.
For now at least those pressures are alleviated.
James Maddison’s half-time substitution was a turning point in Spurs’ 4-1 comeback win over West Ham.Source: AFP
ARSENAL’S CHARGE TAKES SIGNIFICANT HIT
At the end of the season if Arsenal fail to break their Premier League title drought, Mikel Arteta will reflect on this loss as the moment the title slipped through his side’s fingers.
Arsenal were unbeaten heading into the weekend, with their defence the envy of the Premier League and their attacking improving weekly.
Bournemouth are a good side, coached well by Andoni Iraola, but their start to the season had been indifferent.
Few would have predicted the game to unfold as it did.
Arteta, and Arsenal fans, will argue William Saliba’s controversial 30th minute red card, awarded after the Frenchman brought down Bournemouth striker Evanilson just beyond the halfway line.
There was no Arsenal defender between the Brazilian and goal, a factor that ultimately led VAR Jarred Gillett to instruct referee Rob Jones, who initially awarded a yellow card, to send the Arsenal defender off.
For the third time this season Arsenal would need to see out a game with a man down.
Raheem Sterling initially shifted to right back, with Ben White moving into the heart of defence in Saliba’s place. However, Antoine Semenyo breezed by the pair twice, prompting Arteta to introduce Jakub Kiwior and return White to right back.
Arsenal, who were without Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka, their two most important creators, held Bournemouth scoreless until the 70th minute, when a lovely corner move resulted in Ryan Christie’s strike breaking the deadlock.
The Premier League’s set-piece masters were breached by a set-piece.
Seven minutes later Evanilson was again involved. Fouled by David Raya in the box the Brazilian won a penalty, converted by Justin Kluivert to secure a big win for Bournemouth, a monumental loss for Arsenal.
William Saliba was initially shown a yellow card against Bournemouth. VAR intervened and changed it to a red card, leaving Arsenal to play with 10 men for much of the match.Source: Getty Images
The Gunners were not without their chances. Gabriel Martinelli had a great chance to score moments before Bournemouth’s opener, but missed the target, while Mikel Merino pushed a shot wide earlier in the game.
Speaking post-game, Arteta described the task set for Arsenal following Saliba’s send off as “impossible.”
“We are very disappointed with the result and gutted because we had to play in that context again,” he said.
Discussing Saliba’s red card, the Spaniard conceded he’s not expecting it to be overturned during the week.
“It was a decision made on the pitch. The decision was changed. I don’t think it will change twice. The decision has been made,” he said.
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ETH SAFE FOR ANOTHER DAY
Boos rang around Old Trafford at halftime, though perhaps not the kind of boos some may have expected after the last fortnight at Manchester United.
Brentford’s Ethan Pinnock had just scored an injury time header from a corner to lift his side into the lead at the interval.
The strike didn’t come without controversy after United’s Dutch central defender Matthijs De Ligt was forced to leave the pitch and have some blood cleaned from his face.
Instead of waiting for De Ligt to return, referee Sam Barrott allowed play to continue, ultimately resulting in Brentford’s opener.
United’s bench erupted after the ball rifled into the back of the net. Erik Ten Hag, arguably the manager under the most pressure in world football, was booked for his protests of the decision to allow play to continue while De Ligt was sidelined.
Given the storm surrounding the future of the Dutchman’s managerial tenure, Ten Hag’s frustration was justified. In a must-win game his side entered the interval behind against a difficult to break down Brentford side.
Writing in The Athletic, Mark Critchley said Pinnock’s goal ‘felt like the end. The chances of a second half fightback appeared remote.’
At the break United, who were without six first team players, were yet to create a big chance. By full-time they’d created three, scoring two, to record a big win both in the context of their season and their manager’s future.
Alejandro Garnacho got the ball rolling in the 47th minute, meeting a sublime Marcus Rashford cross to score his first goal of the season, before a delightful Bruno Fernandes flick set Rasmus Hojlund up in the 62nd minute.
Even more impressive was the way United managed their lead in the dying stages of the contest, something Critchley noted.
‘Not only did (United) turn this game on its head, but once in front, they managed the final stages relatively well – something which has not often been said of this side in the past,’ he wrote.
Post-game Ten Hag insisted the victory “showed we are together.”
“We showed determination and scored two beautiful goals.”
Erik Ten Hag wasn’t happy with the decision to allow play to continue while Matthijs De Ligt was off the field receiving treatment.Source: AFP
Goals have been a major problem to United in what has been their worst-ever start to a Premier League season. Prior to their Brentford win they’d scored just five. That figure is now seven, two less than 19th placed Wolves.
Ten Hag will be hoping goals to Garnacho and Hojlund, as well as Rashford’s creative output, will kick his side into attacking gear as they look to kick their season into life.
“This team has the capacity to score very good goals,” he stated post-game.
“Today the two goals we scored were high quality and when you score and win you add confidence.
“At the start of the season we had some good performances but didn’t score enough, then everyone is negative.
“This result can help us, but it is only one win and we must build on it.”
LATE DRAMA SEALS FOXES COMEBACK
After half an hour Southampton were 2-0 up against Leicester, courtesy of goals to Cameron Archer and Joe Aribo, and seemingly on their way to a first win of the season.
Their lead remained after an hour, before Facundo Buoanotte’s fortunate strike found the back of the net, giving Leicester a way back into the game.
10 minutes later they were level, courtesy of a Jamie Vardy penalty that came after the striker’s shirt was pulled by Saints winger Ryan Fraser as he attempted to sweep the ball into the back of the net from close range.
Jordan Ayew’s late strike sealed Leicester’s comeback win over Southampton.Source: Getty Images
Fraser was sent off, the fifth player to see the red in the Premier League overnight, and Vardy converted the penalty, drawing the Foxes level with plenty of time to play.
Despite their man advantage, Leicester’s winner came with essentially the final kick of the game after Jordan Ayew swept the ball home from a corner in the 98th minute.
The win lifts Leicester to 14th, six points clear of the relegation zone – although both Palace and Wolves have a game in hand.
For Southampton, losing from such a winnable position has turned the pressure up on manager Russell Martin, who has constantly been accused of playing beautiful, possession-based football without getting results.
VILLA’S MARCH CONTINUES AS NEWCASTLE FALTER
Aston Villa’s towards the top of the Premier League table continued against Fulham overnight.
Unai Emery’s side fell behind to an early Raul Jimenez strike but scored three times before full-time to seal a crucial three points.
Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins both scored, continuing their fine seasons, before an Issa Diop own goal sealed the win after 70 minutes. Emi Martinez saved an Andreas Pereira penalty with the scores locked at 1-1.
Fulham lost central defender Joachim Andersen to a red card six minutes before Diop found the back of his own net.
The win leaves Villa fourth on 17 points, two clear of fifth-placed Brighton, who narrowly beat Newcastle overnight.
Danny Welbeck’s fifth goal of the season proved the difference between the two sides
Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka inspired Arsenal’s 2-0 success against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday as the Gunners secured their first win in the Champions League this season.
Havertz headed Arsenal into the lead and Saka netted before the interval to underline their superiority at the Emirates Stadium.
After drawing their opening league phase tie at Atalanta, Mikel Arteta’s side moved onto four points in their bid to reach the knockout stage of the revamped tournament.
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Premier League legend Frank Lampard said Arsenal had “taught a bit of a lesson” to PSG, who were weaker and less aggressive both on and off the ball.
Meanwhile, Oliver Holt wrote in the Daily Mail that the win announces Arsenal as one of the favourites to win the competition.
“Arsenal were not at their best but they did not have to be. PSG may not be favourites to win the Champions League but they are counted among the contenders and Arsenal made beating them look relatively routine,” he wrote.
“They deserve to be among the favourites. With City and Real Madrid, they, not PSG, look like a team to fear.”
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Eliminated by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals last season and pipped to the English title by Manchester City, the Gunners are now unbeaten in nine games in all competitions this term as they chase silverware on both fronts.
There was further good news for Arsenal as Spain midfielder Mikel Merino made his long-awaited debut for the last 30 minutes.
Merino’s recovery from a shoulder injury suffered in his first training session following his close-season move from Real Sociedad was a welcome boost for Arteta with Martin Odegaard currently sidelined.
Gianluigi Donnarumma was back in goal for PSG after missing the last three games with a thigh injury and the Italian had an early test of his fitness as he sprinted off his line to save at Gabriel Martinelli’s feet.
Saka, captaining Arsenal for the night, quickly switched the momentum in the hosts’ favour when he cut in from the right flank to curl just over from the edge of the area.
Havertz rewarded Arsenal’s relentless pressure with the opener in the 20th minute.
Leandro Trossard curled a pinpoint cross into the six-yard box and Havertz made a perfectly-timed run behind the visitors’ flat-footed defence to bravely head past the advancing Donnarumma.
The Germany forward, who scored Chelsea’s Champions League final winner in 2021, endured a difficult start with Arsenal after moving across London for £65 million ($86 million) last year.
But since the start of February, only three Premier League players have more combined goals and assists in all competitions than Havertz’s tally of 21 as he banishes the ‘waste of money’ jibes.
‘4 goals in 1 half!’ Palmer’s EPL RECORD | 00:37
– COMPOSED ARSENAL –
PSG’s cause wasn’t helped by the absence of France winger Ousmane Dembele, who was left out after the 2018 World Cup winner’s reported clash with boss Luis Enrique when he was substituted in their win over Rennes on Friday.
Dembele is PSG’s most potent attacking force following Kylian Mbappe’s move to Real Madrid.
Nuno Mendes tried to provide an attacking spark for the spluttering visitors as the defender’s blast from 18 yards smashed off the post and bounced to safety.
But Arsenal were always in control and Saka doubled their advantage in the 35th minute.
Under the guidance of their set-piece guru Nicolas Jover, Arsenal have become lethal from free-kicks and corners, while PSG are notoriously deficient in that area.
So it was little surprise that Arteta’s team were able to capitalise on their dead-ball expertise yet again.
Whipping an in swinging free-kick towards Donnarumma’s goal, the England forward expected a teammate to get a touch on his delivery.
Instead, there was enough swerve on the ball that it eluded a gaggle of players and caught the slow-to-react Donnarumma unsighted as it flashed into the net.
Only Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane and Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior have been involved in more Champions League goals than Saka since the start of last season.
Trossard shot just wide before halftime as PSG’s creaky defence looked more League One than Ligue 1.
Donnarumma made a fine save to keep out Martinelli’s volley soon after the interval, but PSG were inches away from grabbing a lifeline when Joao Neves’ effort smacked off the bar.
On a rainy evening in north London, Arsenal battened down the hatches in the closing stages as they eased to a significant victory.smg/nf
10-man Spurs start strong in Europa | 00:53
LEWANDOWSKI HITS BRACE AS BARCA CRUSH YOUNG BOYS
Robert Lewandowski struck twice for Barcelona as they demolished Young Boys 5-0 in a one-sided Champions League clash on Tuesday.
The Catalan giants, five-time winners, made amends for their defeat by Monaco in their first match by thumping their Swiss visitors.
Raphinha and Inigo Martinez strikes as well as an own goal helped Hansi Flick’s side secure a sizeable victory and boost their goal difference significantly.
“We knew after the game against Monaco in the Champions League we had to give a quick reply in the next game, which was this one, and we did that well,” Raphinha told Movistar.
“A couple of days ago we lost a game in La Liga too (at Osasuna) and we had to give a quick response, and we did that.
“It’s much easier playing here at home because of the joy (the fans) give us.” Raphinha said with the expanded Champions League format and one table for all the teams, it was useful to build a good goal difference.
“It’s important to score so many goals because at the end of the eight games, it will be handy,” he added.
Barca coach Flick rolled out arguably his strongest available team after the loss at Monaco, despite the Swiss side’s struggles.
Young Boys are in the relegation zone of their domestic league with just one win in eight games and were thrashed at home by Aston Villa on their European debut this season.
It took Barcelona just eight minutes to move ahead, with Lewandowski applying a poacher’s finish to Raphinha’s cross-shot.
Jules Kounde hammered over and Ferran Torres had a shot saved as Barcelona dominated, but Young Boys carved out a first opening after 30 minutes when Ebrima Colley pulled an effort wide.
Raphinha, enjoying a strong start to the campaign, doubled Barcelona’s lead from close range after Pedri’s shot was blocked but the ball ricocheted to his feet.
Centre-back Martinez headed home Barca’s third from Pedri’s free-kick shortly afterwards as the Catalans overran their ragged visitors.
– Barca romp –
Torres wasted a fine chance for the fourth when he fired straight at Young Boys goalkeeper Marvin Keller when well placed to score.
Lewandowski netted his second with a close-range header after Martinez had nodded Lamine Yamal’s corner back across the face of goal as Barcelona began the second half just how they finished the first.
It was the 36-year-old’s ninth goal in 10 games this season as he enjoys a revival under his former Bayern Munich coach Flick.
Young Boys winger Joel Monteiro struck the crossbar but that was as close as the visitors came to joy in Catalonia.
Barcelona fans were pleased to see Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong come on as a substitute for his first appearance since an ankle injury in April as the game petered towards a close.
Mohamed Camara deflected Alejandro Balde’s cross into his own goal for Barcelona’s fifth in the 81st minute.
Home supporters chanted the name of former Barca midfield icon Andres Iniesta, after reports the Spanish 2010 World Cup winner will announce his retirement next week.
Monteiro had a late goal ruled out for off-side and Inaki Pena made a smart save at his near post late on, with Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny watching on from the presidential box.
Barcelona are poised to sign the former Juventus and Arsenal stopper to replace the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND ROUT CELTIC
Karim Adeyemi scored three goals in the first half as Borussia Dortmund handed Celtic a brutal Champions League reality check, winning 7-1 at home on Tuesday.
Celtic came into the match having won eight from eight in Scotland and Europe this season, but were blown off the park in Germany, Dortmund leading 5-1 at halftime.
Dortmund added two goals in the second half to equal their biggest ever win in the Champions League.
Another season has come and gone as Manchester City made history by becoming the first team to win four-straight Premier League titles.
In a campaign in which the most goals were scored in a season since the mid-1960s, Guardiola’s side pipped Arsenal to the post yet again to make it six league titles from the last seven.
It was significantly less successful for Burnley, Luton Town and Sheffield United as the promoted trio were sent straight back to the Championship in what was a 26-year first.
Sandwiched between City and Sheffield United were a host of teams who all defied, met or fell way below pre-season expectations.
Foxsports.com.au takes a look at how EVERY team went in our Premier League Report Card!
If ever there was a fitting song to describe Arsenal’s season, look no further than Linkin Park’s classic, In The End.
Mikel Arteta’s side really did try oh-so-hard and they got oh-so-far.
But in the end, it didn’t even matter because ultimately no-one remembers who came second.
However, to summarise Arsenal’s season by just a few lyrics is an immense disservice to the way they improved significantly on last year’s efforts.
Granted, the Gunners shelled out a whopping $AUD199 million to sign Declan Rice, but there was a reason Mikel Arteta was desperate to snap up the former West Ham skipper.
Same goes for Kai Havertz, who defied his famous chant and proved to his detractors the $113m Arsenal spent on him did not go down the drain with 13 league goals.
There’s a sense of what might’ve been had summer recruit Jurrien Timber not been injured and the impact he’d have had on Arsenal’s backline too.
It has been a tremendous season for Arsenal as they accrued more points, scored more goals and conceded fewer than they did in 2022/23.
However, a grim run in December in which the Gunners won three of seven league games coupled with a costly 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa in April is what ultimately derailed their title bid.
The loss to Villa will sting given Arsenal could and should have been out of sight in the first half, if not for some dreadful finishing.
Regardless, Arteta’s side will be better off for the experience from another title charge and one senses a first Premier League trophy since 2003/04 is not far off.
Grade: A
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Aston Villa (4th, 68 pts, +15)
The sleeping giant is finally awake.
After 41 years, Aston Villa is back among Europe’s elite thanks to a top four finish, a predicament very few outside of those at Bodymoor Heath would have thought was achievable.
But under Unai Emery, Villa have transformed into a team that makes the impossible become possible.
What makes the Spaniard’s revolution even more impressive is he has not had to make significant surgery on the squad, with Youri Tielemans (free), Moussa Diaby ($98m) and Pau Torres ($59m) arriving in the summer.
Emery has instead drastically improved the players already at his disposal, including the likes of midfield duo Boubacar Kamara and Douglas Luiz as well as fleet-footed winger Leon Bailey.
But the most notable example of Emery waving his magic wand on a player is with Ollie Watkins, who scored 19 goals and led the Premier League with 13 assists.
Emery has also had to overcome significant challenges in his first full season with Villa.
Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendia, two starting players last season, suffered season-ending injuries before the season began while Kamara tore his ACL in February, exposing Villa’s lack of depth.
Throw in a run to the European Conference League semi-finals and it’s staggering how this squad held on for as long as they did in the race for a Champions League spot.
Yet this is a team who played Manchester City off the park in a 1-0 victory in December and did the double over Arsenal, showcasing just how freakishly good this team is when on song.
Next season will be an even bigger challenge but, as Emery and his merry band of Villa troops have proven, nothing can be out of the question.
Unai Emery has been arguably the manager of the season.Source: Getty Images
Bournemouth (12th, 48 pts, -13)
Stories of Andoni Iraola’s sacking were being written after Bournemouth’s 6-1 defeat to Manchester City in November, the club’s seventh loss in the first 11 games.
But the Cherries, who sat in the relegation zone and were among several pundits’ tips to go down despite a summer spend of $212 million, decided to stick with the Spaniard.
Boy, did it pay off.
The loss to City sparked a staggering run of six wins in Bournemouth’s next seven, including victories over Newcastle and Manchester United, as pressure eased off Iraola.
Key to this run was star striker Dominic Solanke, who went on to record his best goalscoring season in the Premier League with a final tally of 19.
Iraola’s intense high press was pivotal for Solanke and the Cherries’ goalscoring fortunes as a whole, failing to score in just three games from January onwards and even then, those games were against Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool.
Defensive improvement will be required from Bournemouth if they are to rise higher on the ladder and go beyond the 48-point mark, the club’s highest total in the top flight.
But under Iraola, who recently signed a new deal to stay with Bournemouth until at least the end of the 2025/26 season and is a nominee for manager of the season, it feels like the Cherries are on the verge of something special.
Grade: B+
Dominic Solanke had a brilliant season in front of goal.Source: Getty Images
Brentford (16th, 39 pts, -9)
The big pre-season question on everyone’s minds when it came to Brentford was how they would fare without superstar striker Ivan Toney and his 20 league goals, at least until January.
The answer? Not very well.
Thomas Frank’s side sat as high as 9th in early November, but after a 3-2 win over West Ham, results took a nosedive.
The Bees won just three games and lost an alarming 14 across an 21-game stretch from November to mid-April.
It was hoped Toney’s return from a gambling ban would ease the burden on Brentford’s forwards and at first he did, scoring four goals in his first five games back.
But that was as good as it got for the star striker, with the Bees largely relying on Congolese winger Yoanne Wissa for goals.
Three wins in Brentford’s last six games ensured Frank’s troops would avoid being sucked into a relegation battle but the Dane knows a similar slump in form could be more costly next season.
Grade: D
Ivan Toney’s gambling ban had a huge impact on Brentford’s season.Source: Getty Images
Brighton (11th, 48 pts, -7)
A season that began with such so promise for the Seagulls ended with little more than a whimper.
With a Europa League campaign to contend with as well as the departures of Moises Caicedo, Alexis Mac Allister and Robert Sanchez, enigmatic Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi had his work cut out for him.
But concerns about how De Zerbi would cope without the star trio were initially alleviated as the club won five of its first six games, including victories over Newcastle and Manchester United.
However, that winning feeling largely deserted Brighton for the remainder of the season as De Zerbi struggled to keep the side humming on multiple fronts, finishing with seven defeats from the final 12 league games.
There was also a lack of consistency between the sticks as summer recruit Bart Verbruggen and Jason Steele battled to be the starting goalkeeper, the last position that needs constant chopping and changing.
In fairness, Brighton were dealt a horrible hand with injuries with the likes of Solly March, Julio Enciso, Kaoru Mitoma and Adam Webster among others missing large chunks of the season.
De Zerbi also cut a frustrated figure in the media and struggled to deal with constant speculation linking him to bigger clubs as Brighton ultimately elected to mutually split with the Italian.
Time will tell if a fully fresh Brighton can get back to the heights they initially scaled under De Zerbi.
Grade: C-
Fans were grateful for Roberto De Zerbi, but his Brighton time came to a poor end.Source: Getty Images
Burnley (19th, 24 pts, -37)
Fresh off a Championship season in which they finished first with 101 points and lost only three games, some predicted Vincent Kompany’s Burnley side to be one of the surprise packages of the season.
And in some ways, maybe they were a bit of a surprise. But only in how bad they were.
Kompany quickly learned his possession-heavy approach simply would not work in the Premier League as Burnley were time-and-time-again sliced open by their rivals.
Burnley won just a solitary game before December as points deductions to Everton and Nottingham Forest was all that kept them in with a shout of a miraculous survival effort.
The Clarets’ transfer dealings were also questionable as they failed to properly replace Nathan Tella and Ian Maatsen, who accounted for 32 goal involvements in the Championship.
Instead, Kompany elected to bring in several young faces into the team who had little to no Premier League experience and it backfired spectacularly.
Burnley will be one of the favourites for promotion next season and if they achieve that, Kompany — if he is still in the job — knows he cannot afford to make similar mistakes again.
Then again, there’s shock rumours that he might be heading off to Germany to take over Bayern Munich. Stranger things have happened.
Grade: F
Burnley’s season was a disaster, but their coach might be rewarded for the flop with a cushy new gig.Source: AFP
Chelsea (6th, 63 pts, +14)
Now, there’s two ways one can look at Chelsea’s season.
They finished with 19 more points than they did in 22/23 — the biggest improvement of any team — as Cole Palmer emerged as one of the brightest talents in the Premier League with 22 goals and 11 assists.
New boss Mauricio Pochettino also guided the team home to a sixth-place finish, bringing European football back to Stamford Bridge after a season without it.
Chelsea also made it to the League Cup final and the semi finals of the FA Cup.
Sounds decent, right?
Then you remember this is the same Chelsea who forked out $828 million on recruits in the summer — a Premier League record for a single window — and were well on track for a mid-table finish, if not for a five-game win streak to round out the season.
Sections of Blues fans called for Pochettino’s head, Nicolas Jackson had more yellow cards than goals for a brief period and the club suffered embarrassing defeats to Nottingham Forest, Wolves as well as a 5-0 thumping against Arsenal.
We’ve opted for the more optimistic approach because this is an awfully young Chelsea squad and although it took quite some time for them to hit their straps, they showed what they’re capable of in the final third of the season.
But how will they cope under yet another new manager next season?
Chelsea’s Argentinian head coach Mauricio Pochettino has been punted.Source: AFP
Crystal Palace (10th, 49 pts, -1)
Whisper it quietly, but Crystal Palace might actually be fun.
As the Eagles sleepwalked towards relegation under Roy Hodgson, the club wielded the axe on the 76-year-old and brought in former Frankfurt boss Oliver Glasner on February 19.
What a masterstroke it proved to be.
Glasner, who took over at Selhurst Park with Palace sitting 15th but perilously close to the bottom three, immediately brought a sense of excitement back to the club.
He found a way to re-energise Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise who, when on song, are two of the most electrifying talents in the Premier League.
But most impressive was Glasner’s ability to unlock a whole new level in Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Prior to Glasner’s arrival, Mateta had scored just 10 goals from 79 league appearances for the Eagles.
But the Frenchman transformed into a completely different player once Glasner took over, scoring 14 goals in 14 games.
Glasner won seven and lost just three games from his 14 in charge, with a memorable run of six victories from the final seven fixtures of the season sparking the most immaculate of vibes among the Palace fanbase.
If Palace can keep a hold of Eze, Mateta and Olise in the summer, there’s no reason why this team can’t kick on next season.
Grade: B-
Palace turned into a thrilling attacking side, and there’s plenty of optimism for next season.Source: Getty Images
Everton (15th, 40 pts, -11)
If there was a Premier League equivalent to Rocky Balboa, it’s Everton.
You can knock them down as many times as you like and throw haymakers until kingdom come, but the Toffees just won’t go quietly into the night.
Everton were slapped with an initial ten-point deduction in November for breaking the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR), dropping them into the relegation zone.
Those ten points were reduced to six in February upon appeal, but a second PSR breach resulted in a further two-point deduction in April.
Oh, and don’t forget the messy takeover saga with 777 Partners which still looks no closer to being ratified amid concerns over the group’s finances.
Having flirted with relegation the previous two seasons, it was feared the initial deduction might have been a mountain too high to climb for Sean Dyche’s side.
A 13-game winless streak from late December to April exacerbated those fears even more, but Dyche is no stranger to a relegation fight and knows exactly what was needed to steer the team to safety.
Roared on by a rabid fanbase desperate to survive and stick the proverbial finger at the Premier League, Everton went on to win five of their last eight — including a 2-0 victory over arch rivals Liverpool — to secure safety.
One of the most impressive aspects about Everton this season is how strong their defending had been, with their tally of 51 goals conceded bettered only by Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool.
If Dyche can find a way to get the Toffees firing up front and maintain that defensive steel, Everton should enjoy a relatively drama-free 24/25 season.
Grade: C
Five wins from their last eight games ensured Everton’s survival, but it was another messy season.Source: Getty Images
Fulham (13th, 47 pts, -6)
Some feared the worst for Fulham when talismanic striker Aleksandar Mitrovic and his 14 league goals departed for the vast riches on offer in Saudi Arabia.
Why? Well, Fulham’s next highest goalscorers behind Mitrovic were Willian and Carlos Vinicius with just five goals each.
Raul Jimenez joined in the summer but struggled to fill Mitrovic’s boots and had his campaign derailed by injury.
Even though Jimenez was billed as Mitrovic’s replacement, it turned out to be Brazilian forward Rodrigo Muniz who stepped up when the Cottagers needed a hero.
The Brazilian enjoyed a stunning run of form in February and March, scoring eight goals in as many matches to show he belongs at Premier League level.
Alex Iwobi also proved to be a shrewd summer recruit, driving Fulham up the field with slaloming runs and picking out intelligent passes.
Considering Mitrovic’s importance and the goals he brought, Marco Silva has done well to keep Fulham up with relative ease.
But will Cottagers fans accept another season of mid table mediocrity?
Grade: C-
The Klopp era has ended at Anfield.Source: Getty Images
Liverpool (3rd, 82 pts, +45)
It was going so, so well for Liverpool.
Even as late as April 4, Jurgen Klopp’s side sat on top of the Premier League.
But the Reds just simply ran out of steam, winning just three of their final eight games to slip away in the title race.
If anything, Liverpool’s late collapse mirrored Klopp’s reasoning for why he would depart the club at the end of the season, citing he was “running out of energy”.
Granted, Liverpool were dealt a brutal hand when it came to injuries, forcing a number of young stars to step up.
Liverpool’s defensive struggles were also on full display in the second half of the season, keeping just four clean sheets from December 26 onwards.
Unsurprisingly Mohamed Salah was the Reds’ main goalscoring threat but in somewhat alarming scenes, it was his lowest goalscoring return since joining Liverpool with a final tally of 18.
It was still a marked improvement on Liverpool’s 22/23 season in which they finished outside the Champions League places, but some may be wondering what could’ve been in Klopp’s last dance.
As the German rides off into the sunset, or the more fitting weather depiction in Liverpool of grey skies and rain, one must wonder if similar memories are on the horizon or if that’s as good as it may get for some time.
Grade: B+
Klopp’s PERFECT goodbye to Anfield crowd | 01:11
Luton Town (18th, 26 pts, -33)
Just about every fan of the other 19 Premier League teams had Luton Town circled as the one away day they wanted most this season.
Famed for its rather unique entrance for travelling fans in which they enter between townhouses, Luton’s Kenilworth Road is an old, tiny ground, but that’s where its charm lies.
However, it’s an away day that lasted just one season in the Premier League as Luton, unsurprisingly, were relegated.
The Hatters elected not to spend heavy in the summer, opting for sustainability should they end up being relegated rather than recklessly burning cash and needing to deal with an inflated wage bill in the Championship.
Although Luton showed they rarely had issues scoring — shut out in only five games this season — they conceded a whopping 82 goals, the second-most in the Premier League.
It was a valiant effort from Rob Edwards’ troops this season and a run of three wins and two draws from six games across the festive period gave Luton fans hope that maybe, just maybe they’d survive their debut Premier League campaign.
However, 12 losses in Luton’s 16 games sucked the life out of their survival efforts as the gulf in quality ultimately proved too large.
Grade: D-
EPL Wrap: City CHAMPIONS again! | 03:10
Manchester City (1st, 91 pts, +62)
Once again we’ve reached the end of the Premier League season and once again Manchester City are champions.
This year’s triumph made it a record fourth-straight league title for Pep Guardiola’s side, highlighting the vice-like grip they have on the Premier League trophy.
Although City had a few wobbles in the first half of the campaign, they did not lose a single match after a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa on December 6.
City also had to cope without superstar playmaker Kevin de Bruyne for half of the season after suffering a hamstring injury in the opening match against Burnley while goalscoring freak Erling Haaland also spent time on the sidelines.
But Guardiola’s side found a way to overcome every challenge as English midfielder Phil Foden enjoyed his best season yet, scoring 19 goals and delivering eight assists in the Premier League.
Yes, City have 115 charges of breaching the PSR rules hanging over their head, leaving many to view their accomplishments with a big asterisk.
Yet until any punishment comes from that, we can only marvel at this unprecedented dominance from the best manager and one of the best teams in world football at the moment.
Grade: A
City players URGE fans to hold off | 01:21
Manchester United (8th, 60 pts, -1)
It was a season of unwanted records for Manchester United.
A lowest-ever Premier League finish. Their most losses in a league season. The most goals they’d conceded in a single Premier League season.
In fact, the Red Devils conceded more shots (668) than the infamous Derby County side of 2007/08 did (630). Yes, that Derby side that won just one game all season.
They’re not entirely exiled from European football just yet, as a win over Manchester City in the FA Cup final would secure a berth in the Europa League.
But that is not a reward Erik ten Hag’s side deserve one bit.
Marcus Rashford and Casemiro looked a complete shadow of the forces they were last season while a disjointed backline caused chaos, with Leicester City discard Jonny Evans drafted in to save the day.
The emergence of teenage midfielder Kobbie Mainoo was undoubtedly the brightest spot of Manchester United’s season while Alejandro Garnacho continues to impress.
But the less said about this United season, the better.
Grade: C-
Rashford LEFT OUT of Euro squad | 01:17
Newcastle (7th, 60 pts, +23)
If you tuned in to a Newcastle game this season, you were, quite literally, guaranteed goals.
A team that scored four or more goals in a single match on ten occasions, the Magpies ended the season with a whopping tally of 85 goals scored.
Alexander Isak enjoyed a stunning season in which he scored 20 goals from 28 league appearances, while Anthony Gordon made himself undroppable with his impressive displays.
But at the other end of the field, the club took a major step backwards.
Having conceded just 33 goals last season, Eddie Howe’s side shipped 62 goals.
However, the team was decimated by injuries this season, with an alarming 258 games missed by players due to injury.
There’s also the small sideshow of Sandro Tonali, who was the club’s marquee summer signing but copped a 10-month ban for breaching Italian betting regulations.
Newcastle also had to contend with a Champions League campaign, which tested the club’s depth levels.
Although Newcastle suffered some patchy runs of form throughout the season, Howe deserves plenty of plaudits for guiding the Magpies to Europe once again, even if it is the Europa Conference League and dependent on Manchester City winning the FA Cup.
Grade: B
Alexander Isak had one hell of a season.Source: Getty Images
Nottingham Forest (17th, 32 pts, -18)
Nottingham Forest must be incredibly grateful for how badly the three promoted teams struggled this season, otherwise they would have been in serious strife.
After yet another big summer window, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis had high expectations of Steve Cooper and his squad but they simply weren’t met in the first half of the season.
A 2-0 loss to Tottenham brought an end to the well-liked Cooper’s time at the City Ground as Marinakis brought in former Wolves boss Nuno Esperito Santo.
The Portuguese manager didn’t exactly transform the clubs fortunes but he did enough to ensure Forest stayed up, even though the club copped a four-point deduction for PSR breaches.
The brightest spot of Nottingham’s was the emergence of Brazilian defender Murillo, who joined in the summer from Corinthians, as the club faces a fight to keep him next season.
Although Forest’s on-field performance may have been lacking, they were box office entertainment off it.
An eagle-eyed fan spotted Marinakis’ accreditation nestled in the bushes of someone’s front garden in Fulham, presumably hurled in frustration having seen Forest lose 5-0.
Then there were the accusations Stuart Atwell, the VAR operator for Forest’s 2-0 loss to Everton, was a Luton Town fan after the team had a number of penalty shouts turned down.
A less chaotic campaign both on and off the field surely isn’t too much for Forest fans to ask for, right?
Grade: D
Murillo deservedly won the club’s Player of the Year for a brilliant season, but he could be out the door with bigger clubs circling.Source: Getty Images
Sheffield United (20th, 16 pts, -69)
If there’s one small comfort Sheffield United fans can take from this season, it’s that they weren’t worse than the 2007/07 Derby County side.
However, the Blades’ tally of 104 goals conceded is 15 more than Derby shipped, so it’s still rather grim.
In fact, Sheffield United lost a game by five or more goals a staggering seven times.
Regardless, Sheffield United will want to forget this season ever happened.
Practically doomed from the start with a squad weaker than what it was in the Championship, the sales of Sander Berge and Iliman Ndiaye made the Blades an easy choice to come last.
The club’s summer recruits also didn’t exactly inspire much confidence either given they were largely young players who had never played in the Premier League.
Paul Heckingbottom got sacked after a 5-0 loss to Burnley, leading to Chris Wilder making a surprise return to Bramall Lane.
But not even Wilder, who worked miracles when he got the Blades promoted in 2019, could muster any magic as Sheffield United trudged towards their inevitable fate.
Grade: Expelled
The Blades were truly atrocious this campaign.Source: Getty Images
Tottenham (5th, 66 pts, +13)
Not many would have given Ange Postecoglou a chance of overseeing an improved season from Tottenham Hotspur.
Throw in the exit of superstar striker Harry Kane and many feared the worst for the Aussie boss.
Instead, Postecoglou rolled up his sleeves, spent wisely in the transfer market and had his players quickly adapting to his all-action, high intensity style of play.
The Aussie brought an excitement factor to a team that had been devoid of any joy on the field for some time, even overseeing a ten-match unbeaten run which had Tottenham on top of the ladder.
However, injuries soon exposed Tottenham’s alarming lack of depth and it sparked a mid-season wobble as Postecoglou attempted to right the ship.
Although ambitions of a top four spot fell away with a horror run of five defeats in the final seven games, this season shouldn’t be viewed as anything but a success.
After all, it’s typically during the second season when Postecoglou really shines with his team.
Grade: A-
Ange Postecoglou entertained Spurs fans with a thrilling season … but there should be more to come.Source: Getty Images
West Ham United (9th, 52 pts, -14)
Grade: B-
After a difficult 2022-23 league campaign saw them manage just 40 points and a 14th-placed finish (partly down to focusing on the Europa Conference League, which they won), this year was another slog – even if they bounced back up the Premier League ladder.
It was always going to be hard this season after losing superstar skipper Declan Rice to Arsenal for £100 million plus bonuses.
In truth, they never really managed to mitigate that loss. Defensively, they were very poor: the third-most xG against, the third-most shots on target against, and a whopping 74 goals conceded. They clearly missed Rice’s defensive protection.
On the other hand, there were strong signs up front. For a team without a genuine striker, Jarrod Bowen banged in 20 goals in all competitions, their most by any player since 2004-05.
Lucas Paqueta and Mohammed Kudus were excellent, the latter becoming one of the breakout stars of the season and almost guaranteed to move to a bigger club in the off-season.
Manager David Moyes has turned West Ham into a solid, reliable unit in his last four-and-a-half years. A ninth-placed finish that sees a manager leave, and yet the fans are happy to see him go? It’s proof of how far he’s taken the Hammers.
Yet after a handful of gruelling seasons with European commitments placing an additional drain on players, his preference for a small squad proved his downfall.
Moyes started just 20 different players in the league, and made the fewest substitutions of any manager.
In the end, his team just ran out of legs – and their small squad means incoming manager Julen Lopetegui has a big transfer window ahead of him.
There were great moments for the Hammers, but another hectic schedule took its toll.Source: Getty Images
Wolves (14th, 46 pts, -15)
Grade: C+
Speaking of Lopetegui, remember when he left Wolves less than a week before the start of the season?
The Spanish manager had guided Wolves from a relegation scrap to a 13th-place finish in the space of seven months before walking out the door over a lack of spending on the squad.
Wolves were forced to sell a host of players to meet financial fair play rules and were widely predicted to be relegated.
In short, they were an absolute shambles. No wonder Lopetegui wanted out.
Wolves were left with a ridiculously thin squad, which injuries exposed – especially when they won just one of their last 10 games.
But they nevertheless achieved the most important things: they avoided a financial fair play punishment and balanced the books, ensured safety from relegation two months before the end of the season, and Gary O’Neil got the most out of just about every player at his disposal.
Just ignore their dire collapse in the last two months, and things seem a little bit more rosy.
West Ham manager David Moyes will leave “by mutual consent” when his contract expires at the end of the season, the Premier League club said Tuesday (AEST).
The announcement of Moyes’s impending exit came just a day after the Hammers suffered an embarrassing 5-0 loss to London rivals Chelsea.
“West Ham United can confirm David Moyes will leave the club by mutual consent at the end of the 2023/24 season, when his contract expires,” said a club statement.
Monday’s announcement came amid media speculation that former Real Madrid, Wolves and Spain manager Julen Lopetegui had agreed a deal to replace Moyes, in his second spell as West Ham manager, after the end of the current campaign.
The Chelsea defeat was the second successive away game where West Ham conceded five goals following their loss at Crystal Palace, another London club.
And it added to the pressure on Moyes that had been mounting all season, with West Ham fans criticising him throughout the campaign for perceived negative tactics.
West Ham are currently ninth in the table, a huge 18 points adrift of the top four.
Moyes, however, guided West Ham to the Europa Conference League title last season — the club’s first major honour since they won the 1980 FA Cup.
Moyes will depart the Hammers after an impressive four-and-a-half-year spell. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
But they were knocked out of the Europa League last month following a quarter-final loss to Bayer Leverkusen.
“I have enjoyed four-and-a-half brilliant years at West Ham, and the club is in a stronger position than when I returned back in 2019,” Moyes told the club’s website.
“When I joined West Ham for a second time, the club was one place above the relegation zone, and it has been a terrific journey to have achieved three consecutive seasons in Europe.” The 61-year-old Scot, a former manager of both Everton and Manchester United, added: “After leading the club (West Ham) to safety, we guided the team to finishes of sixth and seventh in the Premier League, and I was delighted when we won the Europa Conference League title last June — the club’s first major trophy in 43 years.
“I would like to thank all the players for their support, and all the success they have achieved, over the last four-and-a-half years.”
West Ham joint-chairman David Sullivan paid tribute to Moyes by saying: “On behalf of everyone at West Ham United, I would like to offer our sincere thanks and gratitude to David for the contribution he has made to the football club during his time as manager.
Lopetegui appears set to replace Moyes at West Ham. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“David has been responsible for a period of great progress and success in our history, and we are extremely grateful for all of his hard work, commitment and dedication to the role,” added Sullivan, who hailed Moyes as an “absolute professional”.
Sullivan said making the announcement with two games left to play in the league season “allows David to get the send-off he deserves from the West Ham supporters and for us all to show our appreciation to him at our final home fixture of the season against Luton Town on Saturday”.
Lopetegui could now be set to succeed Moyes at the London Stadium. The Spaniard guided Wolves to Premier League safety last season, but left the Midlands club after nine months on the eve of the new campaign in August.
The former Porto and Sevilla manager helped lift Wolves from the bottom of the table to a 13th-placed finish during his time in charge at Molineux.
Nottingham Forest have asked for the VAR audio to be released from their three denied penalty appeals in a 2-0 defeat at Everton that sparked the club to call into question the integrity of Premier League officiating.
Forest issued an extraordinary post on social media soon after the final whistle at Goodison Park on Sunday saying they had “warned” referees body the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) that VAR official Stuart Attwell is a fan of relegation rivals Luton.
Forest are just one point and one place above Luton, who are in the drop zone.
“Nottingham Forest has today submitted a formal request to the PGMOL to release into the public domain the audio recordings between officials during yesterday’s match against Everton at Goodison Park,” Forest said in a statement on Monday.
“The club has requested this be shared for three key match incidents – Ashley Young’s challenge on Giovanni Reyna (24th minute), Ashley Young’s handball (44th minute) and Ashley Young’s challenge on Callum Hudson-Odoi (56th minute).
“We firmly advocate for the broader football community and supporters to have access to the audio and transcript for full transparency, ensuring the integrity of our sport.”
PGMOL have been pressured into releasing audio recordings of controversial incidents earlier in the season.
Referees’ chiefs were forced to admit an error after Liverpool had a goal at Tottenham wrongly ruled out for offside as the VAR officials thought the goal had been awarded.
Forest felt they were on the wrong side of a number of VAR decisions. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Audio of other selected incidents has also been broadcast on the “Match Officials Mic’d Up” program during the season, but the laws of the game prevent such audio being broadcast live.
Meanwhile, the Football Association has asked Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo, defender Neco Williams and referee analyst Mark Clattenburg to explain comments they made post-match.
Forest enlisted the services of former referee Clattenburg in February as a consultant analyst to fight their corner after believing they had been on the wrong end of a series of contentious decisions.
Writing in his Daily Mail column, Clattenburg said: “One of these errors would have been bad enough.
“Three was a joke, and that is why Nottingham Forest were left feeling victimised after another defeat in which zero big decisions went their way.”
However, Forest’s public blast at the officials has been hit with a backlash. Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher accused the two-time European champions of sounding like a “fan in a pub.”
Forest boss Nuno Esperito Santo has a major fight on his hands to keep his team afloat. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“Stuart Attwell and Anthony Taylor (the referee) have had an horrific day today, awful, and they should be rightly criticised for that and that could have real implications for Nottingham Forest,” said Carragher, now a Sky Sports pundit.
“I get the frustration, but that, what I’ve just read there on social media, that’s like a fan in a pub. That is embarrassing from Nottingham Forest. I get the frustration.”
Fellow pundit Gary Neville called on Clattenburg to resign from his role with the club.
“If he sees those words go out, which question the integrity and essentially call a VAR official a cheat because he supports a certain club, then he’s supporting what’s being said and he would basically lose all credibility, I think, with referees in the game.”
The win for Everton lifted them five points clear of the relegation zone with five games to play, despite being deducted eight points this season for breaches of financial rules.
Forest have been docked four points for the same reason.
Liverpool got back on track after a miserable week as a 3-1 win at Fulham kept their Premier League title bid alive, while Nottingham Forest launched an astonishing rant at the officiating in their 2-0 defeat against Everton on Monday (AEST).
Jurgen Klopp’s side crashed out of the Europa League quarter-finals against Atalanta on Thursday after suffering a damaging Premier League defeat at home to Crystal Palace last weekend.
The Reds’ hopes of giving Klopp a glorious farewell were dwindling but they climbed back into the title race with a much-needed first win in three league games.
Liverpool are now in second place, behind leaders Arsenal on goal difference and one point ahead of third placed Manchester City, who have a game in hand on their two title rivals.
Next for Liverpool is the Merseyside derby at Everton on Wednesday, while Arsenal host Chelsea on Tuesday and City travel to Brighton on Thursday.
“Fulham usually cause us more problems so it was a good performance at the right moment,” Klopp said.
“We want to stay in that race, that’s clear. Arsenal won yesterday, Manchester City will win their game in hand, so we have to win games and that’s what we’ll try.”
Klopp responded to signs of fatigue from his team in recent weeks by dropping Mohamed Salah to the bench among five changes.
And Liverpool took the hint with a more cohesive display by the banks of the River Thames in west London.
Trent Alexander-Arnold put Liverpool ahead in the 32nd minute with a superb free-kick that flashed into the top corner.
Fulham defender Timothy Castagne levelled from close-range after Liverpool failed to clear in first half stoppage-time.
Liverpool secured a vital win over Fulham to remain in the title race. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Ryan Gravenberch restored Liverpool’s advantage in the 53rd minute with a swerving blast from the edge of the area for his first Premier League goal.
Diogo Jota wrapped up the points in the 72nd minute, drilling a clinical low finish into the far corner.
Everton took a giant stride towards extending their 70-year stay in the English top-flight in a highly controversial victory over Forest.
Idrissa Gueye and Dwight McNeil scored the goals that took the Toffees five points clear of the relegation zone.
Forest remain just one point above the bottom three and were left dismayed at being denied three strong penalty appeals.
The club’s official account on social media platform X called into question the Premier League’s integrity by claiming the VAR official is a fan of relegation rivals Luton.
“We warned the PGMOL (referees’ governing body) that the VAR is a Luton fan before the game but they didn’t change him,” Forest said in a statement said.
“Our patience has been tested multiple times. NFFC will now consider its options.”
Aston Villa tightened their grip on Champions League football next season with a 3-1 win over Bournemouth.
Forest manager Nuno Esperito Santo was left stunned as his side lost a highly controversial clash to Everton. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Villa shrugged off the exertions of having to go to extra-time and penalties in midweek to book their place in the Europa Conference League semi-finals against Lille.
Unai Emery’s men even had to come from behind after Dominic Solanke opened the scoring from the penalty spot.
Morgan Rogers’ fine finish just before halftime proved to be the turning point. Moussa Diaby slotted in from Ollie Watkins’ pass to put Villa in front. Watkins was the provider once more for Leon Bailey to tap in to seal the points 12 minutes from time.
Victory takes Villa six points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham. Spurs have two games in hand but still have to play all of title challengers Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool in their final six matches.
David Moyes’ future as West Ham manager looks more uncertain after they were thrashed 5-2 at Crystal Palace.
Michael Olise headed in the opener before Eberechi Eze’s spectacular acrobatic effort found the roof of the net.
Emerson Palmieri’s own goal made it 3-0 before Jean-Philippe Mateta struck twice for Palace either side of halftime.
Michail Antonio’s strike and a Tyrick Mitchell own goal was scant consolation for West Ham.
Cole Palmer scored four goals to put Chelsea within touching distance of the Premier League’s top six after a 6-0 win over Everton on Tuesday (AEST).
The England international has been a shining light in an otherwise disappointing campaign for the Blues and moved level with Manchester City striker Erling Haaland’s 20 Premier League goals in the race for the Golden Boot.
Palmer killed the game as a contest as he completed his hat-trick inside 30 minutes before Nicolas Jackson also struck before halftime.
A penalty from Palmer and Alfie Gilchrist’s first goal for his boyhood club rounded off the scoring in the second half.
Despite an eight-game unbeaten Premier League run, Chelsea remain in ninth but are now just three points adrift of sixth-placed Newcastle with a game in hand to come.
And they will head into Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against City confident they can end the holders’ quest for a second consecutive treble.
A demoralising defeat leaves Everton still perilously placed just two points above the relegation zone.
The Toffees appealed against a two-point penalty for breaking Premier League sustainability rules on Monday, having also been docked a further six points for another charge this season.
How Everton could do with the boost of recovering some of those lost points as the battle for survival looks set to go down to the wire.
Nottingham Forest visit Goodison Park in a huge relegation six-pointer on Sunday and Sean
Dyche’s men will need to improve at both ends of the field to prolong their 70-year stay in the top flight.
Cole Palmer scored four goals against a hapless Everton side. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)Source: AFP
The visitors were dealt a blow before kick-off as Dominic Calvert-Lewin missed out due to a hamstring injury.
His deputy Beto spurned a glorious chance to open the scoring when he somehow turned over Seamus Coleman’s cross from point-blank range.
Palmer was not so forgiving at the other end as he made another case to be crowned as the Premier League’s player of the year.
City must regret letting the 21-year-old leave for what now looks like a bargain £40 million ($50 million) in September.
Palmer nutmegged Jarrad Branthwaite before exchanging a neat one-two with Jackson and curling home from the edge of the box to open the scoring.
With Enzo Fernandez absent due to injury, Mauricio Pochettino flanked Palmer and Jackson with Noni Madueke and Mykhailo Mudryk for the first time in his starting line-up.
Everton are perilously close to the relegation zone. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Everton could not live with the sharpness of that front four and Palmer was left with an easy task to head in his second after Jordan Pickford denied Jackson from a Mudryk cross.
The England goalkeeper then had a moment to forget as he gifted possession to Palmer, who nonchalantly chipped his international teammate on his weaker right foot from midway inside the Everton half.
In contrast to Palmer, Jackson has had an inconsistent first season at Chelsea but produced an excellent touch and finish to fire in his 13th goal of the season on the stroke of halftime.
A routine night for Pochettino’s men was still not without drama when they were awarded a penalty on the hour mark.
Both Madueke and Jackson tried to take over penalty duties before they were forcibly removed by captain Conor Gallagher to hand Palmer the ball.
BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty was one of several who blasted Madueke and Jackson for their actions.
“Wish Pochettino had taken off Jackson and Madueke right away there,” McNulty wrote on X.
Despite the chaos, Palmer duly made it nine out of nine successful spot-kicks this season to take his tally for the season in both Chelsea and City colours to 25.
Academy graduate Gilchrist had only been on the field a matter of seconds when he blasted in the sixth after Pickford parried Ben Chilwell’s effort.
Everton have been given an additional two-point deduction for a breach of the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR), it was announced Monday (AEST)
The decision followed a previous six-point PSR penalty imposed on Everton and left the Merseyside club just two points above the relegation zone with seven games left to play this season.
Teams who are relegated from the Premier League could lose as much as $AUD191 million due to major drops in revenue, per football financial expert Kieran Maguire.
“An independent commission has given an immediate two-point deduction to Everton FC for a breach of the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSRs) for the period ending season 2022/23,” said a Premier League statement issued Monday.
“Over a three-day hearing last month, the independent commission heard evidence and arguments from the club in respect of a range of potential mitigating factors for its admitted breach of £16.6 million ($AUD31.8 million), including the impact of its two successive PSR charges.
“Having done so, the commission determined the appropriate sanction to be a two-point deduction, taking effect immediately.”
The Premier League added the independent commission “reaffirmed the principle that any breach of the PSRs is significant and justifies, indeed requires, a sporting sanction.”
Everton revealed an £89.1 million ($AUD170.76 million) loss for the 2022/23 season in their financial accounts published last month.
The Toffees’ losses were a significant increase from the 2021/22 season, when their accounts showed a £44.7 million deficit.
Everton’s survival hopes took a major blow after they were deducted two points. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)Source: AFP
The Goodison Park club, now 16th in the table, have blamed the indefinite suspension of sponsorship deals with key commercial partners as mitigation for the increased loss.
The original six-point penalty imposed on Everton earlier this season breaches related to PSR breaches during the 2021/22 campaign.
Under PSR regulations, clubs can lose a maximum of £105 million over a three-season period, or £35 million per term, before facing sanctions.
Under-fire majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri said in March he remains confident the protracted takeover of the club by 777 Partners will be completed soon, with Everton aiming to move to a brand new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock for the start of the 2025/26 season.
Everton, who have spent the past 70 years in the top flight of English football, said Monday in a statement they would appeal against the latest penalty.
EPL Wrap: Spurs rise, Liverpool falter | 02:38
“While the club’s position has been that no further sanction was appropriate, the club is pleased to see that the commission has given credit to the majority of the issues raised by the club, including the concept of double punishment, the significant mitigating circumstances facing the club due to the war in Ukraine, and the high level of co-operation and early admission of the club’s breach.
“Everton remains committed to working collaboratively with the league on all matters relating to PSR but is extremely concerned by the inconsistency of different commissions in respect of points deductions applied.”
The statement added: “The club and its legal representatives have begun the preparations to appeal the commission’s decision.”
Everton’s next play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Monday before facing fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest, who have been hit with a four-point PSR penalty of their own, at home on April 21.
Liverpool were held to a damaging 2-2 draw by Manchester United as they handed the initiative to Arsenal in the Premier League title race, while Tottenham moved into fourth place with a 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest on Monday (AEDT).
Jurgen Klopp’s side would have gone top with a victory against their bitter rivals at Old Trafford.
But despite taking the lead through Luis Diaz’s 23rd minute strike, Liverpool couldn’t deliver the knockout blow.
They wasted several chances to increase their advantage before Bruno Fernandes alertly pounced on Jarell Quansah’s wayward pass to score from just inside the Liverpool half in the 50th minute.
To Klopp’s visible fury, Kobbie Mainoo found space to net United’s second with an eye-catching curler in the 67th minute.
Liverpool avoided a repeat of their FA Cup quarter-final defeat at United earlier this season as Mohamed Salah equalised with an 84th minute penalty after Aaron Wan-Bissaka chopped down Harvey Elliott.
But it was still a frustrating final visit to Old Trafford for Klopp before his departure at the end of the season, with Liverpool stuck behind Arsenal, who hold a nine-goal advantage on goal difference.
Klopp’s team, who are one point ahead of third placed Manchester City, have seven games left to overhaul Arsenal as they chase a record-equalling 20th English title.
“We should have won the game, that is clear. We should have had other goals in the first half. We dropped too deep,” Klopp said.
Liverpool salvaged a point away to Manchester United as the title race took yet another twist. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)Source: AFP
“The whole Liverpool community just stay calm. We are where we are and we keep giving it a proper go.
“Do I wish we had 10 points difference? Of course. We are in the race and I’m absolutely fine with it.”
United boss Erik ten Hag added: “Very mixed emotions. We have to blame ourselves for making stupid mistakes.
“On the other side I’m very proud. You see how we are improving and the potential of this squad is amazing.”
At the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the game went ahead despite a fatal stabbing just yards from the ground earlier on Sunday.
Ange Postecoglou’s side took the lead thanks to an own goal from Forest defender Murillo in the 15th minute.
Timo Werner’s low cross into the six-yard box caused panic and Murillo’s stretching attempt to clear diverted the ball into his own net.
Chris Wood equalised in the 27th minute with a clinical strike from Anthony Elanga’s pass for his 12th league goal this season.
But Micky van de Ven bagged Tottenham’s second in the 52nd minute with a blistering strike from just inside the area.
And six minutes later Pedro Porro produced a powerful half-volley from 14 yards to put the result beyond doubt.
Tottenham moved into fourth with a win over Nottingham Forest. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Tottenham are now above fifth placed Aston Villa on goal difference and also hold a game in hand in the race to qualify for the Champions League via a top four finish.
“Everyone has been banging on about us getting fourth. We’re fourth now but it doesn’t stop, we’ll keep going. We’re in a good shape to finish the season strong,” Postecoglou said.
Fourth bottom Forest are outside the relegation zone by the slenderest of margins, above Luton only on goal difference.
In Sunday’ other game, Ole McBurnie’s last-gasp equaliser forced Chelsea to settle for a 2-2 draw at bottom of the table Sheffield United.
Fresh from scoring twice in the final seconds of stoppage-time to beat Manchester United on Thursday, Chelsea took the lead after 11 minutes as Thiago Silva finished off Conor Gallagher’s corner at the far post.
The Blades equalised in the 32nd minute as Gustavo Hamer’s pass sent Jayden Bogle through on goal and the right wing-back slotted home.
Noni Madueke put Chelsea back in front in the 66th minute, cutting in from the right to drive his shot into the far corner.
Yet mid-table Chelsea’s troubled season suffered another setback when McBurnie levelled with a close-range finish three minutes into stoppage-time.
“We feel really bad in the way we conceded. We need to be more clinical,” Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino said.
