Rob Smyth's Blog, page 89

May 23, 2021

Premier League: Man City lift trophy, Liverpool and Chelsea in top four – as it happened

Leicester 2-4 Spurs, Liverpool 2-0 Palace, Villa 2-1 Chelsea W Ham 3-0 So’ton, Man City 5-0 Everton, Arsenal 2-0 Brighton Fulham 0-2 Newcastle, Leeds 3-1 West Brom | Final table

7.22pm BST

We’re going to wrap up the blog now, after a dramatic, emotional day that summed up a unique Premier League season. On behalf of everyone at Guardian sport, thanks for your company and emails throughout. Please join us for the next live football, in just over half an hour’s time. Goodnight!

7.19pm BST

There’s one last bit of business at the Etihad: saying goodbye to a goalscoring wizard. Sergio Aguero strolls onto the field, Premier League trophy in hand, to be greeted by a rendition of Martin Tyler’s famous commentary by .... Martin Tyler. That was a bit odd, especially as half the microphones aren’t working.

Not that it matters - every City fan will have the real thing in their mind’s ear for the rest of their days.

In an exclusive interview with Martin Tyler, Sergio Aguero recalls his title-winning QPR strike, his decade at Manchester City, and reveals how he sees his future.

Watch the full interview on Sky Sports PL

7.11pm BST

More from Pep

“We suffered a lot in the first months of the season. But when we won at Stamford Bridge, we realised that we still weren’t far away from the top of the league. The way we played there, with just 14 players, we realised [sticks his chest out], ‘Oh, okay, we are still here!’ People said we had no chance. We were ninth in December, but then we won all the games in all competitions until we lost here to United in March. That’s when we won the league.

7.06pm BST

An emotional Pep speaks

“We are lucky to have people here when we lift the trophy - it is not a full stadium but there is enough noise for us to enjoy it with them. It feels completely different, it’s much better. Every title is nice. This one is different because of the pandemic and the problems that every one of us have had. That’s what makes it special.

7.02pm BST

Pep Guardiola has joined the Sky team for a chat

“Slip inside the eye of your mind, don’t you know you might find, a better place to play. You said that you’d never been, but all the things that you’ve seen slowly fade away.”

7.01pm BST

This is how it feels to be City (20 21 version)

Ever wanted to hear Pep Guardiola sing ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’ by Oasis while puffing on a cigar? Well, enjoy.

Incredible stuff.

pic.twitter.com/TzvsXWNibZ

6.59pm BST

Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy, who came off at half-time, damaged his ribs when he collided with the post. Thomas Tuchel says they will have a better idea tomorrow whether he’s likely to be fit for the Champions League final.

6.58pm BST

Cheers Alex. Here’s a match report.

6.54pm BST

… and back to Rob

6.54pm BST

Agüero speaks: “It’s my last game but I’m so happy. I have to thank my teammates. The firs title for me was the most important for the club. It’s not easy spend so long at a top club so for me it’s an honour.”

He won’t be drawn on where he’s off to next.

6.47pm BST

Inevitably some hellish EDM is blasted through the tannoy. Pep looks bemused.

6.46pm BST

And last to join the squad is captain Fernandinho, who is handed the trophy and duly hoists it skywards. Merry chaos ensues, before the players file over to the edge of the pitch to soak up the acclaim of enamoured fans. Actual fans! Great stuff.

6.43pm BST

A beaming Sergio Aguero is given a hero’s ovation as he marches up to collect his medal. His legacy has been documented by the esteemed Will Unwin here:

6.40pm BST

One of the true surprises of the season was that Pep Guardiola’s latest winning machine should be built on a broad-shouldered, no-nonsense centre-half. Ruben Dias was deservedly the FWA player of the year and he steps on to the podium at the Etihad after receiving his title-winner’s medal. His teammates gather, as the big moment awaits…

6.36pm BST

Well well well. This most unpredictable of seasons has ended with…

6.31pm BST

I’m going to take a quick break, for reasons that are hopefully self-explanatory, but Alex Hess will take over for City’s title presentation.

6.30pm BST

Ilkay Gundogan finishes as City’s top scorer with 13 league goals. His contribution will probably be forgotten, but he woke City from their slumber with that spectacular burst of scoring after Christmas. They were ninth just before Christmas, and then they won 15 games in a row. That awesome first half at Chelsea on 3 January was when everything started to change,

6.26pm BST

"You can see that we are still a young team, a lot of players fighting for their first trophy... fighting for the first time in big, big matches"

Chelsea's Tuchel speaks as #CFC secure fourth in the Premier League despite defeat to #AVFC

Report https://t.co/qzhKCt5dSp pic.twitter.com/SiJ4rJivis

6.23pm BST

6.21pm BST

6.20pm BST

West Ham 3-0 Southampton

West Ham secured their best league finish in 22 years and qualified for the Europa League as this 3-0 win over Southampton secured a sixth-placed finish. pic.twitter.com/JLSrODDtEJ

6.19pm BST

PL this season:
1️⃣5️⃣3️⃣ away wins
1️⃣4️⃣4️⃣ home wins
▶️ First season in history of England’s top 4 tiers to have more away wins than home wins

6.17pm BST

Gareth Bale says he has decided where he wants to play this season, but won’t wsay anything until after the Euros because “it will cause chaos”.

6.17pm BST

Leicester 2-4 Spurs A tearful Youri Tielemans receives Leicester’s player of the year award. The retiring Wes Morgan was given a guard of honour just before that. The circumstances meant he couldn’t get on today, but he had his moment with the last kick at Wembley last week.

6.15pm BST

6.14pm BST

There are some emotional farewells taking place. Harry Kane is hugging his Spurs teammates, and had a particularly long embrace with his footballing BFF Son Heung-min. Gini Wijnaldum received a lovely guard of honour at Anfield, which confirms he is leaving the club. And Sergio Aguero will soon join the Manchester City players on a lap of honour.

A guard of honour for @GWijnaldum. A class act both on and off the field. He’s going to be sorely missed but leaves behind so many great memories. Epitomises the team ethic Klopp created here. @LFC pic.twitter.com/cMLPjYFZij

6.09pm BST

6.08pm BST

‘Who writes your scripts?’ department

184 – Sergio Agüero has scored 184 Premier League goals for Manchester City, breaking the competition record for most goals scored for a single club. Farewell.

6.06pm BST

The decisive moment of a dramatic final day was Kasper Schmeichel’s strange own goal. It knocked Leicester out of the Champions League places and gave Spurs fresh impetus to get the win they needed to stay above Arsenal and qualify for the Europa Conference. Any other business?

5.59pm BST

5.58pm BST

And here’s how the dust has settled

5.55pm BST

Leicester 2-4 Tottenham This will haunt Leicester, who have lost five of their last eight league games to miss out on the Champions League again. It’s still been a glorious season - last Saturday saw to that - and we shouldn’t forget that they have had the worst run of injuries in the league.

5.53pm BST

Gareth Bale finishes Leicester and Arsenal off! He dances through a weary defence, plays an inadvertent one-two off the far post and taps in from two yards.

5.52pm BST

This is what he does; he wins.

5.51pm BST

Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea: Azpilicueta sent off!

The man who could start a row in an empty room now has the opportunity to do so: he will have a few minutes alone in the dressing-room after being given a straight red for an elbow on Jack Grealish.

5.49pm BST

GOALS! Leeds 3-1 West Brom (Robson-Kanu 90); West Ham 3-0 Southampton (Rice 86)

5.48pm BST

90 min Five minutes of added time. As if a team could score twice in injury time, etc, etc.

5.48pm BST

90 min Lloris makes a desperate save on the line, though it wouldn’t have counted as Iheanacho was offside.

5.46pm BST

He’s done it!

5.46pm BST

That Bale goal means Chelsea are going into the Champions League - and Spurs are now back in seventh, above Arsenal.

5.45pm BST

VAR have decided there was enough time between the handball and the goal. That’s a pretty controversial decision, about which we’re going to hear plenty.

5.44pm BST

Leicester are appealing for a handball by Kane in the build up, and they have a case. I think this will be disallowed. The ball hit Kane’s hand just before then he went round Schmeichel and teed up Bale to score with a crisp shot from the edge of the area.

5.44pm BST

The substitute Gareth Bale gives Spurs the lead, VAR permitting!

5.43pm BST

The latest scores, probably

5.42pm BST

As it stands

Champions League Liverpool, Chelsea

5.41pm BST

As it stands

I haven’t a clue.

5.40pm BST

Leicester 2-2 Tottenham Leicester are hanging on desperately to a draw they don’t even need. Nampalys Mendy misjudges a defensive diving header and ends up chesting the ball just wide of his own goal.

5.40pm BST

Liverpool 2-0 Palace Gini Wijnaldum comes off at Anfield, and waves to the fans in a manner that suggests he will do one in the summer.

5.39pm BST

Sergio Aguero started at City by coming off the bench to score twice, and he’s going to finish the same way - unless he upgrades it to a fairytale hat-trick.

5.38pm BST

Patrick Bamford comes off the bench to score his 17th Premier League goal.

5.37pm BST

Sadio Mane gets his second, and Liverpool will play in the Champions League next season!

5.36pm BST

Leicester 2-2 Tottenham As things stand, a draw is useless to both Leicester and Spurs, which could mean all kinds of fun and games in the last 10 minutes.

5.35pm BST

Man City 4-0 Everton Aguero’s goal was lovely, flicked nonchalantly past Pickford with the outside of the foot.

5.35pm BST

A dreadful mistake from Kasper Schmeichel, of all people, has put Chelsea back in the top four! He came for a corner, mistimed his leap and punched the ball into his own net!

5.34pm BST

The public gets what the public wants: it took Sergio Aguero just six minutes to score on his final Premier League appearance. Meanwhile...

5.32pm BST

Another twist! Ben Chilwell gives Chelsea a sniff of the Champions League, pulling one back from Pulisic’s cross.

5.31pm BST

@united_writing re kane goals and assists, he is great, but fernandes currently has 14 ass to kane's 13

Well that’s ruined my Christmas.

5.29pm BST

72 min: Leicester 2-1 Spurs Leicester look reasonably comfortable, as much as it’s possible to be in the circumstances. They are 18 minutes away from their own version of the double - Champions League qualification and FA Cup glory. Spurs, who need a goal, have brought on Lucas Moura and Gareth Bale.

5.28pm BST

West Ham 2-0 Southampton Nothing much to report from the London Stadium, where West Ham are enjoying a stress-free stroll into the Europa League. Nobody is sneering at David Moyes now.

5.27pm BST

Top goalscorer + top goalmaker department

Jazi Zilber points out that Lionel Messi did this in 2019-20, and probably in the previous ten seasons as well.

5.26pm BST

Aston Villa 2-0 Chelsea A draw is no use to Chelsea, who need three in the last 20 minutes at Villa Park, or an equaliser for Spurs.

5.25pm BST

As it stands

Champions League Liverpool, Leicester

5.25pm BST

"Villa finishing with a flourish!"

Jorginho clips #AVFC's Traore on the ankle as ref Stuart Attwell points to the spot.

El Ghazi then sends #CFC's Kepa the wrong way!

Watch live on SS Action
Follow #AVLCHE here https://t.co/ct5CCkv4eq
Download @SkySports app pic.twitter.com/WwDPAbqG7J

5.25pm BST

Man City 3-0 Everton Pep Guardiola, sentimental to the last, finally brings Sergio Aguero on for his final appearance at the Etihad.

Sergio Aguero makes his last ever Manchester City appearance!

The Etihad rises to salute their departing legend! pic.twitter.com/QftE2G7wV1

5.23pm BST

The latest scores

5.21pm BST

Aston Villa 2-0 Chelsea The 2020-21 Premier League season has officially moved beyond satire: Timo Werner has had a goal disallowed for offside.

5.20pm BST

@united_writing Kane leads CK the league in goals and assists, no? It’s probably not a first, but seems a pretty grand achievement nonetheless. Or am I misguided?

Not at all - it would be an extraordinary achievement, and a neat reward for his development into a hybrid of No9 and No10. I think Thierry Henry, the ultimate scorer/creator, did it in 2004-05 but I can’t think of any other examples.

5.18pm BST

Another one for the increasingly brilliant Nicolas Pepe. That should - should - mean that Arsenal will qualify for Europe unless Spurs get an equaliser at Leicester.

5.17pm BST

Aston Villa 2-0 Chelsea Thomas Tuchel is fuming, apparently because he things Anwar El Ghazi touched the ball twice when he scored that penalty. I DON’T KNOW ANYTHING.

5.17pm BST

As it stands

Champions League Liverpool, Leicester

5.16pm BST

I’m going to concentrate on Leicester v Spurs, which is currently the most important game in the race for both the Champions League and the Europa Conference.

5.15pm BST

Aston Villa 2-0 Chelsea It’s not all over for Chelsea. Spurs desperately need an equaliser to qualify for Europe themselves; if they get it, Chelsea will move back into fourth. That said, goal difference is almost becoming a consideration - if Leicester draw and Chelsea lose by four, Leicester will finish above them.

5.14pm BST

The champions are putting on a show for the returning fans. Phil Foden, who has come of age spectacularly in the last six months, puts them 3-0 up with another lovely goal.

5.13pm BST

If it stays like this, Chelsea will need to beat City next weekend to qualify for the Champions League, never mind win it.

5.13pm BST

Anwar El Ghazi sends Kepa the wrong way, and Chelsea are in all sorts!

5.12pm BST

PENALTY TO ASTON VILLA! Jorginho, who has already been booked, is penalised for a challenge on Traore. It looked pretty soft, a very modern penalty, but I can’t see this being overturned.

5.11pm BST

Leicester 2-1 Spurs I’d like to see that Leicester penalty again. It was debatable, but Anthony Taylor gave it and VAR decided - rightly I think - that it wasn’t a clear and obvious error.

5.10pm BST

Vardy scores his second penalty to put Leicester back into the top four!

5.09pm BST

Another VAR check for a Leicester penalty! This time it was Sanchez on Vardy. It’s been given!

5.07pm BST

Kepa is coming on at half-time for Chelsea. Edouard Mendy collided with the post when trying to stop Bertrand Traore’s goal just before half-time. That’s a bit of a worry with the Champions League seven days away. Maybe Kepa will play in a final against City win the penalty shootout this time.

5.05pm BST

The in-form Nicolas Pepe has put Arsenal ahead - and above Spurs in the table! As things etc, they are going into the Europa Conference League.

5.04pm BST

“All looking good so far,” says Liverpool fan Matt Dony. “I’ll remain confident, as long as Palace don’t bring on Dwight Gayle.”

5.01pm BST

"Aston Villa have the lead! They've given Chelsea a problem of Champions League proportions!"#AVFC's Traore gives his side the lead against his former club

Watch live on SS Action
Follow #AVLCHE here https://t.co/ct5CCkv4eq
Download the @SkySports app pic.twitter.com/FdWZpVYt2c

4.55pm BST

4.54pm BST

The European places, as things stand

4.54pm BST

Good old Arsenal.

4.53pm BST

Juan Mata, who is probably playing his final Premier League game, puts Manchester United back in front from the penalty spot. It won’t make headlines, and nor should it in the circumstances, but they are 45 minutes away from becoming only the fourth team in English top-flight history to go a whole season unbeaten away from home. The others, as you probably know, were Preston 1888-89, Arsenal 2001-02 and Arsenal 2003-04. We focus so much on the Invincible season that it’s easy to forget Arsenal were also unbeaten away from home two years earlier. To do that twice in three seasons is staggering.

4.51pm BST

Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea That Traore goal sparked a collective loss of noggin from Chelsea, with Jorginho and Werner booked. They need half-time.

4.49pm BST

Kane 23, Salah 22

⚽️ KANE LEADS THE RACE FOR THE GOLDEN BOOT

Harry Kane equalises for Tottenham with a sweet volley to give himself 23 goals for the campaign

Watch on Sky Sports Football
Follow #LEITOT here: https://t.co/BFyTBd9VxB
Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/Dj3J6BezuM

4.49pm BST

⚽️Most PL goals v a single opponent:
20 Alan Shearer v Leeds
16 Alan Shearer v Everton
16 Les Ferdinand v Everton
15 Wayne Rooney v Newcastle
15 Sergio Aguero v Newcastle
15 HARRY KANE v Leicester pic.twitter.com/fu2BSguerH

4.47pm BST

Hello! Bertrand Traore, once of Chelsea, has put Villa ahead from a training-ground corner with Matt Targett. Chelsea stay fourth, ahead of Leicester on goal difference, but they will be extremely vulnerable if Leicester find a way to beat Spurs.

4.45pm BST

Leicester 1-1 Spurs That Kane goal doesn’t change Spurs’ position, but it does mean Chelsea move back into the top four ahead of Leicester.

4.44pm BST

As it stands

4.44pm BST

Liverpool 1-0 Palace Liverpool’s centre-backs are in the wars, with Rhys Williams now off the field receiving treatment for a head injury.

4.43pm BST

Kalvin Phillips has put Leeds two up.

4.42pm BST

Harry Kane slams a volley under Kasper Schmeichel to bring Spurs level - and take the lead in the Golden Boot stakes. Thta was a brilliant finish. He was only 10 yards out but the ball was dropping very awkwardly. Kane ran round it, away from goal, and twisted his foot to wallop it into the net.

4.41pm BST

Nelson Semedo equalises for Wolves!

4.40pm BST

Liverpool 1-0 Palace Ah no, it’s definitely Mane’s goal. Robertson’s corner was flicked on at the near post by Williams (I think). Firmino miscontrolled it but it ran for Mane to scoop over Guaita from close range.

4.38pm BST

Man City 2-0 Everton City stay two goals clear after a crowd-pleasing save from Ederson.

4.37pm BST

Liverpool 1-0 Palace On reflection, that might have been an own goal, not that Liverpool will care either way.

4.37pm BST

“How do you reckon Aston Villa assistant manager John Terry would feel about doing his part to deny Chelsea a top four spot?” wonders Peter Oh. “Might he be goading on his players just ever so slightly less enthusiastically than usual?”

I hadn’t really thought about that. To be honest, I was just glad to see the 26th minute pass without Terry springing to his feet in preparation for a guard of honour.

4.36pm BST

It’s been coming, and now it’s here! Sadio Mane taps in from close range to put Liverpool ahead - and back in the top four. Chelsea are now fifth.

4.34pm BST

Two for West Ham, two for Pablo Fornals! He doesn’t score enough goals but he’s picked a helluva time to bang two in four minutes.

4.33pm BST

“Townsend’s break has given me the jitters but Alisson’s ‘divine intervention’ has clearly shown that higher forces are at work and Liverpool, despite everything, are destined to make the top four,” says Colum Fordham. “Plenty of chances for the Reds. One or two of them are bound to go in. Surely? Please?”

You’ll be fine. I said from day one that Liverpool would win the league by 10+ points and I see no reason to change my mind now.

4.33pm BST

Liverpool 0-0 Palace Sadio Mane misses a decent chance, sweeping high and wide from 15 yards. Liverpool are well on top now, though they are still in fifth place as things stand.

4.32pm BST

Liverpool 0-0 Palace There’s a break in play while Nat Phillips has his head bandaged. He’s fine, it’s just a cut above the left eye.

4.31pm BST

West Ham are on course for the Europa League! Jarrod Bowen’s shot is saved by Alex McCarthy, but Palo Fornals follows up to score with appreciable glee. As things stand West Ham are six points clear of Spurs in seventh.

4.30pm BST

Villa 0-0 Chelsea Almost a string at Villa Park, where John McGinn robs Kovacic and shoots this far wide.

4.29pm BST

Aston Villa 0-0 Chelsea Chelsea have had 76 per cent possession and nine shots on goal, but it’s still 0-0.

4.28pm BST

GOAL! Sheffield United 1-0 Burnley (McGoldrick 24)

The excellent David McGoldrick, one of the few Sheffield United players to reach last season’s level, has given them the lead against Burnley.

4.27pm BST

Here are a couple of today’s goals

The state of Kevin De Bruyne: he scores 20-yard tap-ins.

You don't let Kevin De Bruyne shoot from there! He slots past Pickford from outside the box.

Watch #MCIEVE on Sky Sports PL pic.twitter.com/Qac4dLtJMp

VARDY GOAL!

Jamie Vardy scores from the spot after VAR tells the referee to look at the monitor as he was tripped by Toby Alderweireld

Watch on Sky Sports Football
Follow #LEITOT here: https://t.co/BFyTBd9VxB
Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/gNgRgYDsR1

4.25pm BST

As it stands

4.24pm BST

What a story this is: the on-loan Joe Willock has scored for the seventh game in a row!

⚫ Joe Willock is only the second Newcastle player to score in 7 successive PL appearances after Alan Shearer, who did so between September-November 1996 #FULNEW

4.24pm BST

Liverpool 0-0 Crystal Palace Liverpool are starting to knock the screw into the door: Thiago’s long pass releases Mo Salah, whose shot is straight at Guaita.

4.23pm BST

Leicester 1-0 Tottenham A tearful Wesley Fofana is going off with a hamstring injury. It’s a sad end to a sensational first season in English football. Nampalys Mendy replaces him and Wilfred Ndidi drops into defence.

4.21pm BST

The latest scores

4.20pm BST

Man City 2-0 Everton That Gabriel Jesus goal was a beauty by all accounts. Meanwhile, Rhys Williams has just missed a glorious chance to put Liverpool ahead against Palace, heading over from six yards.

4.19pm BST

GOAL! Leeds 1-0 West Brom (Rodrigo 17) After a slow start, it’s literally raining goals in the Premier League. Rodrigo has put Leeds ahead at home to West Brom, and as it stands they are now above Everton in the table.

4.17pm BST

Vardy sends Hugo Lloris the wrong way, and as it stands Leicester are third in the Premier League!

4.17pm BST

It’s there!

4.16pm BST

PENALTY TO LEICESTER! Toby Alderweireld dangles a leg and trips Jamie Vardy. Anthony Taylor didn’t give it, but VAR told him to go over the monitor and he soon changed his mind.

4.15pm BST

Liverpool 0-0 Palace Andros Townsend has missed an excellent chance for Palace, who could and probably should be ahead at Anfield.

4.14pm BST

The teenager Anthony Elanga has given Manchester United the lead at Molineux.

4.14pm BST

The champions are ahead! Kevin De Bruyne’s goal, his 10th of the season, is also good news for West Ham, Spurs and Arsenal in the race for Europe.

4.12pm BST

A few teams are doing this today. Kerching!

We'll be wearing our new 2021/22 home kit for the first time this afternoon against Spurs! pic.twitter.com/CEaCEh01cU

4.12pm BST

Leicester 0-0 Tottenham James Maddison’s long-range shot deflects wide off the head of Toby Alderweireld. It’s been a lively start at the King Power in front of a noisy crowd.

4.08pm BST

The latest scores in the Premier League. You are welcome

4.08pm BST

“It’s been a funny old season, and no mistake,” writes Felix Wood. “It’s been interesting to be a part of it, but I hope that it’s not repeated again. Time does seem to have stretched, and I can’t really remember the beginning of the season. Were Spurs really good for the first ten games? That feels unlikely. I’ve hated the lack of fans, but the football did feel more technical. It’s been a good season for players being brought through (and I’m very disappointed at the lack of youngsters in today’s teams when so many of the matches are meaningless). I’m looking forward to the Euros, and then it’s only a year ‘till the World Cup...but isn’t it time we all had a bit of a break? Just a month or so. Thanks for the MBMemories.”

4.07pm BST

Leeds 0-0 West Brom Jack Harrison has had a goal disallowed for offside.

4.06pm BST

Liverpool 0-0 Palace Alisson makes another save, this time from Andros Townsend. It’s been a cracking start from Palace, who are clearly determined to send Roy Hodgson off with a 5-5 draw.

4.05pm BST

“Hi Rob,” says Matt Burtz. “I echo Mr. Copestake’s sentiments. I just want to note that when Dominic Calvert-Lewin scores seven goals today to take the golden boot, you’re going to look awfully silly for not including him in your list. Seriously, though, I look forward to you being on Blackpool-Lincoln City duty next weekend.”

You jest, but I’ve just seen the rota. Yep.

4.04pm BST

Liverpool 0-0 Palace Wilfried Zaha forces an early save from Alisson at the near post after a lively run. The angle was really tight for the shot and Alisson was well positioned.

4.01pm BST

4.00pm BST

Peeeeeeeeep peeeeeeeeeeeeeeep! The final day of the Premier League season is under way.

3.59pm BST

“Arsenal fans have got a lot to look to forward today,” says Charles Antaki. “A choice among several ignominies: losing to a team which can’t score goals; not being able to pip Spurs on the final day; and possibly worst of all, qualification for competition nobody had ever heard of before two weeks ago. The only good thing about today is that not all of these can come to pass.”

3.56pm BST

“I’ll be glad to see the back of this season,” writes absolutely everyone, but specifically Matt Dony. “There have been many reasons for Liverpool’s poor showing, and I’m not going to add anything to that discussion at this late stage. However many mitigating factors there have been, though, the team have underperformed. Between that and the whole sorry ESL mess, I had made my peace with the fact that Liverpool simply didn’t deserve to be in a Champions League place. Give the players as much of a break as possible, reset, bring in a few new recruits, and go again next season.

“Then, a certain Alisson Becker stepped up with a moment of magic. Between the raw technique and determination, and what it clearly meant to him personally, I have totally re-evaluated the end of the season. Suddenly, fourth (or even third) place seems fated, and No7 is on its way next season!

3.53pm BST

It’s nearly time. Any predictions? Mine, since you didn’t ask, are:

3.46pm BST

I’m off for a quick coffee break before the fun begins. See you in 10 minutes!

3.43pm BST

@united_writing the race for 7th in the Prem is all very well but the real story of the day is down at Gander Green Lane where Sutton Utd secured a place in the football league for the first time in our 123 year history with a stonking 3-0 win over Hartlepool. Emotion aplenty

Way-hay, congratulations! I hope Tony Rains and Matthew Hanlon were at the ground.

3.39pm BST

3.36pm BST

3.35pm BST

“Thanks to you and the team (collective noun for Orkney sheep?) for bringing us reasons to get angry, drink more, exercise less, blame others and generally grow,” says Ian Copestake. “You guys have been no small part of this journey and I for one thank you for your service.”

The same to you, Copestake, and

both
all the other readers. Like Sir Matt Busby said, liveblogs are nothing without the fans.

3.33pm BST

Nuno Espirito Santo signs off with a back three, the formation that took Wolves to such great heights. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has picked a reserve side with Wednesday’s Europa League final in mind.

Here's how Wolves line-up for this afternoon's @premierleague fixture against @ManUtd. #WOLMUN

pic.twitter.com/WxFLEg3AyT

Our final #PL line-up of the season — let's go, team! ✊#MUFC | #WOLMUN

3.28pm BST

This is pretty lovely

Never mind Sergio Aguero, Martin Tyler is a bona fide Premier League legend. And you’ll do very well to meet a nicer person.

AGUEROOOOO ⚽️ Martin Tyler! The voice of my goal on QPR. Thank you for gifting me your personal notes on this match 93:20 pic.twitter.com/Hv9OgUR0wy

In an exclusive interview with Martin Tyler, Sergio Aguero recalls his title-winning strike against QPR, his decade at Manchester City, and reveals how he sees his future.

Watch it online here ⬇️

3.26pm BST

West Ham only need a draw but David Moyes has resisted the temptation to revert to a back three.

Fabianski starts

Here's our final line-up of the season...#WHUSOU pic.twitter.com/I9tIysHBKG

For one final time this season

The #SaintsFC side taking on #WHUFC: pic.twitter.com/YTKWs1ataE

3.25pm BST

McGoldrick & Jebbison start up top.

Here is how the Blades line-up for today’s game at Bramall Lane.#SHUBUR pic.twitter.com/qiQ9ubc7vA

LINE-UP | Here is how the Clarets line-up for the final game of the season against Sheffield United. ⬇️

Jimmy Dunne replaces Ben Mee at centre-back. #SHUBUR | #UTC | @eToro

3.24pm BST

Pep Guardiola has picked a stronger team than we might have expected. Sergio Aguero will come on at half-time for the final act of a glorious decade at the Etihad.

Your City line-up!

XI | Ederson, Walker, Dias, Stones, Zinchenko, Fernandinho (C), Mahrez, De Bruyne, Foden, Sterling, Jesus

SUBS | Steffen, Aké, Gündogan, Agüero, Laporte, Rodrigo, Bernardo, Torres, Mendy

⚽️ @HaysWorldwide
#ManCity | https://t.co/axa0klD5re pic.twitter.com/OcIlP6m32x

TEAM NEWS!

Here's how we line up for the final game of 2020/21...

COYB! #MCIEVE pic.twitter.com/OjhrOtNVfH

3.19pm BST

Jurgen Klopp sticks with the players who have dragged Liverpool back into the Champions League places. Diogo Jota is fit enough for the bench.

⭐️ TEAM NEWS ⭐️

Our final line-up of the ‘20/21 season

COME ON YOU PALACE#CPFC | #LIVCRY

3.18pm BST

Respect #CPFC | #LIVCRY pic.twitter.com/WF5OMirz8B

3.17pm BST

Kelechi Iheanacho returns to the Leicester starting line-up after his surprise omission at Chelsea in the week. Harry Kane plays his final game for Spurs, possibly.

Our all-important #LeiTot team news!

Brought to you by @eToro...

⚪️ Lloris (C), Doherty, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Reguilon, Højbjerg, Winks, Dele, Bergwijn, Son, Kane.#THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/Yjfog97o94

3.14pm BST

Marcelo names his Starting XI with #LUFC legends Pablo Hernandez and Gaetano Berardi both included!

Team news is in at Elland Road. We make two changes; O’Shea and Robinson start. @MonsterEnergy | #LEEWBA

3.14pm BST

One last selection!

Matchday 38. #FULNEW pic.twitter.com/y7HwNM7tJ2

-

HWTL! ⚫️⚪️ pic.twitter.com/Q0qCPraaiL

3.13pm BST

No surprises in the Chelsea team, and they have good attacking options on the bench if things get fraught in the second half.

@EmiMartinezz1 and @MattyTargett both make their starts in the Premier League this season. #AVLCHE pic.twitter.com/y8DMKjiY5Z

Team news is in! #AVLCHE pic.twitter.com/bi1fw0wEfi

3.10pm BST

Two changes from midweek...

➡️ Granit Xhaka, Martin Odegaard
⬅️ @ElNennY, @BukayoSaka87 #ARSBHA

https://t.co/S3j1TIedJv #BHAFC ⚪ pic.twitter.com/V0KbmgunM7

3.09pm BST

Here’s exclusive footage of what the football gods intend to do to one of Chelsea, Liverpool and Leicester today.

This @JoshTaylorBoxer uppercut in Round 7 was felt in the whole venue ... #RamirezTaylor | LIVE NOW on ESPN pic.twitter.com/wJVRzML7eF

3.08pm BST

“Mr Smyth!” says Bill Hargreaves. “Buckle up, it’s going to be a bumpy ride! All to play for, for seventh to third. Ignominy for some of less-than-humble (read erstwhile ESL) stature. And if Mr. Kane really does one, where next for Mr. Levy’s unravelling ball of wool? Roll up, roll up, ladies and gentlemen, for movers and shakers, riders and mounts, some will fall, some will succeed. Nice little warm up for the CL final later this month. Football is dead: log live football. Thanks as ever, in anticipation, of a thriller.”

‘Log live football’ is my new favourite typo.

3.06pm BST

Mes que un farewell

The departing Sergio Aguero is only on the bench for Manchester City, though apparently he is going to come on at half-time.

3.05pm BST

West Ham need only a draw at home to Southampton to finish sixth and ensure a place in the Europa League. The team in seventh will qualify for the playoff round of the new Europa Conference League, which begins tomorrow night.

Arsenal, currently in ninth, have the least difficult game of those in the race for seventh. While their sole target is the Europa Conference League, Spurs are aiming for the Europa League (they will finish sixth if they beat Leicester and West Ham lose). But they could easily end up with nothing except memories of being top in November.

2.59pm BST

This is pretty simple – there are two places available, and at the moment Chelsea and Liverpool are a nose ahead of Leicester. But both have tricky games, especially Chelsea. They are away to Aston Villa, who will be invigorated by the return of the fans to Villa Park - and especially by the presence of one very special supporter: Jack Grealish.

Liverpool play Crystal Palace, which would look like a home banker were it not for the fact that this is Anfield legend Roy Hodgson’s final game as Palace manager. Stranger things have happened. Liverpool won the return fixture 7-0, which is more important than it looked at the time; they are currently ahead of Leicester on goal difference.

2.55pm BST

Football is nothing without fans’ verdicts

1.51pm BST

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the final day of the 2020-21 Premier League. It looks like we might have made it to the end of this bizarro, Covid-squashed season, but first there’s one last bit of brain-busting business: a bumper Clockwatch involving T-E-N simultaneous Premier League games.

For today’s assignment, dear reader, you will need the following: a minimum of five screens, three pairs of eyes, an as-it-stands league table, industrial strength headache pills, a sick bucket and, depending on who you support, the world’s smallest violin. And while Guardian News and Media takes no legal responsibility for etc etc, you might want to have an emergency bottle of homebrow turps to hand in case things get somewhat overwrought.

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Published on May 23, 2021 11:23

May 22, 2021

Real Madrid v Villarreal, Valladolid v Atlético: La Liga title race finale – live!

Luis Suarez had the final word of an extraordinary season by scoring the title-winning goal in Atletico’s 2-1 victory at Valladolid

8.10pm BST

7.07pm BST

Suarez in tears on TV "Barca didn't value me and Atletico opened their doors for me. I will always be grateful to this club for trusting in me."

7.07pm BST

Sid Lowe has already filed his match report, class act that he is, so I’m going to leave you with that. Thanks for your company and emails. Goodnight!

Atlético Madrid’s captain Koke says they are destined to suffer, but they are champions of Spain. Some 5,000 fans gathered in the carpark outside the José Zorrilla stadium, while inside Diego Simeone’s side offered another exhibition in survival, coming from behind to win 2-1 at Valladolid and take the title at the end of a season that had twists to the last.

7.02pm BST

Simeone walks over to embrace Kiko, the Valladolid sitting alone in tears, helping him to his feet before giving him a big hug. Now he’s strolling round the ground, taking it all in, smiling like an eejit. It’s almost impossible for those outside the Super League elite to win one title these days, never mind two. I doubt anything will top the 2013-14, given the level of competition, but this is still the most glorious achievement.

6.59pm BST

Atletico are champions of Spain again!

6.57pm BST

“Suarez and Simeone are proof that, sometimes, nice guys do finish first,” sniffs Niall Mullen.

6.57pm BST

Luis Suarez? Bloody hell. This is his fifth La Liga title, and the completion of an extraordinary story. I say ‘completion’, he’ll probably score the winner in the Champions League final against Liverpool next season.

6.55pm BST

Late goals from Karim Benzema and Luka Modric gave Real victory, but it wasn’t enough. Atletico finish on 86 points, Real on 84, Barcelona on 79.

6.54pm BST

Some of the Valladolid players are in tears. They have been relegated along with Huesca, while the remaining European places go to Betis and Sociedad (both Europa League) and Villarreal (Europa Conference unless they win the Europa League final on Wednesday).

6.53pm BST

Diego Simeone can’t stop smiling as he embraces his staff, and the Atletico players are jumping around like the happiest idiots in the world. It was tighter than they thought it would be with 10 minutes remaining, but in a way that makes it sweeter - Real’s two late goals gives added value to those scored in the second half by Angel Correa and - of course - the extraordinary Luis Suarez. In the end, both were essential to Atletico’s title.

6.51pm BST

It’s all over!

6.51pm BST

90+3 min Trippier celebrates winning a throw-in! Simeone is bouncing around the technical area, telling his players to keep the ball in the corner.

6.50pm BST

Luka Modric smashes Real into the lead! Real have done their bit. Simeone waves his hands to signal to the players that they are one goal away from losing the title.

6.49pm BST

90+1 min Real break dangerously through the substitute Mariano, but his cross is too close to the keeper Rulli. That was another decent chance for Real.

6.49pm BST

90 min Three minutes added time in Valladolid, four in Madrid.

6.48pm BST

90 min: Chance for Valladolid! Sergi Guardiola, whose dreadful pass made Suarez’s goal, lashes a bouncing ball over the bar from 12 yards. He couldn’t get over the ball. But maybe he should have done etc?

6.47pm BST

89 min Simeone is growling at his players, making sure they realise this is far from a done deal.

6.46pm BST

The inevitable Karim Benzema gives Real a soupcon of hope with an expert finish from the edge of the area. Madrid need two goals to steal the title - one for them, one for Valladolid.

6.45pm BST

GOAL! Osasuna 0-1 Real Sociedad (Isak 86) A late twist in the Europa League race. Isak’s late goal means Socieded jump back into the top six, above Villarreal.

6.44pm BST

86 min Correa has a big goofy smile plastered all over his face as he walks to join the rest of the Atletico squad. Quite right too: his goal will go into Atletico folklore.

6.43pm BST

85 min Angel Correa, whose marvellous equaliser calmed Atletico down, is replaced by Hector Herrera.

6.41pm BST

83 min Modric shoots a few yards wide from the edge of the D. His face is not that of an expert poker player - he knows it’s over.

6.40pm BST

GOAL! Eibar 0-1 Barcelona (Griezmann 81)

6.38pm BST

79 min If it stays like this Atletico will win the league by five points, having been top since November, and the geeks of the future will look at the table and wonder why the old nerds are still talking about the drama of the 2020-21 season.

6.36pm BST

78 min Carrasco misses a half chance to clinch it, spanking high and wide on the run from Suarez’s clever pass.

6.35pm BST

77 min Johan Cruyff’s year at Feyenoord, superbly told in Andy Bollen’s new book, will always be my favourite revenge season. But sheesh, Suarez is running it close.

6.34pm BST

75 min If there is to be a twist, Real Madrid need three goals: two for them, one for Valladolid. At the moment it looks highly unlikely.

6.32pm BST

GOALS! Elche 2-0 Bilbao, Celta 2-3 Betis

Betis have come from 2-0 down to lead at Celta, which means they jump above Sociedad into the Europa League places. Sociedad are drawing 0-0 at Osasuna. And Elche’s second goal means that Valladolid are down, and Huesca will join them unless they get a winner against Valencia.

6.31pm BST

71 min It’s now Celta 2-2 Betis. I’m still trying to process the events of the last few minutes, and trying to work out who writes Luis Suarez’s scripts.

6.29pm BST

“Hi Rob,” says Graeme Thorn. “I’ve seen a replay of that Benzema disallowed goal and it’s a lot closer than clearly offside - the Villareal #4 is possibly level with him as Casemiro plays it in. However, the replay I saw was from a camera level with the edge of the box, which might not be the view that the bods in the RFEF VAR bunker had to rule it out.”

6.28pm BST

69 min Just before that, Benzema missed a sitter for Real, dragging into the near post from 10 yards after a poor clearance from the keeper Rulli.

6.27pm BST

An abysmal pass from the substitute Guardiola went straight to Suarez on the edge of the centre circle. His first touch was superb, cushioning the ball into the space behind the defence, and he ran to the edge of the area before carefully guiding a low left-footed shot past Masip at the near post. For the second time in a week he is at the bottom of the most euphoric bundle, with players and substitutes charging over to celebrate.

6.25pm BST

Of course it’s him. Luis Suarez has put Atletico on the brink of the title!

6.25pm BST

66 min: What a miss from Benzema! Real should be level. But meanwhile...

6.24pm BST

66 min Villarreal make two changes: Francis Coquelin and Ruben Pena replace Bacca and Capoue.

6.23pm BST

65 min Real are getting more and more desperate, which probably isn’t the worst thing in the circumstances.

6.21pm BST

64 min At the moment Atletico are three points clear. But Real have the head-to-head advantage, so if they score twice at home to Villarreal they will go top.

6.21pm BST

63 min Changes galore. Valladolid bring on Sergio Guardiola for Marcos Andre, Atletico introduce Joao Felix and Renan Lodi in place of Saul and Hermoso.

6.20pm BST

62 min: Great chance for Valladolid! A stinging long-range shot from Olaza is pushed out but not away by Oblak, and the diving Weissmann heads the rebound over the bar from eight yards.

6.19pm BST

60 min Rodrygo and Isco are on for Real in place of Vinicius and Asensio.

6.17pm BST

Angel Correa has equalised for Atletico with a terrific goal! He twisted away from a couple of defenders on the edge of the D and improvised a sudden toebung that went through the legs of a defender and beat Masip to his left. That’s an outstanding goal, all his own work, and now Atletico are three points clear at the top.

6.15pm BST

Benzema was indeed offside, and all connected with Atletico are in love with VAR.

6.15pm BST

Meanwhile!

6.15pm BST

It’s still being checked. To the naked eye it looks clearly offside, but the longer this goes on...

6.13pm BST

VAR check Benzema heads in decisively from Casemiro’s floated cross - but he looks offside to me.

6.13pm BST

55 min I wonder if Atletico know the Real score. If I was Simeone I wouldn’t have told them. There’s no advantage in doing so, because the only thing it might do is make them subconsciously relax a bit. It’s better for them to think Real are 3-0 up.

6.12pm BST

54 min Vinicius’s chip from a tight angle is comfortably saved by Rulli.

6.11pm BST

GOAL! Celta 2-1 Betis (Iglesias 53) Betis are back in the hunt for fifth/sixth place.

6.11pm BST

52 min Odriozola’s cross from the right is headed just over by Eder Militao, a really good effort from the edge of the area. Real and Atletico have both made really strong starts to the second half.

6.09pm BST

It’s now Celta 2-0 Betis, which is good news for Villarreal in their hunt for a top-six place.

6.09pm BST

50 min: Chance for Gimenez! Llorente’s shot did hit the hand of a Valladolid player, but only after rebounding off another defender a yard away. Still, it’s been a very encouraging start to the half from Atletico, and moments later the leaping Gimenez heads over from six yards following a right-wing cross. That was another good chance, though he was straining to get over the ball.

6.07pm BST

50 min “Strange season all round,” says Mary Waltz. “Apart from Man City this is the season of, ‘It’s in your hands, take it’ followed by ‘Nah, I don’t want it, you can have it’.”

Rangers fans would disagree, but I know what you mean. Even Bayern were not quite as terrifying as usual; they only won the league by 13 points.

6.07pm BST

49 min Llorente has a snapshot blocked and appeals for handball, unsuccessfully.

6.05pm BST

47 min Atletico’s aggressive start to the half evokes that astonishing five minutes at the Nou Camp in 2014, when they could have scored four times in four minutes. They only got one, from Diego Godin, but that was enough to win the title.

6.04pm BST

46 min A flying start from Atletico, with Suarez having a diving header blocked from Llorente’s deflected cross. Atletico appeal for a penalty for a foul on Llorente after he put the cross in, but there was nothing in it.

6.03pm BST

Peep peep! And they’re off. This is it, no more time outs.

6.02pm BST

“It’s just occurred to me that both teams losing 1-0 is much better for Atletico than both winning 1-0, or both drawing,” says Nick Parish. “As it is there need to be two goals for Real to snatch the title, whereas in the other scenarios one goal would do it.”

That’s true. I’d still be very worried if I were an Atletico fan, though.

5.55pm BST

Half-time reading

5.51pm BST

“It’s possible that I’ve mentioned this before,” says Matt Dony, “but I really dislike Barcelona. As such, I can not think of a single thing in the world of football that would be funnier than Luis Suarez winning the league for Atletico. And, I’d imagine, nor can he.”

5.49pm BST

And here’s what it all means. Elche’s goal is very bad news for Valladolid, who need Bilbao and Valencia to score if they are to have any chance of staying up.

5.49pm BST

5.48pm BST

Peep peep! Diego Simeone storms off the field, launching some spittle into the distance en route. Atletico have been poor - but so have Real, and that means Atletico still have a two-goal cushion across both games, for now.

5.46pm BST

Peep peep!

5.46pm BST

45 min Casemiro heads straight at Rulli from six yards. There wasn’t much pace on the ball, and he was under pressure, but it was still a presentable chance.

5.46pm BST

45 min We’ve just seen a replay of the Valladolid goal. It was beautifully done from the moment Weissman won a 50/50 on the right wing, 12 yards from his own goal. He played it up to Villa, who eased it back infield to Marcos Andre. He slid a lovely pass through to Plano, who had stormed into the space as soon as the ball went up to Villa.

5.43pm BST

42 min Both Atletico and Real are labouring. Villarreal, in particular, look very dangerous at Valdebebas. The lively left-back Pedraza cuts the ball back towards Bacca, whose shot has the sting taken out of it by a Real defender.

5.38pm BST

38 min The stretching Kiko makes a vital interception to stop Suarez’s pass putting Carrasco through on goal. At the other end, Weissman heads straight at Oblak from 12 yards.

5.37pm BST

37 min There’s a surprising lack of desperation from both Madrid teams, though I’m sure that will change if the scores stay like this.

5.35pm BST

34 min: Chance for Modric! Real almost equalise through Luka Modric, who drags a shot wide of the near post from 10 yards after a lucky rebound in the area. That’s Real’s first attempt on goal, I think.

5.33pm BST

GOAL! Celta 1-0 Betis (Aspas 32) That means, as things stand, Villarreal are up to fifth.

5.33pm BST

32 min In Valladolid, Suarez’s curling shot deflects behind off the head of Kiko. I don’t think it was going in. The resulting corner is headed over by Felipe, a decent chance even though he was under pressure.

5.32pm BST

31 min Villarreal almost grab a second when Pedraza’s low cross pinballs around the area.

5.31pm BST

30 min Between us, Atleti have been crap so far. Real haven’t been much better, but you know they’ll bring on Sergio Ramos to score twice in the last two minutes if needs be.

5.28pm BST

GOAL! Elche 1-0 Athletic Bilbao (Boye 28) A blow for Valladolid - Lucas Boye has put Elche ahead, which means Valladolid need favours in two games. As things stand, Huesca are now going down and Elche are staying up. I think. I DON’T KNOW THIS IS MY 48TH CLOCKWATCH OF THE WEEK AND I’M PERMUTATIONED OUT OKAY.

5.27pm BST

28 min That was Atleti’s first shot on target. They are losing, Real are losing. Nobody said it was easy.

5.27pm BST

27 min Trippier’s cross is headed into the side netting at the near post by Yamiq, who got into a real tangle. The resulting corner is headed straight at Masip by Gimenez (I think). Actually it came off his shoulder, not that it matters.

5.26pm BST

26 min Valladolid continue to look dangerous on the break. As things stand they are still going down, though that will change if Huesca concede at home to Valencia.

5.23pm BST

The teenager Yeremi Pino has put Villarreal ahead! He controlled Gerard Moreno’s short pass on the stretch, away from the last man Odriozola, and then flicked it nonchalantly past Courtois. There was a bit of fortune with the first touch, which wasn’t perfect but luckily wrongfooted Odriozola. But the finish was terrific.

5.20pm BST

And now Villarreal are ahead!

5.19pm BST

The goal came from an Atletico corner. Valladolid broke superbly, and Oscar Plano was played through on goal. He was inside his own half, which meant he was onside, and he ran to the edge oft he area before forcing the ball carefully past Oblak. That’s a terrific finish, not least as he was on his last legs with Gimenez right behind him. Simeone wags his finger to suggest it was offside; it wasn’t. Just one more thing: Plano grew up at Real Madrid.

5.17pm BST

Oh my goodness!

5.17pm BST

A reminder that you can follow the as-it-stands league table here. So far nothing has changed, because all the games are 0-0. But let me tell you, it’s pretty exciting watching nothing happen.

5.16pm BST

All seven La Liga games are 0-0. It’s too darn quiet.

5.13pm BST

12 min Saul’s header, from Trippier’s cross, is accidentally blocked by Suarez. It might have sneaked in, though there wasn’t much pace on it so Masip would probably have saved it. Either way, Atletico are starting to take control of the game. It’s still 0-0 in Madrid as well, though I’m not entirely sure what’s happening in that game because God only gave me two eyes.

5.12pm BST

11 min “I’ve just seen a shot of Simone - he’s gone for the Eraserhead hairstyle from the classic David Lynch film,” says Charles Antaki. “A brooding, aggressive but highly accomplished enigma - the film wasn’t bad either.”

Honk!

5.10pm BST

10 min At the other end, Villa cuts inside and drives a low shot from 20 yards that is held at full stretch by Oblak. He made that look easier than it was.

5.09pm BST

9 min: Chance for Suarez! Carrasco’s cross from the left loops across the area to Suarez, who drags a volley back across the six-yard box. I think he was going for the goal, though the angle was prohibitively tight.

5.07pm BST

Valladolid 0-0 Atletico Apart from that half chance for Suarez, Atletico haven’t got going yet in Valladolid. We’ve had seven minutes.

5.05pm BST

Real Madrid 0-0 Villarreal Nothing much to report so far. You’re welcome.

5.01pm BST

Valladolid 0-0 Atletico After 40 seconds, Suarez rumbles through and has a shot blocked by Yamiq. The flag then went up, though it looked pretty close and would have been reviewed had he scored.

5.00pm BST

Peep peep! Atletico are under way ... and now, 20 seconds or so later, so are Real.

4.56pm BST

Five minutes to kick off. There are no more tomorrows: either Atletico will win their 11th league title, or Real will claim their 35th.

4.53pm BST

“Hola Roberto,” says Peter Oh. “How come Barry Glendenning and Jonathan Wilson aren’t doing a joint MBM of the Sunderland-Lincoln City League One promotion playoff semifinal second leg? As for La Liga, I would like to see the Yellow Submarine torpedo Real Madrid’s title hopes.”

I think they’re doing a live vlog. Here’s Baz reacting to the Lincoln goal.

4.48pm BST

Photos, films and stories from around the world. Follow Guardian Sport on Instagram here.

4.48pm BST

If Atletico do pull it off, it will be only the second time in 17 seasons that La Liga hasn’t been won by Real or Barcelona, and will enhance the already considerable legend of Diego Simeone. He was responsible for the miracle of 2014, when Atletico won the title on the final day at the Nou Camp after producing one of the best five-minute spells of football we have ever seen.

4.22pm BST

Atleti fans already gathering outside the Estadio José Zorrilla in Valladolid to get as close as they can to what they hope will be a first title win in seven years #tsfpAtTheGames pic.twitter.com/DPHBFIhE9x

4.20pm BST

For reasons of sanity, we’re going to focus on the two games at the top of the table. I’ll try to update you on the other scores, and will almost certainly fail. But you can keep up to speed here, or follow the as-it-stands league table here.

4.19pm BST

A reminder of the permutations

4.01pm BST

Two changes for Real: Raphael Varane and Marco Asensio come in for Nacho and Rodrygo.

✅ Our starting XI @Eng_Villarreal!#RealMadridVillarreal pic.twitter.com/5O7oK6AqWX

#RealMadridVillarreal | Here is how the Yellows will line up on @LaLigaEN Matchday 38 against @realmadriden.

Let's go! pic.twitter.com/FPnTMKlmfV

4.00pm BST

If this doesn’t put you in the mood, nothing will.

3.55pm BST

Atletico make one change from the team that squeaked to victory over Osasuna last weekend. Jose Gimenez replaces the suspended Stefan Savic in defence.

1️⃣1️⃣ INICIAL#RealValladolid | #RealValladolidAtleti | @MelendezPatatas pic.twitter.com/9xeD7cikrm

ATLETI'S STARTING XI ❤️ pic.twitter.com/qfGxlgLN9O

9.55am BST

Hello. If Atletico Madrid win at Valladolid today, the line graph of their 2020-21 season will show that they went top of La Liga on 7 November and stayed there until the joyous end. A mathematical depiction of a glorious charge to an 11th Spanish title, right? Well, kind of, but it wouldn’t begin to tell the story of a title race that has been increasingly fraught.

Atletico were 11 points clear at the end of January, yet nobody really thought it was over. They dropped seven points in a fortnight in February and have had to fight tooth and nail ever since. It has been a flawed title race, and the champions’ points total will be the lowest since 2007-08, a pre-Pep world that we no longer recognise. Yet it has been all the more compelling for it, never more than so than last weekend, when Luis Suarez’s late winner against Osasuna kept the title in Atletico’s hands.

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Published on May 22, 2021 11:07

Brentford 3-1 Bournemouth (agg: 3-2): Championship play-off semi-final – as it happened

Marcus Forss’s late goal sent Brentford back to Wembley in a memorable match full of drama, needle and controversy

2.47pm BST

Tumaini Carayol’s match report has landed, so I’ll leave you with that. Thanks for your company and emails throughout a memorable game of football. Bye!

2.41pm BST

So, Brentford will play Swansea or Barnsley at Wembley after a wildly entertaining, slightly unhinged game of football. It turned on two moments - a debatable penalty when Brentford were 2-0 down on aggregate (I thought it was the right decision, though others didn’t), then Chris Mepham’s disastrous red card in the 28th minute. Bournemouth worked ferociously hard to stay in the tie, by fair means or foul, but eventually succumbed to a late goal from the substitute Marcus Forss.

2.37pm BST

“Rob,” says Ivor Leonard. “Can you give my mate in Hobart a shout? He’s a Brentford fan because he’s called David Gentford! He’s had a rollercoaster over the last few years. Really hoping that they do it for him this time. Think he’s the most knowledgeable man in Hobart on Brentford...”

Why not: congratulations Mr Gentford!

2.34pm BST

Pontus Jansson speaks “This is football [looks at the fans], I’ve missed it so much. I’m just so fucking happy! Without [the fans] today I don’t think we would have made it. We have to win the final, we haven’t done anything, but we are so happy to have the fans back. This is football.”

2.34pm BST

The final whistle prompts a guttural roar from somebody standing inappropriately close to a TV mic, and then come the smiles and the euphoria. It’s a lovely scene, especially as there are fans in the ground, but you have to feel for the Bournemouth players. They are broken.

2.31pm BST

Brentford are through to another play-of final after a tumultous victory over Bournemouth!

2.30pm BST

90+4 min Stacey is booked for a foul on Forss. With 30 seconds remaining, I think that’s it for Bournemouth.

2.29pm BST

90+2 min The corner is headed away by Pinnock. Begovic stays forward, but is caught offside when a cross comes back into the box. That was not the smartest bit of play, especially as his teammates were telling him for about 15 seconds that he was offside.

2.28pm BST

90+2 min Danjuma’s free-kick is headed up and over his own bar by Toney. Begovic stays forward.

2.27pm BST

90 min Four added minutes.

2.27pm BST

90 min Dalsgaard is booked for a moronic foul on Danjuma near the left touchline. This is a chance for Bournemouth, and Begovic is coming forward.

2.26pm BST

90 min The outstanding Bryan Mbuemo is replaced by Mads Bidstrup.

2.24pm BST

88 min It’s David Raya’s turn to whip out War and Peace before he takes a goalkick. Thomas Frank’s watch is no longer being tapped.

2.24pm BST

88 min Bournemouth do get the ball, and keep it for a little while, but then Long’s cross is too deep for Danjuma.

2.23pm BST

87 min “6.30 on a Saturday morning is not prime sports-watching time,” says Adam Roberts, “but this game is like a quadruple espresso.”

2.23pm BST

87 min Bournemouth’s 10 men are struggling to get the ball, never mind keep it. After a long spell of possession, Fosu’s cross is just too heavy for the tireless Mbuemo.

2.22pm BST

86 min I think, had VAR been in use, Marcus Forss’s armpit hair would have been offside in the build up to that third goal.

2.21pm BST

85 min This would be a sickening defeat for Bournemouth, who have worked so hard with 10 men. Cameron Carter-Vickers has been especially heroic.

2.20pm BST

84 min Emiliano has a shot blocked after good play from Toney, and then Fosu’s overhit cross almost sneaks in the far corner.

2.19pm BST

82 min A change of plan for Bournemouth - Shane Long is on for Adam Smith.

2.18pm BST

Dalsgaard moved forward, shaped to shoot and then clipped an angled ball into the area. Smith did well to win it in the air, ahead of Forss, but could only head it to Emiliano on the left of the area. He hammered a left-footed cross towards the near post, where Forss stuck out his first leg leg to volley into the net from six yards. I thought it was an own goal from Carter-Vickers at first but replays show it was unquestionably Forss’s touch, and a damn fine one at that.

2.17pm BST

Brentford are ahead for the first time in the tie!

2.16pm BST

80 min “Hi Rob,” says Brian Withington. “Begovic making full use of opportunity to audition for Comedia Dell’Arte? Possibly a bit too tall for Punchinello, though.”

All these highbrow references going straight over my head. What do you think this is, the Guardian?

2.15pm BST

79 min Another Brentford change: the excellent Sergi Canos is replaced by Tariqe Fosu.

2.15pm BST

78 min Jansson is booked for a foul on Begovic after he claims a corner.

2.14pm BST

78 min It’s attack v defence now. Emiliano, 20 yards out, makes room for a nice curling shot that is punched away by Begovic as he dives to his left. A comfortable save.

2.13pm BST

76 min Toney is penalised for fouling Rico off the ball. He needs to be careful, having had a yellow card, though Rico did make the most of it, and then a bit more for the road.

2.11pm BST

75 min Another change for Bournemouth: Jack Stacey replaces Dominic Solanke, which suggests a switch to 8-0-1. You can’t blame Jonathan Woodgate in the circumstances.

2.11pm BST

75 min “You know what this game needs?” says Robert Speed. “VAR.”

2.10pm BST

74 min Canos’s deep cross is headed back across goal by Mbuemo and cleared quite brilliantly by Carter-Vickers in the six-yard box. Toney was waiting behind him to score. Mbuemo has had a sensational second half.

2.10pm BST

73 min A deep cross from Pinnock is headed back across goal by Toney and out for a throw-in. He was going for goal but was under a lot of pressure from Rico. Meanwhile, replays show that was an excellent chance for Emiliano a moment ago. He got the wrong side of Pearson, six yards out, but mistimed a half-volley between his own legs.

2.08pm BST

71 min Mbuemo wins another corner for Brentford. He takes it himself, swinging it towards the far post. It somehow beats everyone in the middle - including Emiliano, who had a good chance on the half-volley. He was under pressure from Pearson and the ball slithered under his foot.

2.06pm BST

70 min Dalsgaard plays a terrific pass inside Solanke for Mbeumo, whose cross is spanked over on the volley by Toney. That was a chance, albeit a sharp one. Mbeumo’s pace and movement have made him a constant menace today, first at centre-forward and now, even more so, at right wing-back.

2.05pm BST

68 min More fun and games from Begovic, who falls over in his own six-yard box before a Brentford throw-in. He tells the referee that Forss deliberately kicked him; replays show there was a slight brush of sock against sock.

2.03pm BST

67 min Begovic again takes an age over a goalkick. The referee wold be within his rights to give him a second yellow card, though there’s very little chance of that happening. Moments later, a zesty, calculated ball-and-man tackle from Smith irritates Canos, who squares up to him afterwards.

2.02pm BST

66 min “I’m very much hoping that Kevin Ryan’s friend (47 min) is not following the match,” says Daniel Barnett, “then, what with it being played on Shabbos.”

2.02pm BST

65 min Bournemouth have been through the spin cycle ever since Chris Mepham’s slapstick red card in the 28th minute, yet they are still level in the tie and hanging on grimly. There have been too many unimaginable twists in the playoffs down the years for us to assume anything about Brentford going to Wembley.

2.00pm BST

64 min Another change for Brentford: the goalscorer Vitaly Janel is replaced by Saman Ghoddos.

1.58pm BST

62 min Danjuma shows great skill to beat two players in the Brentford area and lay the ball back to the onrushing Solanke on the edge of the area. He is expertly shepherded away from the ball by Dalsgaard.

1.57pm BST

61 min “Is anyone else,” begins Sam Campbell, “looking forward to Jack Wilshire coming on later to calm things down a bit?”

1.57pm BST

60 min Canos’s cross is headed away to Dalsgaard, 25 yards out. He sprays it high over the bar.

1.55pm BST

58 min If nothing else happens in the next 32 minutes - arf - the tie will go to extra-time.

1.54pm BST

57 min “Begovic reading War and Peace?” says Chris Morrell. “I think he’s got to the fourth chapter of Proust’s A la Recherche de Temps Perdu.”

I think I saw a Wisden Almanack or two in his kit bag as well, and one of my long reads.

1.52pm BST

54 min: MORE UTTER CHAOS! Mbuemo robs the dithering Rico and bursts into the area. Carter-Vickers makes a vital tackle - there was still a big appeal for a penalty - and then Begovic dives desperately at the feet of Toney. The ball breaks back to Mbuemo, who sweeps it into the side netting. The last one wouldn’t have counted as the referee had blown for a foul on Rico by Forss.

1.50pm BST

52 min Replays show that Lerma touched the ball a split second - if that - before Janelt. It was a slightly woolly challenge from Lerma, possibly because of the presence of Emiliano. Not that Brentford will care either way.

1.49pm BST

It was a strange goal from Vitaly Janelt. A right-wing cross from Jensen was cleared to the edge of the D, where Janelt charged onto the ball with a first-time shot in mind. At the same time, Emiliano ran towards it from the other direction and threatened to get in the way. He pulled away at the last minute, then Lerma tried to clear the ball at the same moment as Janelt struck it with his left foot. The ball took a really strange trajectory, looping over Begovic and into the far corner. It’s definitely Janelt’s goal.

1.47pm BST

Brentford have come from 2-0 down to level the tie!

1.46pm BST

49 min Solanke cuts inside sharply from the left and works Raya with a crisp low shot from 25 yards. It was a comfortable save for Raya, who pushed it round the post as he dived to his right, but it was a decent effort.

1.45pm BST

48 min Dalsgaard fouls Solanke near the touchline, which allows Begovic to waste another 35 seconds before taking the free-kick. Every little helps.

1.44pm BST

48 min “I’m sure this isn’t much fun for Brentford or Bournemouth fans but as a neutral, amateur hour defending, cheating, pretend fights and general sh1thousery is absolutely brilliant,” says Matt Emerson. “I’m hoping for seven goals plus a proper bench clearing brawl in the second half. Obviously no-one likes to see that sort of thing. Apart from all of us.”

1.43pm BST

47 min Bournemouth are playing a 4-4-1, with Danjuma up front at the moment and Solanke on the left wing.

1.42pm BST

47 min “I have a friend who is a keen Brentford supporter so I’d wished him well for this match and in any case I admire the way the Bees are run and the way they play football,” says Kevin Ryan. “However last night my so-called friend emailed me to say he’d watched the Big Lebowski on TV last night for the first time and switched off after half an hour as he thought it was ‘tedious’. He also asserted that the John Goodman character was ‘ridiculous’. This, coming from someone who is a big bloke with a loud voice, very right-wing views and who makes wild assertions that are almost always wrong. Sound familiar? Anyway, I still hope the Bees win and get to the final playoffs but I have to admit I’m saying it through gritted teeth.”

He’s not wrong, Kevin, he’s just an [that’ll enough – Movie Quotes Ed]

1.42pm BST

46 min Emiliano has an early shot blocked, and then Toney screws a follow-up volley out for a throw-in. Bournemouth take their time over it, and why not.

1.41pm BST

46 min Peep peep! Brentford begin the second half. In fact they have kept the same formation - Bryan Mbuemo has moved to right wing-back, with Forss replacing him up front.

1.40pm BST

Brentford are bringing on Marcus Forss for Mads Roerslev, which probably means a switch to a back four.

1.31pm BST

Photos, films and stories from around the world. Follow Guardian Sport on Instagram here.

1.31pm BST

“Mind you,” says Adam Roberts (see 21 min), “our under-10s behaved better than most of the players out there today.”

It’s almost as if they’re auditioning to play in the Premier League.

1.29pm BST

Where to start with that first half? There were two goals, a red card, at least 48 penalty appeals, not to mention controversy, drama, desperation, petulance, cheating, needle and even a bit of football. It was largely unedifying yet hugely entertaining, not unlike those stand-offs outside JJs nightclub in the 1990s.

Arnaut Danjuma scored his second goal of the tie, running the length of the field to punish Brentford for leaving nobody back at a corner. But a debatable handball against Lloyd Kelly allowed Ivan Toney to equalise with a nerveless penalty, and then Brentford alumnus Chris Mepham was sent off for a professional foul on Bryan Mbuemo.

1.24pm BST

45+6 min Lerma is booked for holding onto the ball to stop Brentford taking a quick free-kick.

1.24pm BST

45+5 min Free-kick to Brentford 45 yards out on the right. Jensen’s delivery catches the wind and almost embarrasses Begovic, who scampers back to save. I think it was a mishit from Jensen, though it’s not beyond him.

1.23pm BST

45+5 min Now the two benches are having a full and frank exchange of views over something or other. All the petulance and stoppages suit Bournemouth more than Brentford at this stage.

1.21pm BST

45+2 min Dalsgaard shoots miles over the bar from 30 yards, which allows Asmir Begovic to read a few more pages of War and Peace before taking the goalkick. Begovic was booked earlier in the half, and has apparently concluded that the referee won’t have the bottle to send off a second Bournemouth player, the goalkeeper at that, for timewasting.

1.19pm BST

45 min There will be six minutes of added time. Roerslev’s deep, lofted cross is chested back to Begovic by the leaping Smith, who flattens Mbuemo in the process. Cue yet another penalty appeal, albeit it fairly muted by today’s standards.

1.17pm BST

44 min Bournemouth appeal for vociferously, and unsuccessfully, for a penalty when Billing’s header hits the hand of Pinnock. That wasn’t a penalty because, although Pinnock’s hand was in an unnatural position, the ball deflected off the top of his arm. I’ll be honest, though, I haven’t a clue any more.

1.15pm BST

42 min “At least we know now,” begins Sam Campbell, “that if Brentford go ahead in the tie they won’t partake in any time wasting.”

Nothing compares to football when it comes to the, erm, flexibility of the moral compass.

1.14pm BST

41 min Poor Chris Mepham; a moment like this needs the Curb Your Enthusiasm music.

A horror moment for Mepham!

He brings down Mbeumo and sees red on his Brentford return. 'Chris Mepham, he's one of our own' rings out as he leaves.

Watch on Sky Sports Football

Follow the action here: https://t.co/12gORX58yP
Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/QlpELck1Hs

1.13pm BST

40 min It’s been so breathless that I didn’t have chance to say that Mathias Jensen (see 4 min) is still on the field.

1.12pm BST

38 min Another unsuccessful penalty appeal when Toney is blocked by Carter-Vickers. That was an easier decision for the referee as Toney ran into the back of the defender. But they are all trying it on today, which is both unsavoury and highly entertaining.

1.10pm BST

36 min Begovic takes the opportunity to receive treatment and use up a bit more time. He also had the effrontery to appeal for a foul after bouncing off his own team-mate Kelly.

1.09pm BST

35 min: What a clearance from Rico! Pinnock hurled in a long throw from the left towards the six-yard box. Begovic came for it, ran straight into the back of Kelly and fell over comically, as if he’d charged straight into a lamppost in a silent film. Dalsgaard guided a backheader towards the empty net, but Rico - facing his own goal - did brilliantly to boot it clear from under the crossbar.

1.06pm BST

33 min: Toney misses a great chance! Brentford should be level on aggregate. Dalsgaard sprayed a terrific pass to Canos, who cut inside and floated an angled beyond the far post. Toney, unmarked four yards out, headed wide.

1.04pm BST

30 min Bournemouth make a necessary substitution: Diego Rico comes on for David Brooks, which means Lloyd Kelly will move to centre-back.

1.03pm BST

30 min The resulting free-kick leads to a huge Brentford penalty appeal when Toney misses an attempted volley on the turn and falls over. He thought he was knocked off balance by an unwitting ankle tap from Dominic Solanke; it’s hard to be certain but I think he had a case. The referee disagreed.

1.02pm BST

Chris Mepham, once of Brentford, has been sent off for a professional foul. He miscontrolled a long clearance and was robbed by Mbuemo, who was about to run through on goal. Mepham fell over and grabbed Mbeumo by the leg, bringing him down as well. There were no complaints from anyone connected with Bournemouth, which tells its own story.

1.00pm BST

28 min: MEPHAM SENT OFF FOR BOURNEMOUTH! Oh my goodness, it has all changed now.

12.58pm BST

25 min The Sky Sports summariser Don Goodman thinks Bournemouth were hard bone by with the penalty. I don’t think it should be a penalty, but I think it was the right decision based on the current interpretation of the law. He was sliding and his hand was at head height.

12.57pm BST

24 min There’s a febrile atmosphere at the Brentford Community Stadium, and I’ll be very surprised if this doesn’t kick off at some stage. Brentford are possibly a bit too pumped up, and Bournemouth look the smoother side on the ball. Brooks wins a corner with a dangerous run, and then Bournemouth take an age to take it. Thomas Frank spends the whole time tapping his watch.

12.54pm BST

21 min “When my boys were younger, I used to help out ‘coaching’ the primary school football team,” says Adam Roberts. “If they had defended like Brentford on that B’mouth goal, I would have been livid. My main job was shouting at defenders and the goalkeeper where to stand and to pay attention. It’s astonishing that not one of the Bees’ players or coaching staff noticed that no Brentford player was within 20 metres of the halfway line.”

It looks like it’s a deliberate tactic, which is fascinating and funky and just plain wrong. Surely the pros don’t outweigh the one big, potentially season-ruining con.

12.52pm BST

⚽️ Most goals in @SkyBetChamp & play-offs since Feb 27
11 ARNAUT DANJUMA
9 Adam Armstrong, Teemu Pukki
8 Andre Ayew, Daryl Dike pic.twitter.com/V8tOePXlsk

12.52pm BST

20 min Bournemouth break five on four, only for Brooks of all people to overrun the ball. They look so menacing on the counter-attack.

12.51pm BST

18 min If you’re a neutral, this is all sorts of fun - drama, controversy, farce, needle. And we’ve got at least another 75 minutes to come.

12.50pm BST

Toney walks up slowly and sidefoots an emphatic penalty to Begovic’s left. He went the right way but couldn’t reach it. Toney grabs the ball and runs back to the halfway line, but then Begovic chases after him and pushes the ball out of his hands. Toney responds by pushing Begovic, and both players are booked. That was a bit weird from Begovic, though, as Don Goodman says on Sky, it may have been designed to get Toney in trouble.

12.48pm BST

Emiliano’s cross hit the raised arm of Kelly. It probably is a penalty under the current interpretation of the law, though I’m not sure it would have been given but for an almighty appeal from the Brentford supporters.

12.47pm BST

15 min: PENALTY TO BRENTFORD! It’s been given for handball against Kelly, though he is fuming and there’s pushing and shoving on both sides.

12.46pm BST

13 min Another corner for Brentford, who again have everybody within 20 yards of goal. They didn’t forget to leave somebody back, it’s a deliberate tactic. Nothing comes of this corner, for Brentford or Bournemouth.

12.45pm BST

12 min A whole season of intense, high-quality work, 48 games, and then you forget to leave anyone back at a corner. I’m at Jack’s flabbered gast.

12.44pm BST

11 min Brentford are always getting frustrated, and Toney has a word with the referee after being fouled by Mepham.

12.41pm BST

8 min Brooks stays down after an awkward fall and then ssshhhhes one of the Brentford players encouraging him to get up. He’s fine to continue.

12.39pm BST

Brentford won the first corner of the game, and for some reason all their outfield players were within 20 yards of the Bournemouth goal when it was taken. A simple lobbed clearance found Danjuma near the halfway line. He charged to the edge of the penalty area and, just as in the first leg, slid the ball coolly to the left of David Raya.

That’s a stunning cock-up from Brentford - or, more specifically, from whoever is supposed to stay back on corners. It might have been the injured Jensen, but either way it’s a shocker.

12.38pm BST

Arnaut Danjuma has doubled Bournemouth’s lead in the tie!

12.37pm BST

4 min Jensen is still on the field, but Saman Ghoddos is getting ready to replace him if necessary.

12.35pm BST

2 min Yet another injury problem for Brentford - Mathias Jensen is limping heavily after going down off the ball. This doesn’t look good.

12.34pm BST

2 min Brentford are playing with a back three, which means their official website told a big smelly lie.

12.33pm BST

1 min Peep peep! Bournemouth, in their turquoise blue away strip, kick off from right to left. Brentford are in red and white.

12.31pm BST

There’s a huge roar as the Brentford players stroll onto the field. Thomas Frank has already done a lap of the pitch to applaud and encourage the returning supporters. Those fans will leave the ground in a few hours’ time in a state of euphoria or in despair; there’s nothing inbetween.

12.23pm BST

Christian Norgaard has been injured in the warm-up, so Mads Roerslev comes into the side. That’s another blow to Brentford. These are the revised teams:

Brentford (possible 4-3-3) Raya; Dalsgaard, Jansson, Pinnock, Janelt; Roerslev, Jensen, Emiliano; Mbuemo, Toney, Canos.
Substitutes: Daniels, Goode, Forss, Ghoddos, Reid, Fosu, Roerslev, Stevens, Bidstrup.

12.17pm BST

Here’s Thomas Frank

“I wish we could just cut and paste [last year’s semi-final comeback], that’d be nice! But this is football, we’re working with human beings and we have a tough opponent who will do everything they can to win. I’m honestly extremely excited. Of course we’re all bit a nervous - if you’re not nervous, pttthht, we’re playing for so much - but the fans are back, we have everything to play for against another good football side. Hopefully it’s one of those occasions we will always remember.

11.49am BST

Brentford (possible 4-3-3) Raya; Dalsgaard, Jansson, Pinnock, Janelt; Norgaard, Jensen, Emiliano; Mbuemo, Toney, Canos.
Substitutes: Daniels, Goode, Forss, Ghoddos, Reid, Fosu, Roerslev, Stevens, Bidstrup.

Bournemouth (4-2-3-1) Begovic; Smith, Mepham, Carter-Vickers, Kelly; Pearson, Lerma; Brooks, Billing, Danjuma; Solanke.
Substitutes: Travers, Stacey, Rico, Wilshere, Kilkenny, Riquelme, Anthony, Long, Surridge.

11.46am BST

Both teams are missing important players because of injury

Rico Henry, who returned as a substitute on Monday, must have had a relapse because he isn’t in the squad. That’s a blow for Brentford, who are also without Josh Dasilva, and it’s not yet clear how they will line up. I think Thomas Frank may switch to 4-3-3. What we know for sure is that he has made three changes from Monday’s first leg: Henrik Dalsgaard, Emiliano Marcondes and Bryan Mbeumo come in for Mads Roerslev, Tariqe Fosu and Marcus Forss.

11.35am BST

➡ Dalsgaard, Emiliano, Mbeumo
⬅ Roerslev, Fosu, Forss

Your Bees this afternoon #BrentfordFC #BREBOU pic.twitter.com/j33rnHFJc5

One change from Monday
Mepham in for Cook
Pearson fit to start

Here's how we line up for today's play-off second leg. ' , ! #afcb pic.twitter.com/JXYt6r7UVD

10.58am BST

Pre-match scene-setter

This is really good as always from Ben Fisher.

10.06am BST

Hello, good morning and welcome to live coverage of the Championship playoff semi-final second leg between Brentford and Bournemouth. The good news is that it one of these teams will be at Wembley a week today, with the chance to become £200m richer, win promotion to the Premier League and maybe even become £200m richer.

The bad news is that one of them will have played 48 games for nothing. All those third-man runs, all that zestful counter-pressing, all that willpower to resist the appreciable temptations of the Nando’s drive thru... it’ll all have amounted to nowt. The stakes are so high, too high in some ways, and for different reasons both teams are desperate to get promoted.

View more on Rob Smyth's website »

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Published on May 22, 2021 06:47

May 19, 2021

West Brom 1-3 West Ham, Spurs 1-2 Aston Villa: Premier League – as it happened

West Ham moved up to sixth after two late goals at the Hawthorns, Spurs lost at home and Arsenal scored twice in injury-time to beat Crystal Palace

10.55pm BST

League One playoffs.

10.22pm BST

That’s it for tonight’s bumper clockwatch. Thanks for your company and emails - I’ll leave you with some heartwarming news from Molineux. Goodnight!

10.22pm BST

10.18pm BST

10.12pm BST

Home advantage still ain’t what it used to be.

10.08pm BST

Peep peep! An excellent comeback from West Ham leaves them needing one more precious point to qualify for the Champions League. Tomas Soucek, Angelo Ogbonna and Michail Antonio got the goals after Matheus Pereira had put West Brom ahead from a corner. It was an open, entertaining game, loads of fun for the neutral.

10.06pm BST

Liverpool’s third away win in seven days takes them into the top four for the first time in three months!

10.04pm BST

Burnley 0-3 Liverpool The margin of Liverpool’s win means their goal difference is now four better than Leicester, so it won’t be a factor on Sunday. Leicester need to better Liverpool’s result, it’s that simple. They play at home to Spurs, Liverpool are at home to Roy Hodgson.

10.03pm BST

“Crap, crap, crap,” says Mary Waltz, who may or may be an Everton fan. “That’s all I have to say.”

Don’t take this the wrong way, but you could still qualify for the Europa Conference League.

10.02pm BST

Michail Antonio seals a priceless win for West Ham! Pablo Fornals led a three-on-two break and found Jesse Lingard 20 yards from goal. He played in Antonio, who crashed a first-time shot back across Sam Johnstone. Expertly done.

10.01pm BST

Liverpool have now won seven and drawn two of their last nine games.

9.59pm BST

West Brom 1-2 West Ham Right, here’s the Premier League table as things stand. If it stays like this, West Ham will only need a point at home to Southampton to finish sixth and qualify for the Europa League. That would be a mighty achievement. If it does happen, the solitary Europa League Conference place will be between Spurs, Everton, Arsenal and Leeds. Admittedly Leeds would have to win by around 14 goals at home to West Brom and hope Spurs, Everton and Arsenal all lose, but it’s Leeds, I’m ruling nothing out.

9.57pm BST

Angelo Ogbonna puts West Ham into the lead! The resulting corner was swung to the far post by Cresswell, and Ogbonna stormed into the six-yard box and thumped a header into the ground that bounced up into the roof of the net. VAR does its best to disallowed it for handball but replays show it came only off his head and the goal stands

9.55pm BST

West Brom 1-1 West Ham The substitute Jarrod Bowen cuts infield and plays a penetrative reverse pass to Fornald, whose shot on the run is kicked away by Johnstone. If West Ham do get a winner here they will only need a draw at home to Southampton on Sunday.

9.53pm BST

Burnley 0-2 Liverpool I’ve just realised that Liverpool’s back four tonight (and for the past few games) have a combined shirt number of 185. The game’s gone!

9.50pm BST

“Re: your (mis)fortune at having the duty of handling the Clockwatch on Sunday,” says Matt Burtz. “We as readers wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Both of you?

9.49pm BST

West Brom 1-1 West Ham It’s end-to-end stuff at the Hawthorns, and West rom are having fun in front of their home fans. Hal Robson-Kanu hits a good shot from the edge of the area that is blocked by his teammate Matt Phillips. At the other end, Pablo Fornals shoots tamely at Johnstone after a surging run from Declan Rice.

The game is probably too open for David Moyes’ liking. He’d love to win but it’s not essential. It’s far more important that West Ham don’t concede, because that would mean a Europa League place is out of their hands.

9.44pm BST

It’s still Burnley 0-2 Liverpool, with just under 20 minutes remaining at Turf Moor.

9.39pm BST

West Brom 1-1 West Ham Now Cresswell has hit the outside of the post with a terrific free-kick! He was a long way out, at least 35 yards, but Sam Johnstone was anticipating a cross and left a big gap at the near post. Cresswell almost found it.

9.37pm BST

West Brom 1-1 West Ham Cresswell’s near-post corner is headed across goal and just wide by Soucek. Antonio almost got a touch inside the six-yard box as well. Soucek really is so dangerous at set pieces.

9.36pm BST

West Brom 1-1 West Ham Just under half an hour remaining at the Hawthorns. If it stays like this, West Ham will be guaranteed a Europa League place if they beat Southampton at home on Sunday. If they lose, all bets are off.

9.32pm BST

“It looks like it will be four of the Big Six in the Champions League despite the interlopers,” says Phil Haran. “In the end only Arsenal & Spurs need a Super League to get into the Champions League. Money always wins!”

I thought it was gravity?

9.25pm BST

A lovely moment for Nat Phillips, one of the season’s unlikely heroes. He has scored his first goal for Liverpool, heading in emphatically from Sadio Mane’s cross. The win will move Liverpool into the top four, ahead of Leicester on goal difference. Only their beloved Roy Hodgson stands between Liverpool and a Champions League place next season.

9.20pm BST

West Brom 1-1 West Ham Matheus Pereira again tries to score from a right-wing corner! This time Randolph punches it unconvincingly onto the roof of the net. The referee had given a foul so it wouldn’t have counted. Or would it?

9.19pm BST

Peep peep! The second halves are underway at the Hawthrosn (West Brom 1-1 West Ham) and Turf Moor (Burnley 0-1 Liverpool).

9.19pm BST

“As things stand there will be six teams whose final day performance will decide the places in Europe,” says Mary Waltz. “Ulcer time this weekend!”

I pity the fool who is doing the Premier League clockwatch on Sunday. I’ll just check the rota and see which poor bugge- oh for eff’s sake.

9.17pm BST

“Re: nobody wanting to be in the Europa Conference League,” begins Oliver. “Can I say that as a West Ham fan I’ll take any level of European football we can get. We’ve had enough rubbish seasons in recent memory that a European adventure - preferably one that goes beyond the qualifying rounds - would be nice whatever level it comes at.”

Yeah, I was being flippant really. I like the idea of the Conference League for the reasons you suggest - teams outside the elite deserve more chances of glory, because the traditional opportunities have largely been removed by the inequality of modern football. I just worry that it will become an unwanted prize for the weaker Big Six teams. And I wish they hadn’t called it the Europa Conference League, which is only marginally better than the Europa Afterthought League.

9.12pm BST

9.04pm BST

I’m going to bathe my eyes in something for 10 minutes, but I’ll be back for the start of the second halves.

9.04pm BST

West Brom 1-1 West Ham Scratch that, the Premier League have given the West Brom goal to Pereira. That’s fair enough as his corner was on target and you could certainly argue it was a shot.

9.02pm BST

For the second time this season, Tomas Soucek has scored at both ends. Said Benrahma did all the work, sliding a lovely cross that gave Soucek an open goal from four yards. He looked offside at first, and the VAR check went on forever, but replays showed he was this far behind Benrahma when the ball was played across.

8.59pm BST

John Brewin is your man for this one.

8.56pm BST

The final/latest scores

8.55pm BST

Peep peep! Arsenal’s late dash for Europe continues with their fourth successive league victory. They rode their luck in the second half before Gabriel Martinelli and Nicolas Pepe scored in injury time to ruin Roy Hodgson’s last home game as Palace manager. Arsenal are now only one point behind Spurs, Everton and, as things stand, West Ham.

8.54pm BST

It’s all over now! Pepe dances into the area, twists Tomkins inside out and guides a shot into the far corner. That’s a sensational solo goal from a player who has improved enormously in the last few months.

8.52pm BST

Crystal Palace 1-2 Arsenal That goal moves Arsenal within a point of a Europa League place, never mind the Europa League Conference. Their last game is at home to Brighton on Sunday.

8.51pm BST

Crystal Palace 1-2 Arsenal Roy Hodgson is muttering away to himself, wrestling with football vicissitudes one last time. Now he’s starting to grit his teeth in frustration. It probably won’t happen, but imagine if he calmly stuck the head on Arteta at the final whistle.

8.50pm BST

The substitute Gabriel Martinelli has won it for Arsenal! He got the wrong side of Joel Ward to meet Martin Odegaard’s dangerous inswinging cross, looped the ball over Guaita and volleyed it into the empty net. There was a VAR check for handball but the goal stands!

8.46pm BST

“Oh you glorious Baggies!!!” says Mary Waltz. “The fact that Everton fans have to rely on a relegated team to save their bacon is sad. If I had any pride or self respect I would refuse their charity. But since I don’t, I will take it.”

8.46pm BST

Crystal Palace 1-1 Arsenal Three minutes plus added time remaining at Selhurst Park. If Arsenal don’t score, they will miss out on European football for the first time since 1995-96.

8.45pm BST

Burnley 0-0 Liverpool

8.44pm BST

West Brom 1-0 West Ham Matheus Pereira could be a great signing for someone this summer. He has oozed class and swagger in a relegated team, so imagine what he would be like with better players around him.

8.43pm BST

Another twist in the Europa Conference League plot! Matheus Pereira’s wicked inswinging corner brushes the head of Tomas Soucek and flies past Darren Randolph. The corner was on target so it might go down as Pereira’s goal.

8.41pm BST

Crystal Palace 1-1 Arsenal At the other end, Chambers’ delicious cross is volleyed wide by Aubameyang. That was an excellent chance.

8.41pm BST

Crystal Palace 1-1 Arsenal Palace continue to push for a winner. Jordan Ayew, on for Benteke, has a close-range header saved by Leno.

8.40pm BST

“Right you are, Rob, regarding what Kane’s teary lap does and doesn’t prove,” says David Reynolds. “But I would say that when Levy digs in his much overrated heels, it is too ensure a high price, but rarely to actually keep the player who wishes to leave. Given our perilous financial straits, I think he will play it so that Kane’s price is as high as the market can stand; not a pound lower, but not a pound higher - I don’t see him deliberately pricing out all interested parties.”

As a Spurs fan you’ll know more than me, but didn’t he force Luka Modric to stay for an extra season? Part of the problem is that, because of Covid, nobody knows what the market can or should stand. There’s also the new manager to consider. But maybe you’re right, and it’s certainly hard to begrudge Kane a move.

8.33pm BST

Crystal Palace 1-1 Arsenal Chambers makes a vital block from Zaha, who created the chance with a glorious first touch to kill a long ball forward.

8.29pm BST

Crystal Palace 1-1 Arsenal Bernd Leno makes a fine save from an increasingly rampant Benteke. There’s a pulsating atmosphere at Selhurst Park.

8.27pm BST

Here’s the league table as things stand. If Arsenal don’t win tonight, they can forget about Europa League Conference glory next season.

8.26pm BST

West Brom 0-0 West Ham I say ‘misses’, it happened about eight minutes ago but I can’t keep up with everything. So sue me! Michail Antonio was brought down by Sam Johnstone, and Rice smashed his penalty against the post.

8.22pm BST

Christian Benteke continues his brilliant recent form! It was a classic Benteke goal, a diving header from Andros Townsend’s free-kick that bounced up to beat the diving Leno. There was a long VAR check, both for offside and a push on Elneny, but the goal stands!

8.17pm BST

Peep peep! The 8.15pm games are under way, and you won’t believe the score at Turf Moor!

8.16pm BST

“I don’t know if you noticed, but Kane just made the last-game lap of the ground on his own with tears in his eyes - receiving a rousing reception from all 10,000,” says David Reynolds. “If there was any doubt that this was his last home game, that ends it.”

Ah, I missed that, thanks. I’m not sure it proves it was his last home game, though, only that he would like it to be. What happens if Daniel Levy asks for £150m, which is not unreasonable in the circumstances, and nobody is willing to pay it?

8.14pm BST

“Hi Rob,” says Ian Copestake. “Mistakes for Spurs seem to be a Reguilon occurrence. I know! Try the Prosciutto.”

8.10pm BST

Palace 0-1 Arsenal The second half is under way at Selhurst Park, where Arsenal are bossing possession without really threatening too much.

8.09pm BST

And Louise Taylor was at St James’ Park as Joe Willock made it six goals in six for Newcastle:

8.03pm BST

Here’s Richard Jolly’s match report from Goodison Park:

8.03pm BST

The big winners so far tonight are West Ham. A Europa League place is back in their hands after that fiasco at White Hart Lane. They need four points from the last two games to clinch it, though one might be enough.

8.01pm BST

“Among the many reasons to honour Roy Hodgson, and to regret his retirement, is that he will be the last manager of an English club to have referred to ‘the Arsenal’,” says Charles Antaki. “A chapter closes.”

Somewhere in heaven, Don Howe is nodding respectfully.

7.59pm BST

Peep peep! Newcastle reach the magical and increasingly meaningless 40-point mark with a win over Sheffield United. Joe Willock headed the winner in first-half injury-time, and in doing so became the youngest player to score in six consecutive Premier League games. I was hoping he was born in 1992, to reinforce the point that this is when football began, but I’ve clearly lost track of time because he came into this world on 20 August 1999.

7.58pm BST

League One Lincoln have beaten Sunderland 2-0 in the first leg of their League One play-off. I think this result speaks for itself.

7.56pm BST

Peep peep! Spurs are booed off after a miserable performance at the White Hart Lane Stadium. Steven Bergwijn scored a spectacular early goal, but Villa, inspired by the returning Jack Grealish and the relentless John McGinn, calmly took control of the game. Sergio Reguilon’s farcical own goal brought them level and then Ollie Watkins took advantage of another Reguilon mistake.

7.54pm BST

Spurs 1-2 Aston Villa The 17-year-old debutant Carney Chukwuemeka, who only came on in the 89th minute, has just hit the post with a fine effort from the edge of the area. That would have been quite the story had he scored.

7.50pm BST

Peep peep! Richarlison’s header gives Everton a vital, if laboured, win over Wolves. The good news is they are still in contention for a European place; the bad news is their last game is at the Etihad.

7.50pm BST

Spurs 1-2 Aston Villa There are six minutes of added time at the White Hart Lane Stadiun.

7.50pm BST

Peep peep! Nicolas Pepe’s excellent goal gives

City
Arsenal the lead at Selhurst Park.

7.47pm BST

“Everton are currently hanging on by their fingernails praying for the final whistle,” says Mary Waltz. “Thankfully Wolves, who play lovely football, don’t seem to have anyone who can finish. I hope.”

So Wolves need a striker, you say, a proven goalscorer? Interesting.

7.46pm BST

“You said Spurs are in danger of missing out on Europe,” begins Ian Davis. “Never mind the inessentials - as things stand, Spurs are in danger of ending up below Arsenal.”

7.44pm BST

“Hi Rob,” says James Stephenson. “Won’t Spurs qualify for the new third-tier European club competition if they finish seventh?”

I’m afraid they will.

7.43pm BST

Spurs 1-2 Aston Villa Traore’s mishit shot falls kindly for Watkins, whose snapshot is crucially bloked by Eric Dier. Villa could easily have scored five or six tonight.

7.42pm BST

In the first leg of the League One play-off, it’s Lincoln 2-0 Sunderland with a few minutes remaining. I knew they should have kept Jack Rodwell.

7.41pm BST

Spurs 1-2 Aston Villa There’s a long delay while Japhet Tanganga receives treatment. He fell very awkwardly after a nothing challenge with El Ghazi, and his left leg is in a brace as he is moved gently onto a stretcher.

7.38pm BST

Crystal Palace 0-1 Arsenal Benteke and Elneny are booked after some off-the-ball business. There will be a red card in this game, nowt surer.

7.37pm BST

“Celtic wouldn’t pay £3m for McGinn a couple of seasons ago as they considered it too much for a young Scottish player who they assumed they could force another Scottish club to sell to them on the cheap,” says Simon McMahon. “It’s ok, though, cause Celtic continue to win everything in sight here, and McGinn has done nothing since moving to England, right?”

The thing that gets me about McGinn is that he’s good. He’s really effing good.

7.37pm BST

This is an excellent goal. Saka’s cute backheel finds Tierney, who stands up a cross towards the penalty spot. Pepe, arriving late into the area, stretches to clatter a right-footed volley into the ground and up past Guaita. All of a sudden Arsenal are back in the race for Europe.

7.35pm BST

Spurs 1-2 Aston Villa Kane’s deflected shot is beaten away at the near post by Martinez. Spurs have been better in the second half, though Villa still deserve to be ahead on the balance of play.

7.33pm BST

Spurs 1-2 Villa Douglas Luiz comes on for Jack Grealish, who was imperious and talismanic on his first start since mid-February.

7.32pm BST

Crystal Palace 0-0 Arsenal Saka bursts through on goal, slips past Guaita and then goes over. Anthony Taylor is about to make a very difficult decision when the assistant does him a solid and puts the flag up for offside. Replays confirm it was just offside, and probably - probably - a dive by Saka.

7.31pm BST

Spurs 1-2 Aston Villa Gareth Bale comes on for Spurs to replace Steven Bergwijn. All Bale’s nine league goals this season have come at home to teams in the bottom hal fof the table. I can see the headlines now: MANCHESTER GUARDIAN SLAMS ‘FLAT-TRACK BULLY’ BALE

7.30pm BST

Crystal Palace 0-0 Arsenal Christian Benteke misses a good chance, heading a free-kick over the bar from six yards.

7.29pm BST

“Wouldn’t Harry Kane moving to Manchester City constitute a breach of Unfair Competition regulation?” says Stephen Ashworth. “If they snag him they should agree to always start with ten players. Or at least have me as their 11th.”

7.28pm BST

The latest scores

7.26pm BST

Crystal Palace 0-0 Arsenal There’s a bit of needle in this game. There was the Schlupp foul, a kick off the ball by Ward on Tierney (not enough for a red card) and a few other robust challenges. Tierney is being heartily booed, having made a meal of the aforementioned Ward kick.

7.25pm BST

Thanks for all your emails, which I’m trying and failing to keep up with. There’s plenty going on in the various matches, and Bertrand Traore has just a shot blocked crucially by Toby Alderweireld. It’s still Spurs 1-2 Aston Villa.

7.24pm BST

“Benitez gave us hope,” says Charlie Hopkins. “Look at our previous managers. Big Sam, Pardew, McLaren, Joe Kinnear. From poor to woeful. None of them achieving anything since leaving. Then along comes Rafa. A Champions League-winning manager who agrees to stay in the Championship because he believes in the project. The only manager of the five who ever actually called out Ashley’s lack of investment in the club and his lack of connection with the fans. Yes the football was not scintillating but there were tactics in play, a sense of building from the back and the feeling that we would be taken seriously, which is a far cry from Joe Kinnear talking about Yohan Kebab and telling journalists to F off.”

Beautifully argued. Just one question: which one’s Simon Bird?

7.21pm BST

“I’m just glad it’s not Man Utd,” says Tim Bartlett of the transfer that we have already decided on Harry Kane’s behalf. “After Sheringham, then Berbatov it seemed that the Spurs drain-pipe always ended at Old Trafford. £150m is a nice sum to squander, and what if Son wants to move as well given the shrinking prospects? Might almost be able to afford Jose’s payoff.”

7.20pm BST

Spurs 1-2 Villa Traore shapes a clever shot just wide after another Terminator run from McGinn.

7.19pm BST

Team news is in at The Hawthorns. We make one change, with Maitland-Niles coming into the side.@MonsterEnergy | #WBAWHU

Saïd Benrahma starts after his goal on Saturday ‍♂️

Here's how we line up tonight...#WBAWHU pic.twitter.com/neZvVsPmJY

7.18pm BST

“Rob, I’ll level with you, I’m nervous,” weeps Liverpool fan Ian Copestake. “I’m fully expecting an evening of swearing at the brilliance of Burnley before joining Matt Dony on some street corner to throw stuff.”

You can get all the team news - all of it - here.

7.17pm BST

“I hope that Gareth Southgate is taking note of Villa’s performance tonight,” says Jon Collins. “They’re a team transformed with Grealish back in the side. He’s developed into such a good and influential player that if he’s fit England surely need to find space for him in their starting lineup in the summer.”

I love Grealish so much but I don’t think he’ll start Euro 2021. Southgate is almost certainly going to pick Mount, Foden and Kane, so I’d imagine he’ll want the fourth attacker to be genuinely fast. That probably means Raheem Sterling or Marcus Rashford, even though both are in wretched form. Not that it matters, because on tonight’s form John McGinn will beat England on his own. He has been everywhere.

7.13pm BST

Spurs 1-2 Aston Villa Spurs have been much better since half-time. Reguilon’s deep cross is volleyed over by Kane, a difficult ball to take on the run.

7.10pm BST

Spurs 1-2 Villa Kane stabs a nice pass through to Bergwijn, whose rasping shot is again pushed away by Martinez. That was a relatively comfortable save.

7.10pm BST

The Premier League table as things stand. Spurs are suddenly in danger of missing out on Europe for the first time since 2009-10.

7.09pm BST

“It’s stunning the difference one man can make to a team,” says Darren MacTavish. “Without Grealish, Villa look no better than Burnley or Crystal Palace; with him, they’re comfortably a better team than Spurs.”

It’s fascinating, isn’t it. It’s not just his genius on the ball; he clearly empowers everyone around him.

7.08pm BST

Spurs 1-2 Aston Villa It’s all happening tonight. Emi Martinez has just made a fine save, falling to his left to beat away a shot from Bergwijn. On reflection Bergwijn should have done better, but it was still a really good stop.

7.07pm BST

Crystal Palace 0-0 Arsenal Jeff Schlupp is booked for a poor tackle on Calum Chambers, and there’s a protracted VAR check for a red card. Eventually it stays yellow, but it could have gone either way. It looked much worse in slow motion, with his studs plunging into the top of Chambers’ foot.

7.05pm BST

Everton take the lead early in the second half! Richarlison gets above Boly to meet Sigurdsson’s’s corner and head across John Ruddy.

7.03pm BST

Peep peep! The second halves are under way, as is the first half of Crystal Palace v Arsenal.

7.02pm BST

“Sorry to weigh in but need to answer the email pondering why Newcastle fans love Rafa,” says Oliver Lewis. “In summary, Rafa came to a club in tatters, rebuilt the team from ground up, build the best defence we’ve had in years (still relied upon by Bruce), acted with massive class in terms of engaging with fans and the community and brought through some promising young talent.

“Bruce has sidelined the young talent, brought back the useless Shelvey, slagged off the fans, blamed everything on Rafa, had a much bigger transfer budget, started a season saying top half aim then finished it saying staying up was mission accomplished etc etc etc.

6.54pm BST

Half-time chitchat

“You never know with Raiola, but Haaland might just stay at Dortmund after they secured CL football next season, and Lewandowski isn’t going anywhere,” says Julian Menz. “That would make Kane the hottest property around, and several big clubs will be in the market, even at Levy prices. Maybe Real Madrid can’t afford him, but they always seem to find a few quid down the back of the sofa, likewise Barcelona. City are favourites though, given Aguero’s departure. £150m is crazy money/small change, depending on who you are.”

6.53pm BST

It was a really good goal from Joe Willock. Saint-Maximin played a lovely pass inside the full back to Murphy, who stood up a textbook cross to the far post. Willock got to it first and planted a header into bottom corner.

6.51pm BST

Joe Willock scores for the sixth game in a row!

6.50pm BST

Move along, nothing to see here.

6.50pm BST

Spurs are booed off at half-time, having been totally outplayed by a vibrant Aston Villa.

6.49pm BST

Spurs 1-2 Aston Villa Yet another chance for Villa, with Lloris saving well from Watkins after a mistake from Dier. The difference a Grealish makes; Villa have been magnificent.

6.47pm BST

Spurs 1-2 Aston Villa Anwar El Ghazi misses an excellent chance after more good play from McGinn and Grealish. Spurs are all over the show and could easily be 4-1 down.

6.41pm BST

The Premier League table as it stands

It’s almost as if nobody wants to play in the Europa Conference League.

6.40pm BST

“Hi Rob,” says David Wall. “I appreciate that it’s anathema to most Newcastle supporters that Steve Bruce might stay beyond the end of the season (even though it’s turning out that when his best attacking players aren’t all missing through various injuries or Covid they’ve done pretty well and often been entertaining), but I have never understood the adulation of Benitez.

“The football they played when he was there was frequently unambitious and turgid (perhaps not always as bad as the home match against City when they pretty much set up a line of 10 defenders across the edge of the penalty area from the first minute but rarely very enterprising). And they didn’t achieve great results either, always being around lower mid-table like now.

6.39pm BST

Jack Grealish is back, and so are the real Aston Villa. Ollie Watkins has given them a deserved lead after another mistake from Sergio Reguilon. His clearance hit Bertrand Traore and rebounded towards Watkins, who held off Eric Dier and dragged the ball past Hugo Lloris at the near post.

6.38pm BST

Everton 0-0 Wolves “It’s pretty much a textbook example of plus ca change at Goodison,” says Stephen Carr. “Wolves are dominating without threatening and Everton are getting ready to get booed off at half time.”

6.36pm BST

“Hi Rob,” says Mark Childs. “Re: fans being angry at refs, I didn’t think immediately about Brian Hill… but as soon as I read his name I knew exactly what incident you were referring to. I remember being angry about that call for weeks afterwards, still grumbling about it on the way to a meaningless game against Derby at Old Trafford a few weeks later when United ‘should’ have been playing in the FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool. The events at Hillsborough that day put things in perspective.”

6.32pm BST

Everton 0-0 Wolves Fabio Silva’s deflected shot loops just over the bar, with Pickford leaping desperately.

“There is no score but Wolves are pushing Everton all around the pitch so far,” says Mary Waltz. “The fans at Everton want to explode but Everton is giving them nothing to cheer about so far.”

6.29pm BST

“If Erling Haaland is, indeed, on his way to a new club, how would that impact Kane’s possible destination?” says Jake Shaffer. “I’d assume no club has the financial backing and/or need to sign both. So, I am somewhat surprised that City would go for Kane over Haaland, but I guess the former is a guaranteed finished product. Meanwhile, if not City, then who, realistically, could and would sign the Golden Boy? He is just going to wind up at Bayern, right?”

It wouldn’t be without precedent, would it. I don’t know enough about Haaland really - he still won’t answer my texts - but my instinct is that he’ll stay at Dortmund until his release clause is activated in the summer of 2022.

6.28pm BST

Spurs 1-1 Aston Villa Spurs’ last game is a tricky one, Leicester away, so they really need to win tonight. At the moment they are hanging on against a superior Villa.

6.25pm BST

Here’s the Premier League table as things stand. So far, so good for West Ham.

6.24pm BST

Spurs 1-1 Villa With Jack Grealish in the mood, Villa are dominating at the White Hart Lane Stadium. Ollie Watkins has a shot crucically blocked by Dier, and then John McGinn lashes over from distance.

6.23pm BST

The latest scores in the 6pm games

6.22pm BST

“Watching that Man United v Forest video you posted (18:07), and laughing heartily at both Brian McClair and Bryan Robson claiming to the referee that the ball was three feet over the line, when it was barely a few inches (if that),” says Graeme Thorn. “Of course, to counter it, I would point to Pedro Mendes’ non-goal in 2005, which was more
obviously over.”

I’m still not convinced about that Mendes goal. I’m not sure any of the angles are definitive.

6.20pm BST

A spectacular own goal from Sergio Reguilon brings Villa level. Nakamba, who was at fault for the opening goal, put a routine cross into the area from the left. Reguilon, 15 yards out, tried to clear it with his right foot and shinned it comically into his own net.

6.17pm BST

COME ON YOU PALACE#CPFC | #CRYARS

TEAM NEWS IS IN…

@ThomasPartey22 in midfield
@EmileSmithRowe starts
Pepe returns out wide

#️⃣ #CRYARS

6.16pm BST

| Bergwijn is back with a bang!

The #THFC grabs his first goal of the season as fans return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium!

Watch on Sky Sports
Follow #TOTAVL here: https://t.co/TUXETa0bcC
Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/PcgISzqQZj

6.16pm BST

“Afternoon Rob,” says Tom Hopkins. “I’ll be interested to see what the going rate for someone in the Kane (or Haaland, or Lewandowski) bracket is post-COVID. It feels like the silly (in every sense) money might not be there any more (or at least that reality is starting to dawn on a few of the clubs that used to throw money around like it was going out of fashion).”

Yes, this adds another layer to the imminent saga, because I have a feeling Daniel Levy won’t recognise the concept of Covid adjustment.

6.15pm BST

Spurs 1-0 Aston Villa There’s an unsuccessful Villa appeal for a penalty when Watkins falls over Lloris near the byline. Lloris was ushering the ball out of play, and Watkins wouldn’t have got to it, but that didn’t matter when Harry Kane was given a penalty in the return fixture. Villa had a case there, though I suppose you could argue it wasn’t a clear and obvious error. I’ll level with you: I don’t know nothin’ no more.

6.09pm BST

Steven Bergwijn, back in the side tonight, lashes Spurs into the lead. It was a cracking goal, all his own work. He robbed Marvelous Nakamba 30 yards from goal, held off a couple of defenders on his way into the penalty area and then scorched a half-volley into the top corner.

6.07pm BST

“Hi there Rob,” says Francis Lee. “The omens are not good for Villa with Kevin Friend on VAR - the man who disallowed our equaliser v Palace in 2019 and instead carded Grealish for a non-dive (yes, really, he actually got straight back up!) in the build-up.”

The ability of football fans to remember which referees have it in for their team never ceases to fascinate/appal me. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if some lost cause reads your email and immediately thinks, ‘Brian Hill, 1989’.

6.00pm BST

Peep peep! It’s Wednesday, it’s 6pm, it’s football time.

5.57pm BST

There’s a warm reception for Harry Kane and the rest of the Spurs team from the 10,000 fans at the White Hart Lane Stadium. Kane looks almost scarily focussed as he lines up for the pre-match nonsense.

5.56pm BST

Golden Boot watch

5.56pm BST

“Afternoon Rob,” says Stephen Carr. “I’d definitely agree with Matt’s comments about Everton’s fans. One of the few fanbases capable of simultaneously entertaining the possibilities of challenging for the league and battling relegation.”

5.54pm BST

“Shouldn’t Levy want as many clubs in the bidding war for Kane to drive up the price?” says Mary Waltz. “‘But if he sells to Chelsea the fans will hate him’. They already hate him, they are calling for him to sell the club, at this point shouldn’t he get as much cash as possible?”

Absolutely, but he has his personal dual Hemi engine Jeep that he uses to drive the price up. The man got £18m for Kevin Wimmer, for goodness sake. He’s barely human.

5.50pm BST

Ten minutes to go until kick off in the three 6pm games. In short, Spurs really need to beat Aston Villa, Everton really, really need to beat Wolves, and Newcastle and Sheffield United can let their hair down.

5.47pm BST

Popcorn, please!

5.46pm BST

“I can usually be pretty optimistic about Everton, but I got nothing for you today,” says Matt Burtz. “At least fans will be at Goodison, though if it’s another dreadful performance, that won’t be a good thing.”

It’s been an odd season, hasn’t it? Some enormous highs, especially away from home, but some of the performances at Goodison Park have put the dire in diabolical. They’ve been a bit unlucky with injuries to Allan and James in particular. Their best XI is a very good team, and they could still qualify for Europe for only the third time in a decade.

5.41pm BST

Ryan Mason’s pre-match interview

“[A few token answers while he waits for the inevitable Harry Kane question] No one’s said it’s Harry’s last game here - it’s our last game of the season here, and we want to perform for our fans. It’s been no distraction because it’s all speculation: Harry hasn’t come out and said anything yet, so it hasn’t been a distraction. The only focus is on the game tonight. It’s normal at a club like this to have to deal with speculation.”

5.37pm BST

“Must admit I am massively surprised by reports that Manchester City are in the race for Harry Kane,” says Rick Harris. “That surely puts pressure on other PL clubs to outbid them, as City with Kane would be even bigger favourites than they already are to win everything next season. I doubt if Kane himself would insist on moving to the Etihad if a bigger bid came in from United, Chelsea or Liverpool – what do you think?”

I might be wrong – it’s not exactly without precedent – but I don’t think Spurs would sell him to Chelsea under any circumstances. Liverpool can’t afford him, and I’m not sure he’s the sort of player they’d want anyway. United might be able to afford him, and the precedent of Robin van Persie will be in their mind, but they have greater needs elsewhere. It sounds like Kane wants to stay in England, so City it is. Nice one, can we get on with our summer now?

5.08pm BST

-

HWTL! ⚫️⚪️ pic.twitter.com/Rq0KYDBv2M

United make one change, Bogle comes in for Baldock, who picked up an injury on Sunday and is not included as a precaution.

Jebbison and Didzy start up top. #NEWSHU pic.twitter.com/xfMxXQvhhV

5.05pm BST

Jack Grealish starts for the first since 13 February.

⚪️ Lloris (C), Tanganga, Alderweireld, Dier, Reguilon, Højbjerg, Winks, Dele, Bergwijn, Son, Kane.#THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/L1L8y6j3Su

@JackGrealish returns to the Aston Villa starting XI for #TOTAVL! pic.twitter.com/uAQfdruP2h

5.04pm BST

Come on you Blues! #EVEWOL pic.twitter.com/p8AZxjFCgM

Here's how Wolves line-up for this evening's @premierleague fixture against @Everton. #EVEWOL

pic.twitter.com/ZHD30BiTRa

5.02pm BST

4.51pm BST

Hello and welcome to the last midweek clockwatch of this unique season. There are six Premier League games tonight, with most eyes on qualification for the three European competitions. We’ll have a separate liveblog on Burnley v Liverpool a bit later. These are the fixtures in full

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Published on May 19, 2021 14:18

The Fiver | Mr Roy and a career that was defined by modest excellence

A couple of years ago, The Fiver learned of a delightful concept called “the English goodbye”. (According to our cousin Theme Pub O’Fiver, it’s known more commonly as “the Irish goodbye”, but that doesn’t suit our purposes so we’ve muted him for the day.) In short, it’s when somebody leaves the pub, or any gathering, without saying goodbye. In our experience, it’s usually the intersection of a Venn diagram that has three circles: shyness, booze and rampant self-loathing.

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Published on May 19, 2021 07:56

May 18, 2021

Chelsea 2-1 Leicester City: Premier League – as it happened

The home side moved above Leicester into third after a crucial and richly deserved victory in front of 8,000 fans at Stamford Bridge

10.20pm BST

Jacob Steinberg has filed his report from the Bridge, so I’ll leave you with that. Thanks for your company, emails and abuse - night!

10.16pm BST

Chelsea now have two shots at a Champions League place next year - one against Aston Villa on Sunday, the other against Manchester City in Porto. Leicester need a favour from Villa or Liverpool’s remaining opponents, Burnley and Crystal Palace. And they have to beat Spurs at home.

10.14pm BST

The final whistle is greeted with a huge roar by the 8,000 Chelsea fans. Leicester can have no complaints - they didn’t start playing until Kelechi Iheanacho came off the pitch, and by that stage they were lucky to be only 2-0 down. Chelsea were superb with and without the ball: they outclassed Leicester and also bullied them, with Mason Mount and Antonio Rudiger the outstanding players.

10.12pm BST

Peeeeeep peeeeeeep! Chelsea move into third place after a crucial and richly deserved victory.

10.11pm BST

90+8 min We’re still playing because of the added time for the touchline rumble, but Chelsea have a goalkick and that should be it.

10.09pm BST

90+5 min Ricardo and Mendy were also booked, it says here.

10.09pm BST

90+5 min Leicester’s substitute Daniel Amartey has been booked. I think he’s the only one. On reflection, Ricardo’s tackle wasn’t particularly bad, but Rudiger shoved him and then everyone got involved.

10.07pm BST

90+3 min: ITS KICKING OFF! It’s all happening now, with at least 15 players and both benches involved. It was sparked by a poor challenge on Chilwell by Richrdo, and soon ascended into an impromptu scrum near the touchline. I don’t think any punches were thrown, and after about 30 seconds it starts to disperse.

10.06pm BST

92 min “Of course Mike Dein has to get involved in how a player walks off the pitch,” says Mary Waltz. “What a twit!”

I’ll forgive the misspelling.

10.05pm BST

91 min Five minutes of added time. Olivier Giroud comes on to replace the hapless yet peculiarly admirable Timo Werner.

10.05pm BST

90 min: Perez misses a great chance! Leicester should be level. Ricardo broke down the right and fizzed a cross into the area. Vardy slipped but that allowed Perez to run onto the ball, 15 yards out, and strike it first time. He blootered it into orbit. I’d love to hear James Maddison’s internal monologue right now.

10.04pm BST

90 min Leicester haven’t been able to put Chelsea under any sustained pressure, or any occasional pressure for that matter. It’s now or never (or Sunday).

10.03pm BST

88 min Ndidi is booked for a late tackle on Mount. A foul had already been given to Leicester for Mount’s challenge on Tielemans, but Mike Dean’s yellow card never sleeps.

10.01pm BST

87 min Kurt Zouma comes on for Chelsea to replace Cesar Azpilicueta, who was nobbled by Soyuncu. Azpilicueta is booked for ignoring Mike Dean’s orders to leave the field on the near side.

9.59pm BST

85 min Pulisic wins a corner for Chelsea, who still look relatively comfortable in the circumstances. James’ corner is booted clear.

9.58pm BST

83 min Iheanacho has been by far Leicester’s liveliest attacker, which is either a validation or an indictment of Brendan Rodgers’ decision to leave him on the bench.

9.55pm BST

82 min Fofana is booked for a foul on the irrepressible Werner.

9.55pm BST

82 min “I can’t keep up any longer with what is meant to mean more,” weeps Ian Copestake.

9.55pm BST

81 min Iheanacho shoots from 30 yards, an optimistic effort that is comfortably held by the crouching Mendy.

9.54pm BST

80 min For the first time tonight, there’s a nervous hum around Stamford Bridge. It will be an extraordinary steal if Leicester get a point here.

9.53pm BST

79 min Werner makes a mess of an overhead kick, slicing it well wide.

9.51pm BST

The goal is a mess from Chelsea’s point of view. Mendy gave the goalkick to James, who played it into Kovacic 25 yards from goal. He was muscled off the ball by Ndidi, who quickly gave it to the unmarked Iheanacho in the area. This time he finished emphatically with a low drive into the corner.

9.50pm BST

Now then!

9.50pm BST

76 min Iheanacho picks up a loose ball in the D, turns and drags a low shot just wide of the far post. It wasn’t a clean strike, though, and Mendy had it covered.

9.49pm BST

75 min Leicester have got nothing left. A week ago, I suspect they would have preferred to finish fourth than win the FA Cup, but Saturday was so euphoric and soul-stirring that I honestly think it will mean more - probably now, and certainly in 10 years’ time. They’ll still be devastated to do a Devon Loch for the second successive season, though. If they do fail to reach the Champions League, it will be that absurd game against Newcastle wot dunnit.

9.45pm BST

71 min One important point on Werner - he may have been a banter victim all season, but he never hides. He’s always on the move, always wants the ball, and that attitude ultimately led to the second goal.

9.43pm BST

68 min If it stays 2-0, we can probably discount goal difference being a factor in the race for fourth. So that means Leicester would need a favour from somewhere. And let’s be honest, it would be unutterably hilarious if Roy Hodgson’s last act in football was to deny Liverpool a Champions League place. I can’t see it though.

9.41pm BST

68 min Another change for Leicester: Ricardo is on for Albrighton at right wing-back.

9.40pm BST

Jorginho rolls it slowly to his right, wrongfooting Schmeichel, and Chelsea are heading into third place!

9.40pm BST

That was a daft tackle from the usually superb Fofana. Jorginho will take the penalty.

9.39pm BST

Chelsea heart VAR.

9.39pm BST

65 min: VAR CHECK FOR A CHELSEA PENALTY

Fofana is penalised for fouling Werner just outside the area on the left - but I think this is inside the area. This should be a penalty.

9.38pm BST

64 min Chelsea break from the corner, with Kovacic cracking a long, straight pass to find Werner one on one with Castagne. He gets into the area and hits a left-footed shot from a tightish angle that is comfortably saved by Schmeichel.

9.37pm BST

63 min Leicester win a corner after a crunching man-and-ball tackle on Albrighton by Chilwell. Chelsea have been really physical tonight - legimately so, I should stress, at least for the most part. The corner is headed away by Chilwell.

9.34pm BST

60 min Here comes Kelechi Iheanacho. He replaces the disappointing James Maddison, who barely had a kick, although he was kicked a few times.

9.33pm BST

60 min Mount is fine by the way.

9.33pm BST

59 min Rudiger goes on a barnstorming run, including a Zidane-style roulette, before being fouled by Tielemans. The crowd loved that.

9.31pm BST

58 min Leicester are having a bit more of the ball now, human nature being what it is, but Chelsea are still well in control of the game. They haven’t only outplayed Leicester tonight, they have bullied them as well.

9.30pm BST

57 min “Hi Rob,” says Ian Copestake. “Mike Dean’s propensity for comedy is explained by his having long ago been replaced by Jasper Carrott.”

9.30pm BST

56 min Mount puts Perez on the floor again, this time with the help of Rudiger. Again Mike Dean isn’t interested.

9.29pm BST

55 min Here’s the Premier League table as things stand. In short, if they lose tonight, Leicester need a favour for Burnley and/or Crystal Palace and/or Aston Villa.

9.28pm BST

54 min Mount flattens Perez 35 yards from goal, a revenge tackle that might have brought a yellow card. Mike Dean isn’t interested. Tielemans’ free-kick is headed away by Thiago Silva.

9.27pm BST

54 min “To paraphrase a great Tipperary hurler, if Timo Werner had ducks, they’d drown,” says Justin Kavanagh. “Something tells me he’s going to score the winner in the Champions League final, because no-one’s form in front of goal can stay that wretched for that long. Either that, or he’ll miss the plane.”

9.27pm BST

53 min Mount gets to his feet. He’s moving pretty gingerly but he wants to continue.

9.25pm BST

52 min Mount is down, and in some pain, after a clash of knees with Perez. It looks like an impact injury, in which case he’ll be fine.

9.25pm BST

51 min “Thoroughly entertaining evening so far,” says Matt Dony. “Plucky Fulham getting a brilliant point (not that it matters, of course), Brighton screaming to a Pep-Infuriating home win against City (two seasons too late, though), and now Chelsea having goals disallowed left, right and centre. It’s not big or clever, but seeing bad things happen to rival teams is almost as satisfying as seeing your own team do well. My word, football brings out the worst in us.”

9.24pm BST

50 min It surely won’t be long before we see Kelechi Iheanacho. Leicester have offered nothing in attack, though that has largely been down to Chelsea’s intensity.

9.21pm BST

GOAL GIVEN! It’s fine, it’s all fine. Chilwell’s corner was flicked on at the near post by the stretching Vardy and shoved over the line with his thigh by Rudiger. If he meant it, that was a really smart finish because he had to react very quickly to Vardy’s inadvertent flick. I’m not sure he did, in truth, not that Chelsea will care.

9.21pm BST

Thomas slips and concedes a corner on the Chelsea right. Chilwell’s inswinger is forced over the line from close range by Rudiger - but with what?

9.20pm BST

47 min “I know there’s an argument that a professional player should let the officials make a decision for themselves,” says Brad McMillan. “But, having seen the Werner handball replay just now, I’m left feeling like he should have been booked for cheating. Or stupidity. He must have known it would be ruled out and that he was wasting everybody’s time.”

Given some of the recent VAR decisions, I’d try my luck as well. Stockley Park could quite easily have recommended a goal for Werner and a red card for four Leicester players.

9.19pm BST

46 min Peep peep! Leicester begin the second half.

9.09pm BST

On Sky Sports, Graeme Souness is flabbergasted that Chelsea didn’t get a penalty in the 19th minute. And when it comes to what it and isn’t allowed on a football field, our Graeme knows more than most.

Just hand over the award, now ... #Souness #LFC #Rangers pic.twitter.com/9GmZk5ydRY

9.07pm BST

Half-time pluggery

Membership Event: Football Weekly Live Euros preview special

9.05pm BST

The story is old, I know, but it goes on: Chelsea have done everything but score in a totally one-sided first half. Timo Werner had two goals disallowed, one for offside and one for handball, which went down a storm with the 8,000 fans at Stamford Bridge.

N’Golo Kante also went off injured, though it looked more of a precaution than an OHMYGODHOWCANWEBEATCITYWITHOUTHIM. Leicester defended diligently, sometimes desperately, but did nothing going forward.

9.01pm BST

In other news, Brighton have come from 2-0 down to beat ten-man Manchester City

9.00pm BST

45+1 min Two minutes of added time.

9.00pm BST

45 min A dangerous cross on the turn from Perez drifts across the six-yard box. Vardy was the only player in the middle.

8.59pm BST

43 min The brilliant Mount nutmegs Soyuncu on the right, hares into the area and fizzes a low cross towards Pulisic at the near post. His instinctive flick from four yards hits the outstretched leg of Schmeichel and goes behind. That’s a terrific save. It’s also Chelsea’s 11th attempt at goal to Leicester’s one.

8.57pm BST

41 min On reflection, I’m not sure Leicester have been deliberately defensive; I just think they’ve been forced back by a rabid Chelsea. There’s probably a bit of subconscious caution as well, as they know a draw keeps things in their own hands.

8.55pm BST

40 min “Any sign of a Leicester hangover?” says Niall Mullen. “Have they turned up with a bottle of Lucozade, a packet of mints, and one eye on where the nearest bog is?”

It’s worse than that. I’m pretty sure I’ve just seen Jamie Vardy wolfing down a grab bag of Flamin Hot Monster Munch.

8.54pm BST

39 min Werner’s deflected shot is kicked away desperately by Soyuncu in the six-yard box, with Pulisic waiting behind him. The xG computer is going to explode any minute now.

8.53pm BST

38 min More excellent approach play from Chelsea. Jorginho’s crossfield pass finds Azpilicueta near the byline in the area. He cushions a volley back towards Pulisic, who lets it run on to Mount. He slaps it over the bar on the bounce. It was a difficult chance but the build-up was lovely.

8.52pm BST

37 min “Evening Rob,” says Stephen Carr. “Alex Ferguson said Filippo Inzaghi was born offside. Timo Werner must have been conceived, born and raised that way.”

8.51pm BST

36 min “It’s not football any more,” sing the Chelsea fans.

8.50pm BST

No controversy with that, though Chelsea will wonder how Werner managed to miss with his head before the ball hit his arm. He was two yards out, with an open goal. Poor bloke is having a nightmare, and he’s already had two goals disallowed tonight.

8.49pm BST

It’s handball! The corner was flicked on at the near post, and Werner bundled it over the line with his right arm after missing a header.

8.49pm BST

Werner scores, VAR permitting!

8.49pm BST

34 min This is so one-sided. A corner is half cleared to James, whose long-range shot takes a big deflection off Tielemans and goes behind for another. From which...

8.48pm BST

33 min Werner, on the right of the box, has a shot very well blocked by Castagne.

8.47pm BST

32 min Kante is replaced by Kovacic. He is walking off at a reasonable pace, which suggests a muscle strain rather than a tear. The Champions League final is a week on Saturday.

8.46pm BST

32 min Ayoze Perez takes his defensive No10 role a bit too far by booting Chilwell up in the air. He’s booked.

8.46pm BST

31 min Mateo Kovacic is getting ready to come on. It sounds like N’Golo Kante is injured, which is a worry for all sorts of reasons.

8.45pm BST

29 min The resulting corner, taken by Chilwell, is headed over from four yards by Thiago. He was stretching and under pressure from Soyuncu, which made it really hard for him to get over the ball.

8.44pm BST

28 min Marvellous play from Mason Mount. He picks up the ball on the halfway line and scurries all the way into the area. An attempted pass to Werner is blocked, but the ball loops straight up in the air. Mount backs into Soyuncu (I think) to shield the dropping ball, controls it deftly and lashes a shot on the turn that is pushed over by Schmeichel. That was a delightful bit of play, a perfect mixture of attitude and aptitude.

8.42pm BST

28 min Leicester look like a team who have come for a draw, though I thought that at the Etihad in September and they won 5-2.

8.42pm BST

27 min “That was not a penalty for me,” says Michael Day. “For one, Tielemans was in the act of kicking the ball and any contact was unintentional. Secondly, I think Werner was just trying to intentionally get kicked by a swinging leg to win a penalty.”

Are either of those relevant? That’s a genuine question; I haven’t a clue any more and plan to spend the whole summer swotting up on the laws of football.

8.41pm BST

26 min A Leicester corner is flicked on at the near post and volleyed over by Vardy. It was a pretty difficult ball to take, at around thigh height, so it wasn’t much of a chance.

8.40pm BST

25 min It’s true that, even without VAR, Chelsea wouldn’t have been given a penalty for that Tielemans challenge on Werner. But the sense of injustice would be nowhere near as great.

8.38pm BST

23 min Cesar Azpilicueta, who could start a row in an empty chatroom, has already started complaining about Leicester timewasting at throw-ins.

8.38pm BST

22 min: Werner has a goal disallowed for offside! He’ll be even more hacked off now. Mount stabbed a lovely little pass through to Werner, who dragged a finish into the bottom corner. The flag went up at that point, and replays showed he was well offside. Thomas Tuchel was halfway through an angry celebration when he realised.

8.35pm BST

20 min Werner, not unreasonably, is thoroughly hacked off with that decision.

8.34pm BST

19 min Tielemans, in the Leicester area, is about to clear the ball when Werner comes on his blind side. As a result Tielemans kicks through Werner, who falls over... and Mike Dean gives a free-kick to Leicester. VAR isn’t interested but that could easily have been a penalty.

8.33pm BST

18 min Mount has been particularly bright for Chelsea in the first 18 minutes. It’s been extremely one-sided so far; the possession stats are 65-35.

8.30pm BST

15 min Mount plays a crisp pass out to Pulisic on the right. He dances into the area but then overruns the ball, allowing Thomas to block him off.

8.28pm BST

13 min Tielemans beats Rudiger 30 yards from goal with an ingenious touch/fortunate miscontrol. He eschews the shot and tries to float the ball over the defence towards Vardy at the far post. The well-positioned Reece James heads clear.

8.25pm BST

10 min It’s all Chelsea. Azpilicueta slides a dangerous first-time cross that flashes through the six-yard box, just too far in front of Werner.

8.24pm BST

9 min Pulisic stabs a good pass to Kante in the inside-right channel. He charges into the area and hits a shot that is pushed away by Schmeichel, diving to his right. Chelsea keep the ball alive and Pulisic’s shot from the edge of the area is deflected over the bar.

8.21pm BST

6 min Chelsea have made a really fast start. James moves forward from the back and drives a long-range shot wide of the far post. Schmeichel had it covered.

8.20pm BST

5 min Tielemans stays down after a heavy challenge from Rudiger. Chelsea play on, and eventually Mount’s inswinging cross just evades Azpilicueta at the far post. Tielemans is fine now.

8.19pm BST

4 min Chilwell picks up where he left off at Wembley, trying to bite the hand that used to feed him. Werner turned Fofana majestically, surged to the edge of the D and played the ball to his left towards Mount. He let it run on to Chilwell, who rifled a cross shot just wide of the far post.

8.17pm BST

2 min Soyuncu, up for a free-kick, puts in a good cross from the left that is headed away by James. He is again playing as the right-sided centre-back to deal with Jamie Vardy’s channel runs.

8.15pm BST

1 min Peeeeeep peeeep! Chelsea kick off from left to right. Chelsea are in blue; Leicester are in their FA Cup-winning kit.

8.15pm BST

“Just thought I’d throw this in as I’ve seen nothing else about it,” says Dave Walklett. “Amidst all the other fun last weekend Leicester City Women beat Manchester United Women 3-2 in the FA Cup. Leicester also won promotion to the WSL, losing only two matches all season. I think that’s probably worth a little mention!”

I won’t ask if anyone knows what happened to Chelsea at the weekend. (If you haven’t seen it, check out the pass for the third goal. The run for the fourth isn’t bad either.)

8.11pm BST

“As a Liverpool fan I’m not entirely sure what result I want here,” says Rich Delaney. “I think I want Leicester to win to avoid a goal difference scenario with Leicester should they lose this and win their last. Am I right?”

I don’t think it really matters – if Liverpool win the last two games they’ll be fine - but the best result is probably a Leicester win, or a 22-man brawl that leads to a points deduction for both sides. I think the worst result for Liverpool is a Chelsea win, because it leaves them vulnerable if they get four points from the last two games. (And they could theoretically miss out on goal difference even if they win both matches, but I can’t see that happening.)

8.07pm BST

And James Maddison

“We had a good night Saturday night, rightly so – it was the best day of my life – but it’s back to business. Make no mistake, everyone in our camp knows how important this is: it’s another cup final really. It’s a massive game and we’re here to win.”

8.07pm BST

And Brendan Rodgers

“We’re looking forward to it. It was brilliant to pick up a trophy on Saturday but you have to park that success. We had a small celebration on Saturday but the focus is now on this game.”

8.06pm BST

The pre-match thoughts of Thomas Tuchel

“I would take the same performance [as in the FA Cup final]. We believe it was enough to win the game. We need to improve our composure and decision-making the last third – this is not a completely new subject – but this is a process for us. We are a young team, built to grow, and today is another important match.

8.01pm BST

There will be around 8,000 fans at Stamford Bridge tonight. That should make for a lively atmosphere, especially if VAR does a number on Chelsea again.

7.52pm BST

While Leicester would settle for fourth, they could still finish as high as second. That’s because Manchester United were surprisingly held by Fulham earlier this evening. Leicester are five points behind United with tonight’s game in hand.

7.45pm BST

7.40pm BST

7.37pm BST

This, as always, is tremendous

7.23pm BST

Some interesting team news on both sides. Chelsea make three changes from Saturday - Edouard Mendy is back in goal, while Ben Chilwell and Christian Pulisic come in for Marcos Alonso and Hakim Ziyech. There’s no Kai Havertz, not even on the bench, because of an unspecified injury.

Marc Albrighton replaces the injured Jonny Evans for Leicester, while James Maddison is surprisingly preferred to Kelechi Iheanacho. That probably means a switch to 3-4-2-1, though the flexibility of Albrighton and Castagne means they could also play 4-2-3-1.

5.56pm BST

This is the real quiz. It’s all well and good winning the FA Cup, but the real prize is qualification for the Champions League. That’s what Thomas Tuchel said, though we should point out that his comments were far more nuanced and reasonable than the headlines suggested.

I suspect Leicester would have shared his view a few days ago, though maybe not after being drenched in glory and goodwill at Wembley. Whatever they feel now about the priorities of the 2020-21 season, they will still be desperate to win this one. Or at least draw it: that’s all they need to stay in control of the race for a Champions League place.

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Published on May 18, 2021 14:20

The Fiver | The Harry Kane Transfer Saga™

Want to order a scotch egg and 48 pints without leaving your table? There’s an app for that! And a carbon footprint too. Every digital usage, no matter how small, causes a carbon dioxide emission. The more you use, the bigger it gets. For example: between now and August, the Harry Kane Transfer Saga™ is going to leave a carbon footprint the size of Oceania.

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Published on May 18, 2021 08:18

May 16, 2021

Chelsea 0-4 Barcelona: Women’s Champions League final – as it happened

A slapstick own goal after 33 seconds was the start of a desperate night for Chelsea, who were blown away in the first half by an awesome Barcelona

11.54pm BST

Hayes reaction.

11.32pm BST

Player ratings.

10.11pm BST

That, alas, is that. I’ll leave you with a match report from Gothenburg. Commiserations to Chelsea, congratulations to a glorious Barcelona team. Thanks for your company and emails - goodnight.

10.09pm BST

The Barcelona players just cannot stop smiling. All of them kiss the trophy as they walk past, and then it is presented to Vicky Losada. After a theatrical delay, she lifts it high above her head as her teammates bounce around behind her. Barcelona are champions of Europe!

10.06pm BST

This

I don’t think there’s much soul searching for Chelsea here. Barca are out of this world and a couple of years ahead of the Chelsea project.

10.05pm BST

1 - After their 4-0 win against Chelsea, Barcelona have become the first Spanish team to win the Women's UEFA Champions League, recording the biggest win in a final of the competition (since 2009/10). Happiness. pic.twitter.com/B9DWp1ugd2

10.00pm BST

The BT Sport panel are discussing whether Chelsea should have started with the 3-4-3 formation they used in the second half. I think that’s a red herring. Barcelona were cruising at that stage, and to start with wing-backs against Martens and Graham Hansen would have been on the lunatic side of foolhardy. Chelsea lost to a magnificent team; tactics had little to do with it.

9.58pm BST

There are tears now, from Ji and especially Magda Eriksson. Ach, sport can be bloody cruel.

9.55pm BST

Do you remember the first time? Barcelona won’t remember a better time. Their players and staff are dancing on the spot, bursting with joy at the greatest achievement of their careers. Chelsea’s players look numb rather than devastated as they congratulate the Barcelona tea; I don’t think any of them are in tears. Now they get in a huddle, with Emma Hayes addressing the entire group. She looks calm, if slightly stunned. But as has been said already, Chelsea know that it’s possible to recover from a night like this: the same thing happened to Barcelona in 2019.

9.52pm BST

Barcelona are champions of Europe for the first time! They demolished Chelsea with an awesome first-half performance, inspired by their marvellous wingers Lieke Martens and Caroline Graham Hansen.

9.51pm BST

90+1 min: Oshoala has a goal disallowed for offside. It was a fine finish, but Losada was offside in the build up.

9.50pm BST

90+1 min “Yes, Rob,” says Matt Dony. “It’s almost as if I’ve made this point to you before. It is absolutely, 100% the sanctimony. (And, to be honest, a dirty love for Galacticos-era Madrid.) I admit, I don’t know enough about the women’s side to know whether it’s fair to view them the same way I view the men’s side, but just to be safe, I’m going to dislike them. Seems reasonable. Hala Madrid.”

9.50pm BST

90 min Oshoala twists Carter inside out but then hammers the ball over the bar from 15 yards.

9.49pm BST

90 min “It will hurt for a while but the progress is there and onwards and upwards to Ms Hayes and her team,” says Ruth Purdue. “I remember what Lyon did to Barcelona as well. This is what has come from it. They haven’t had a bad season at all and they deserve what attention and praise they have received.”

9.49pm BST

89 min Martens has a shot blocked by Bright. The Barcelona bench are all on their feet, ready for the final whistle.

9.48pm BST

88 min Another long-range shot, from Cuthbert I think, is saved comfortbaly by Panos. Chelsea have played with plenty of pride in the second half. That sounds like a basic requirement but I’d imagine most of us would have a spectacular sulk if we were 4-0 down at half-time in a game like this.

9.47pm BST

85 min England’s long-range shot is blocked. Chelsea have had more shots than Barcelona and an even share of possession, but those are damned lies: Barcelona have been a class apart.

9.44pm BST

84 min A snapshot from Harder, 20 yards out, brushes the roof of the net. She looks, not unreasonably, thoroughly cheesed off.

9.41pm BST

82 min Two more substitutions for Barcelona: Ouahabi and Torrejon are replaced by Melanie Serrano and Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic.

9.40pm BST

79 min There’s a perceptive quote in David Beckham’s autobiography. He was talking about the 1996-97 season, his first as a Champions League regular, and he said that playing in Europe it was “a bit like learning football all over again”. I suspect the Chelsea players know exactly what he means.

9.37pm BST

78 min The match is petering out. It has been since half time, in truth.

9.36pm BST

77 min “So Matt Dony doesn’t like Barcelona?” says Shaun. “Is it the city, the architecture, the food, the weather, the men’s team, the women’s team, that most of their players come through the Academy, the fact that the club is owned by its fans rather than by crooks, that it has won European trophies than any English team, Cruyff, Maradona, Romario, Guardiola, Laudrup, Ronaldo, Iniesta, Xavi or Messi? Or Steve Archibald?”

I don’t want to speak for Matt, but I think it might be the sanctimony.

9.35pm BST

75 min “I remember when Chelsea were taking apart Arsenal in the WSL,” says Charles Antaki. “Ji was slipping passes through the midfield to fairly devastating effect; not much chance here. And in general, Barcelona seem a league above the WSL on all sorts of dimensions.”

Yeah, they have been several shades of awesome. But two years ago they were in this position, 4-0 down in a Champions League final, so it can be done.

9.34pm BST

74 min Actually, having seen the replay, I’m not entirely sure Charles did get the ball. There were no appeals for a penalty though.

9.33pm BST

74 min Charles makes an outstanding last-ditch tackle on Oshoala, who looked set to make it 5-0.

9.33pm BST

73 min Two changes for Chelsea. Beth England and Erin Cuthbert replace Ji and Sam Kerr.

9.32pm BST

73 min On reflection, those two chances for Harder at 1-0 - one brilliantly saved, one blocked - were vital moments. Had Chelsea equalised then, the match might have taken a different course.

9.31pm BST

72 min “Hi Rob,” says Peter Oh. “Chelsea are singing the blues and Barcelona are sitting pretty in pink.”

And that’s Blockbusters.

9.30pm BST

71 min Two more changes for Barcelona: the club captain Vicky Losada and Asisat Oshoala replace Putellas and Hermoso.

9.30pm BST

71 min Another half chance for Chelsea. After a bit of pinball in the area, Kerr loops a header over the bar.

9.28pm BST

70 min It’s rare that you get to bathe in something magical before it has officially happened. With a 4-0 lead, Barcelona are enjoying that delightful window of time.

9.27pm BST

68 min Reiten’s free-kick is headed straight at Panos by Harder. That was a decent chance, and she could easily have had a hat-trick tonight.

9.26pm BST

66 min Hamraoui’s corner is headed wide of the far post by Guijarro (I think).

9.24pm BST

65 min Putellas plays a neat through pass to Hermoso, who shoots wearily into the side netting.

9.22pm BST

64 min “Re: my earlier mail about my daughter and Chelsea,” says Julian Menz. “She has just said, ‘Chelsea är skitdålig [Swedish for shite], I’m going to bed, read me a book’. Let’s hope Chelsea win something soon, or we might lose her.”

They’ve already won two trophies this season and could be on for a third. How much glory does she want?!

9.21pm BST

62 min A Barcelona change: the brilliant Caroline Graham Hansen is replaced by Mariona Caldentey.

9.20pm BST

60 min Graham Hansen wanders over to the left, beats Charles and lifts a cross that is pushed away by Berger.

9.19pm BST

60 min Bright eases Putellas over in the area. That looked a risky challenge, but the referee had no interest in giving a penalty.

9.18pm BST

58 min Ingle plays a terrific pass to find Kirby in space on the right of the area. She lifts a cross towards Kerr that is brilliantly cleared by Guijarro, facing her own goal in the six-yard box. No matter, it wouldn’t have counted: Kirby was offside.

9.14pm BST

54 min Chelsea have been much the better team in the second half, though that’s partly because Barcelona’s intensity has dropped. I suppose being 4-0 up does that to you.

9.12pm BST

52 min Chelsea have indeed switched to a 3-4-3 formation, with Reiten and Charles as wing-backs. That’s a huge risk against Martens and Graham Hansen, but they’ve got nothing to lose and so far it has worked well.

9.10pm BST

51 min Another near miss for Chelsea, with a left-wing cross just evading the head of Kerr at the far post.

9.09pm BST

50 min Kirby has a snapshot blocked. Chelsea have made a proud, determined start to the second half.

9.09pm BST

49 min Eriksson, up for a corner, is shoved in the back by Maria Leon. The referee gives a foul to Barcelona, because Eriksson fell on the ball and handled, but that could easily have been a penalty. It wasn’t a clear and obvious error, so VAR didn’t get involved.

9.07pm BST

47 min The only vague silver lining for Chelsea is that they know it’s possible to get over a Champions League final hammering, as that’s exactly what Barcelona have done.

9.05pm BST

46 min Kirby’s cross is headed towards goal by Kerr, and Panos moves across her line to make a comfortable save.

9.05pm BST

46 min Peep peep! Chelsea begin the second half.

9.04pm BST

Chelsea have made a half-time change: Guro Reiten is on for the luckless Melanie Leupolz. That might mean a switch to a back three.

9.01pm BST

“Chelsea didn’t even play that badly initially, they were incredibly unlucky for the first two goals,” says Ciaran Crowther. “But they sleepwalked into a nightmare after that. Millie Bright looked lost in that first half. Devastating.”

8.57pm BST

“Hi Rob,” says Peter van Balen. “Even though Martens hasn’t scored herself (yet), she was devastating in attack - back to her best (FIFA & UEFA Player of the Year 2017). Looking forward to the second half.”

The run for the fourth goal was majestic. She has such a brilliant change of pace.

8.54pm BST

Half-time chitchat

“Wow,” says Matt Dony. “Even the very best teams often tense up in the really big games. How often have we bemoaned underwhelming finals between underperforming sides? Barcelona have been playing like it’s an exhibition. No pressure, no nerves, utterly confident in their ability and their system. I don’t like Barcelona at all, but it is absolutely impossible not to be enormously impressed.”

8.52pm BST

Ouch. The biggest game in the history of Chelsea FCW has turned into a grisly nightmare. They never recovered from Melanie Leupolz’s freak own goal after 33 seconds, and Barcelona took them apart with some blistering football. The left winger Lieke Martens was unplayable - she didn’t score but played a part in three of the goals.

Alexia Putellas made it 2-0 with a dodgy penalty, then played a sensational pass for Aitana Bonmati to score the third. And finally a glorious run from Martens ended with a tap-in for Caroline Graham Hansen.

8.47pm BST

45+1 min Ji’s free-kick is comfortably saved by Panos.

8.46pm BST

45 min Kirby is fouled 30 yards from goal. It’s rare that you talk about the chance of a consolation goal in the first half, but sadly that’s where Chelsea’s are at.

8.45pm BST

43 min “While I was expecting Barcelona to shade it based on their performance in the semifinal, I’m flummoxed by how much trouble Chelsea have had with the Catalan attack,” says Kári Tulinius. “I watched them deal fairly comfortably with Mead and Miedema, one of the finest forward pairs in the game, but they can’t seem to read Barcelona’s movements at all. Are Barcelona doing something different, or are Chelsea just not set up to chase the game?”

I think the early goal, and the manner of it, really unnerved Chelsea. But the main factor is the quality of Barcelona’s wingers, who have played a big part in all four goals. Niamh Charles and Jess Carter have been unable to cope; I’m not sure many could.

8.42pm BST

41 min Harder cuts inside from the left and hits a good shot that is smartly saved by Panos, falling to her right at the near post.

8.41pm BST

40 min Chelsea are an exceptional football team, yet they have been taken toi the cleaners. Barcelona have been awesome.

8.41pm BST

39 min Ah, it turns out Ingle was booked for that tackle on Hamraoui.

8.40pm BST

38 min Ingle is lucky not to be booked for a really poor tackle on Hamraoui. There was a VAR check for a red card, in fact, though it didn’t quite meet that threshold.

8.39pm BST

36 min It’s worth repeating that, in their only previous final, two years ago, Barcelona were 4-0 down to Lyon after half an hour.

8.38pm BST

Barcelona are champions of Europe... already. Martens moves elegantly past Charles on the left, slows down and then beats her again in the area. She reaches the byline, looks up and nutmegs Bright to give Graham Hansen an open goal. That was devastating.

8.37pm BST

34 min Ji drives an excellent long pass towards Kerr, who gets behind the defence but lobs wide from the edge of the area. That was a chance, because Panos was in, erm, no-woman’s land, but Kerr couldn’t wrap her left foot around the world.

8.36pm BST

33 min At times football is incredibly callous. It took Chelsea eight years to get to a Champions League final, and they conceded a slapstick own goal after 33 seconds. They just haven’t recovered.

8.33pm BST

31 min Putellas turns smartly on the edge of the D before driving a low shot wide. She has been majestic.

8.32pm BST

29 min “That’s how you buy a penalty,” says Ruth Purdue. “I am with you, I am having none of it.”

I’m not sure she even bought it. I just think she kicked Leupolz in her follow through and went over because it genuinely hurt. The referee actually waited a couple of seconds before giving it, which suggests the fall may have been a factor. But I’m not sure it was simulation from Hermoso. The daft thing is that, had she connected cleanly, I think Leupolz would have blocked the shot and play would have continued. It only became a foul because of the miskick.

8.30pm BST

28 min Chelsea, not unreasonably, look shellshocked.

8.26pm BST

Here’s the penalty that put Barcelona 2-0 up. I’m still not having it, though it would be a stretch to say Chelsea have been robbed.

Penalty!

Hermoso is clipped in the box as she goes to shoot

Alexia steps up and puts it in the bottom corner for Barcelona ⚽#UWCLfinal Live on Youtube & BT Sport 2 HD / pic.twitter.com/fXb8vOPFMh

8.25pm BST

24 min Harder has a long-range shot blocked. Chelsea have played pretty well going forward, but they have been taken apart at the back.

8.25pm BST

22 min The pass from Putellas for that goal was textbook tiki-taka: she spotted Bonmati’s run and made an instant adjustment to angle a first-time pass through to her, taking three Chelsea players out of the game in the process.

8.23pm BST

That is a beautiful goal. Martens beat Charles on the left and crossed towards Hermoso, back to goal on the edge of the area. She laid it off to Putellas, who played a devastating first-time through pass into the path of Bonmati. She charged into the area, nicked the ball away from Charles and slipped it under Berger.

8.22pm BST

Oh goodness gracious me.

8.18pm BST

16 min Kerr’s cross is headed onto the roof of the net by the stretching Harder. I’m really not sure that was a penalty you know. I’d like to see it again while not trying to do 48 thing at once, but it looked like Hermoso made a mess of the shot and then followed through into Leupolz. Either way, it’s been a traumatic start to the game for Leupolz. She has scored an own goal and given away a penalty, despite arguably doing nothing wrong.

8.17pm BST

15 min In their only other Champions League final, two years ago, Barcelona were 4-0 down to Lyon after half an hour. It’s fair to say they have addressed that tonight.

8.15pm BST

No penalty heroics from Berger this time. The captain Putellas calmly sends her the wrong way, and Chelsea are in all sorts of trouble.

8.14pm BST

PENALTY GIVEN! Hmm, I’d like to see that again.

8.14pm BST

Graham Hansen got behind Carter in the area, shaped to shoot and then cut the ball back to Hermoso near the penalty spot. She miskicked her shot under pressure from Leupolz and then went over after a clash of legs. I thought Hermoso kicked Leupolz in her follow through, rather than the other way round, but I fear this is going to be upheld.

8.13pm BST

12 min: PENALTY TO BARCELONA! This looks like a terrible decision, and we do have VAR.

8.12pm BST

11 min The last five minutes have been much more encouraging for Chelsea, with most of the game being played in the Barcelona half. It’s a statement of the offensively obvious, but the next goal is huge.

8.11pm BST

What a start from Barcelona!

A rocket of a shot from Lieke Martens Rattles the bar!

Then the clearance hits Leupolz and loops over and into the back of the net
#UWCLfinal Live on Youtube & BT Sport 2 HD / pic.twitter.com/qchG8a5mJ5

8.11pm BST

9 min: Another chance for Harder! Leupolz feeds the ball into Kerr, who flicks it ingeniously behind her standing leg to put Harder through on goal. Torrejon comes across to make a vital block, deflecting Harder’s shot behind. The corner is swung to the far post, where Eriksson heads over. That was a difficult chance.

8.09pm BST

8 min Chelsea have their first spell of possession. It’s been the most torrid start imaginable.

8.08pm BST

6 min We haven’t had time to reflect on that freak goal after 33 seconds. There was nothing Leupolz could do about it, and I’m not sure you can really blame Kirby either. She was just trying to clear the ball somewhere, anywhere, but it hit Leupolz and ricocheted crazily over Berger.

8.06pm BST

5 min Barcelona are pressing so aggressively, and Chelsea are being swamped.

8.06pm BST

4 min: Vital save from Berger! Chelsea are all over the place. Berger’s clearance goes straight to a Barcelona player, who feeds it into Putellas (I think) in the area. She drives a rising shot that is pushed onto the roof of the net, not entirely convincingly, by Berger.

8.05pm BST

4 min: Hermoso almost makes it 2-0! This is a ridiculous start to the game. Hermoso receives posseession on the edge of the area, turns smartly and drives just wide. Then...

8.05pm BST

2 min: What a save from Panos! Chelsea almost equaliuse straight away. Carter’s driven cross from deep on the left finds Harder in space eight yards out. She opens her body to steer a half-volley towards goal, and Panos reacts brilliantly to turn it over. A goalkick was given, and at first it looked like a bad miss, but I’m sure that was a save.

8.04pm BST

I cannot believe what has just happened. Martens hit the bar after 25 seconds, a brilliant effort from the edge of the area. Barcelona kept the ball alive until Kirby’s desperate clearance hit Leupolz and looped miserably over Berger. Chelsea are behind after 33 seconds!

8.02pm BST

A nightmare start for Chelsea!

8.01pm BST

1 min Peep peep! Barcelona, in their pink change strip, kick off from left to right. Chelsea are in their new blue kit.

8.01pm BST

Here we go. In a few hours’ time, one of these teams will be champions of Europe for the first time.

7.59pm BST

Tense, nervous headache? I should hope so, it’s the bleedin’ Champions League final!

7.58pm BST

A stern-faced Magda Eriksson leads Chelsea onto the field, followed by Alexia Putellas and Barcelona. Some players look very nervous, others more relaxed. Fran Kirby and Sam Kerr, inseparable before the game never mind during it, are having a laugh and a joke.

7.56pm BST

“As a huge admirer of the FAWSL, I would be very happy to see Chelsea make a game of this or even win it,” says Dom from California. “But having watched Barcelona in the last two rounds, I just can’t see it. Both sides have weaknesses at the back, but expect Caroline Graham Hansen in particular to utterly terrorise Chelsea’s left back. Plus Martens should be buzzing after burying PSG. A sad day for Chelsea awaits.”

I fear you’re right, as they are an awesome side. But what if? What if?

7.50pm BST

I’m off for a quick coffee break. See you in 10 minutes for the kick off!

7.50pm BST

The pre-match thoughts of Emma Hayes

“I’m in the happiest place ever. I’m in this fantastic arena, it’s decked out with women’s Champions League colours. I’ve got a happy dressing-room, we get to play in one of the biggest games of our lives. I’ve learned over the years that this is what you go to work for, to be in these moments. I’m too old to get nervous, so I’m gonna have a glorious evening watching my team. We’re gonna give it everything we’ve got and I hope that we can get everyone back home on the edge of their seats.

7.43pm BST

Beautiful. No dugout though is weird! But also means we’re right above Chelsea staff/bench and can give you all the goss... #UWCLfinal #nofilter pic.twitter.com/Ic9YDjTMQC

I hope it doesn’t hose it down.

7.21pm BST

She’s not wrong.

7.19pm BST

I’ve put Chelsea’s formation as 4-3-3, as per the official Uefa graphic, but they are very flexible in attack - at times it will be a 4-3-2-1 or even a 4-2-3-1. Just one more thing: it looks like Jess Carter and Niamh Charles will swap sides from the semi-final - Charles on the right, Carter on the left to deal with Caroline Graham Hansen. Charles hasn’t exactly drawn the long straw either: she’s up against Lieke Martens.

Chelsea (4-3-3) Berger; Charles, Bright, Eriksson, Carter; Ji, Ingle, Leupolz; Kirby, Harder, Kerr.
Substitutes: Musovic, Telford, Blundell, England, Reiten, Fleming, Cuthbert, Spence, Andersson, Fox, Beever-Jones.

7.04pm BST

Lluis Cortes makes one change from the semi-final win over Paris Saint-Germain: Kheira Hamraoui comes in for the suspended Andrea Pereira. That means Patri Guijarro will move into the centre of defence, with Hamraoui taking her place in midfield. The brilliant Asisat Oshoala, who has struggled with injury in the last couple of months, is on the bench.

11 @FCBfemeni OFICIAL #UWCL
@stanleytools #ChelseaBarça pic.twitter.com/ieAdune7H3

7.00pm BST

New kit vibes! #CFCW #UWCLfinal pic.twitter.com/enbEX3UPg9

6.58pm BST

“My five-year-old daughter starts playing ’organised’ football here in Sweden on Tuesday,” says Julian Menz. “(A bunch of kids chasing the ball, but it’s a start.) We were watching the FA Cup final yesterday, entire family in Chelsea shirts, and after an hour of ‘come on Chelsea’, the Leicester goal was swiftly followed by ‘I’m tired now’. I told her the women can do better than the men, so here’s hoping. Come on Chelsea, Molly in Sweden is watching! (Well, papa will be reading the MBM for her.)”

6.56pm BST

6.52pm BST

Emma Hayes sticks with the team that beat Bayern Munich in the second leg of the semi-final. The flexibility of Melanie Leupolz and Sam Kerr in particular means they can switch between 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-2-1. I suspect it will be the latter tonight.

Here's your Chelsea team to take on Barcelona in the #UWCLfinal! #CFCW pic.twitter.com/va89vvX3kQ

6.46pm BST

6.40pm BST

Chelsea can be crowned Champions of Europe, inspire a generation, and cement a place in history.

Chelsea vs Barcelona
Women’s Champions League Final

Live on BT Sport 2 & Youtube /
7:15pm ⏰ pic.twitter.com/dEn9xI5kSy

6.33pm BST

While we wait for the team news, here’s Suzanne Wrack’s brilliant profile of the remarkable Emma Hayes.

6.32pm BST

Chelsea are the first English team to reach the final since 2007, when Arsenal beat Umea 1-0 on aggregate thanks to a goal from Alex Scott. Whatever happened to her, etc. Emma Hayes was part of the Arsenal coaching team that year; now she’s in the big chair.

5.54pm BST

Hello. The record for climbing Mount Everest is eight hours 10 minutes, achieved by Pemba Dorje Sherpa in 2004. But the metaphorical ascent, the fulfilment of a lifetime’s ambition, usually takes years rather than hours. In football, the analogy is used most often to describe the holiest of grails, the Champions League. Tonight in Gothenburg, either Chelsea or Barcelona will reach the summit by winning the competition for the first time.

At the moment, just under two hours from kick-off, defeat is unthinkable. Both sides will have a powerful sense of destiny – Chelsea after that heartstopping win over Bayern Munich took them into their first final, Barcelona because they beat the PSG side that had put out the serial winners Lyon.

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Published on May 16, 2021 14:11

Tottenham 2-0 Wolves: Premier League – as it happened

Harry Kane and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg scored as Spurs kept their Europa League hopes alive with a comfortable win over a listless Wolves

4.09pm BST

4.08pm BST

More more more

3.54pm BST

Peep peep! A comfortable win takes Spurs above West Ham into sixth place. Harry Kane and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg got the goals, while Kane (twice) and a bright Dele Alli also hit the post. With the honourable exceptions of Conor Coady and Adama Traore, Wolves looked like a team in urgent need of a holiday.

3.51pm BST

90 min “I feel you are attempting to re-write history here about Beckham in the 2002 World Cup,” says Rick Harris. “The guy had been rushed back to play for England following a metatarsal fracture, so he wisely jumped out of the type of full on tackle that would potentially have broken his foot again. The ball was 80 yards from the England goal at that point.”

There was a lot of talk about it at the time, that’s all I was saying. Not sure that’s why he jumped out of the tackle though.

3.51pm BST

89 min Spurs bring on Moussa Sissoko for Gareth Bale, who didn’t add to his recent goal glut but played well nonetheless.

3.48pm BST

88 min After good play from Son, Kane shoots straight at Rui Patricio from 20 yards.

3.48pm BST

87 min Neves’s long-range shot is blocked by Kane. Moments later, Saiss shins a volley so badly that it spins away from goal. In his defence, he’s a defender, and it was a very awkward ball to hit.

3.47pm BST

86 min Tanganga is booked for a cynical pull on an unidentified Wolves player.

3.43pm BST

82 min Tanguy Ndombele replaces Dele Alli, who has had a really encouraging game. And Wolves bring on the Canadian teenager Theo Corbeanu for Fabio Silva.

3.42pm BST

81 min “Am I a bad football fan because I don’t know what you’re referring to for Beckham vs Brazil 2002?” says Dan C. “I remember the match - well I thought I did.”

You’re barred sunshine! Er, no, you’re not a bad fan. It was in the build-up to Rivaldo’s equaliser just before half-time. Beckham thought the ball was going out of play so he hurdled a challenge, but Brazil kept the ball in play and were level approximately 0.2 seconds later. Hoever did something similar: he dithered by the touchline, thinking Reguilon was going nowhere and/or the ball was going out play. But Reguilon pinched the ball off him and Spurs were away.

3.40pm BST

78 min Dendoncker’s classy pass releases Traore on the right. He finds Willian Jose in the area, but he has his back to goal so he tees up the onrushing Moutinho. His shot from the edge of the area is deflected wide. That was a really good move from Wolves.

3.38pm BST

76 min “I think I and most Tottenham fans would not begrudge Kane a move to a big overseas tea,” says Peter McLeod. “He’s got more than enough ability to be a multiple Champions League winner, like Modric and Bale. Would be gutted to see him win the PL with another club, that’s just the way it is. What does bother me (and a lot of others) is how much of the punditocracy thinks the only subject worth discussing when it comes to Tottenham is whether and where Kane goes. There’s an entire football club here!”

It’s a fair point. One thing that has surprised me in the last few months is how little coverage there has been of Son’s dramatic dip in form. I’m no Spurs mastermind, but from afar that looked like one of the biggest reasons it all went wrong for Mourinho.

3.35pm BST

75 min Moutinho is okay to continue.

3.35pm BST

74 min Tanganga is lucky not to be booked for booting Moutinho, who is in a lot of pain.

3.34pm BST

73 min Another Wolves change: Ruben Neves is on for Morgan Gibbs-White, who has had a quiet game but showed his creative potential when he set up that great chance for Fabio Silva in the 65th minute.

3.31pm BST

70 min And now Alli shoots well wide from 25 yards.

3.30pm BST

69 min Son’s corner from the right is headed over at the near post by Tanganga.

3.30pm BST

69 min A change for Spurs: Harry Winks replaces Lo Celso.

3.29pm BST

67 min Wolves have come alive since going 2-0 down. Fabio Silva, playing on the left now, cuts inside and hits a shot that is deflected behind for a corner.

3.28pm BST

66 min Traore, the one Wolves attacker beyond reproach today, zips menacingly between Dier and Hojbjerg in the area but then drags a left-footed shot wide of the near post.

3.28pm BST

65 min: Fabio Silva misses a sitter! Wolves should be back in it. Gibbs-White plays a neat give and go with Traore on the right, surges into the area and picks out Fabio Silva by the penalty spot. He tries to sidefoot it first time into the bottom-left corner but mistimes the shot badly and the ball dribbles well wide.

3.25pm BST

63 min Wolves make a change - Vitinha off, Willian Jose on.

3.25pm BST

Alli, on the halfway line, clipped a pass out to Reguilon on the left. His touch was poor but then he slid in to nick the ball off Hoever before cutting it back to Son on the edge of the area. He moved it across to Bale, whose first-time shot was pushed out by Patricio. Hojbjerg was first to the loose ball and scored easily from close range. There were two Wolves mistakes in that goal - Hoever losing the ball on the touchline (think Beckham v Brazil in 2002), and then Patricio pushing the ball out in front of goal rather than to his left.

3.23pm BST

The faithful watercarrier has his moment in the sun!

3.22pm BST

61 min “Foderoy78 is dreaming if he thinks Kane will move abroad,” says Rick Harris. “Looking at the PL clubs that need him and are likely to reward him with winners medals, then Chelsea, United and Liverpool are the names that spring to mind. Manchester City don’t look likely to buy anyone this summer given their already talent bloated squad.”

I’m not sure he’ll leave this summer, except perhaps to PSG. It wouldn’t surprise me if he ended up in Manchester in the summer of 2022.

3.21pm BST

60 min Wolves haven’t been great today, but we shouldn’t forget that they are without three of their best players in Daniel Podence, Pedro Neto and Raul Jimenez. The season has been a write-off since Jimenez’s awful injury.

3.18pm BST

57 min “So much talk about how our defence is the problem despite being the third meanest in the league,” says Toby Thatcher. “So little talk about how our offensive strategy is best summarised as ‘receive ball, wait until pressed, panic, pass backwards + hope opposition makes a mistake or we get lucky with a 50/50 & hope Kane is there to capitalise’.”

I know what you mean, though I still think the new manager will fancy his chances with that collection of attacking players. A rejuvenated Alli would make a difference.

3.17pm BST

56 min Spurs are all over Wolves like a cheap cliche. Conor Coady has already made almost 15 clearances.

3.16pm BST

55 min Bale’s jaunty backheel finds Kane, who cracks a low shot towards goal from 20 yards. Patricio makes a comfortable save this time.

3.16pm BST

54 min: Kane and Alli hit the post! Well I never. That should have been a second goal for Spurs. Alli stole the ball off Moutinho in midfield, moved forward and played a classy through pass to Kane. His first time shot was pushed onto the post by Patricio, a quite outstanding save low to his right. The ball rebounded to Alli, who slid a low shot off the other post. That was lovely play in the build up from Alli, who waited an age until the right pass presented itself.

3.14pm BST

53 min The corner leads to a bit of a scramble in the Wolves area before Patricio takes the ball off Alli’s toes.

3.13pm BST

52 min Lo Celso flicks a nice pass to his left for Reguilon, who charges into the area and cracks a rising drive that is pushed over by Patricio. It was a comfortable save in the end, and Reguilon should probably have done better.

3.12pm BST

50 min: Saiss misses a good chance! A Wolves free-kick is only half cleared, with Vitinha picking up possession on the left. He booms a superb first-time cross towards the far post, where Saiss gets between Kane and Alderweireld but heads straight at Lloris from eight yards. He must have mistimed the heade r because it bounced tamely into the arms of Lloris.

3.09pm BST

48 min “I disagree with Mary Waltz,” says Foderoy78. “Kane can go anywhere... abroad. All goodwill will evaporate if he goes to United.”

Really? That surprises me slightly. I thought it would be anywhere... outside London.

3.08pm BST

46 min Traore’s cross is cleared by Lo Celso, who slips and takes out Fabio Silva in his follow through. Silva went down in pain but I don’t think anybody appealed for a penalty.

3.06pm BST

46 min Peep peep! Wolves begin the second half.

2.55pm BST

Half-time reading

2.55pm BST

“Where will Kane land?” says Mary Waltz. “I have no idea. But I am sure of this. He has righteously earned the right to go wherever he pleases. He has put up with the chaos that is Spurs for so long, he has played hurt, and he is simply a stunning footballer. He deserves to raise a trophy and I doubt that will happen with Spurs.”

Whatever happened to Gary Cooper? He’s there, Tony, up front for Tottenham Hotspur!

2.54pm BST

Harry Kane’s goal gives Spurs a deserved lead at half-time. They started slowly but were increasingly dominant as the half progressed, and would have gone ahead earlier but for some fine defending from Conor Coady. Kane, who hit the post from distance early on, finished expertly on the stroke of half-time.

2.52pm BST

GOAL GIVEN! Hojbjerg threads a stunning long pass between Saiss and Coady to find Kane, who is being played onside by the right-back Hoever. He moved into the area, dummied the sliding Coady and Patricio in one movement and clipped the ball into the empty net. That’s a masterful finish.

2.50pm BST

Harry Kane gives Spurs the lead, VAR permitting.

2.50pm BST

43 min: Coady clears off the line - twice! Lo Celso’s corner from the right is headed up in the air by Coady at the near post. Kane beats Patricio - who thought he was fouled - to the ball and heads towards goal from a couple of yards. Coady blocks it and then does the same a few seconds later when Lo Celso’s cross threatens to sneak in.

2.48pm BST

43 min Tanganga’s cross is kicked behind by Coady, who has made a number of important clearances.

2.46pm BST

41 min Bale skins Semedo on the right, gets to the byline and cuts the ball back towards Alli at the near post. He is just beaten to the ball by the lunging Saiss, who had to get that right or it would have been a penalty.

2.44pm BST

38 min: Good save from Rui Patricio! A quick-witted header from Kane finds Son in a bit of space on the left of the area. He moves the ball away from Coady and cracks a left-footed shot that is pushed away at the near post by Patricio. The ball ricochets off Dendoncker and back into the loving embrace of Patricio. That could easily have been an own goal from Dendoncker.

2.39pm BST

35 min Moutinho plays a good ball inside the full-back for Semedo, whose imperfect low cross is cleared at the near post.

2.38pm BST

34 min Alli goes over in the area after a slight push in the back from Coady. He appeals for a penalty; nobody else does and play continues.

2.38pm BST

33 min Saiss is lucky not to be booked for a foul on Alli, who beat him with a lovely deft touch.

2.37pm BST

30 min “Very obvious yesterday against Leicester that Chelsea are crying out for a top striker and while I can see a Werner-plus-cash bid for Dortmund’s Haaland, surely Harry Kane would more than fit the bill?” says Rick Harris. “Kane won’t win anything if he stays at Spurs and as the club has demonstrated that loyalty isn’t something they value if an ESL slot is on offer, I doubt Spurs fans would blame him for leaving.”

They would if he goes to Chelsea! I can’t see him joining another London club personally. He might not leave at all; I suppose it depends on who they appoint as manager, and what Kane thinks of them and their style of play.

2.34pm BST

29 min Traore heads a loose ball away from Alli and storms through the middle of the field. He runs 50 yards to the edge of the area before pushing the ball to the right for Silva, who shoots just wide of the far post. That was a decent chance, and another spectacular run from Traore.

2.32pm BST

27 min Lovely play from Alli. He nutmegs Dendoncker on the right, then swerves away from Semedo near the byline and forces a cross towards the near post that is kneed behind by Coady. The referee gives a goalkick but it was definitely Coady’s touch.

2.30pm BST

25 min I expected more intensity in Spurs’ play, partly because they need to win and partly as a response to their dismal performance at Leeds last week. Bale, who does look quite lively, has a shot well blocked by Saiss after running across the edge of the penalty area.

2.29pm BST

23 min Free-kick to Spurs 35 yards from goal. Bale clips it over the top towards Kane, whose shot on the turn goes wide on the near post. That was an extremely difficult chance as he was running away from goal and had to take it on the half-volley as it came on his outside.

2.26pm BST

21 min Bale strikes the free-kick cleanly but it’s not in the corner and Rui Patricio holds it comfortably as he falls to his right.

2.26pm BST

21 min Saiss commits a silly foul on Lo Celso 25 yards from goal. Bale and Kane are over it.

2.25pm BST

20 min Lo Celso’s corner is headed away at the near post by Coady.

2.24pm BST

19 min Lo Celso’s long-range shot hits the head of Saiss and loops over the bar.

2.22pm BST

17 min Lo Celso threads a superb pass down the left towards Son. He tries to find Kane in the area but his cross is well blocked by Hoever.

2.19pm BST

14 min A quiet spell, with nothing to report.

2.16pm BST

10 min Traore goes on another charge through midfield and is brought down by Alli. That might have been a yellow card, but it wasn’t.

2.14pm BST

8 min Traore leads a Wolves break, charging 60 yards before stabbing a pass to Fabio Silva on the right side of the box. His relatively tame shot takes a deflection and goes behind for a corner. Moutinho swings it in and Lloris claims at the second attempt.

2.13pm BST

7 min Fabio Silva runs onto a long ball down the inside-left channel, holds off a woolly challenge from Dier and works Hugo Lloris from a very tight angle. There was never much chance of scoring from there, and it was an easy save for Lloris, but at least it was a shot on target.

2.12pm BST

6 min That was such a good effort from Kane, a simple turn and an instant hit. He really is a majestic player.

2.10pm BST

5 min: Kane hits the post! Hojbjerg plays a short pass into Kane, unmarked 25 yards out. He turns and drags a terrific shot that beats Patricio and bounces up to hit the far post.

2.08pm BST

3 min Bale goes on his first run, away from Gibbs-White, but his cross is headed away.

2.05pm BST

1 min Peep peep! Spurs kick off on a beautiful afternoon in north London. They are in white; Wolves are wearing their Portugal kit.

1.58pm BST

The first game of the day was a cracker - it finished Palace 3-2 Villa

1.54pm BST

⚡️ Warm-ups underway in N17... @Vivo_Power ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/sH268cVhf5

1.11pm BST

The teams in formation

Tottenham Hotspur (4-2-3-1) Lloris; Tanganga, Alderweireld, Dier, Reguilon; Lo Celso, Hojbjerg; Bale, Alli, Son; Kane.
Substitutes: Hart, Doherty, Sanchez, Winks, Ndombele, Sissoko, Lamela, Bergwijn, Lucas Moura.

1.07pm BST

Pre-match entertainment

1.07pm BST

⚪️ Lloris (C), Tanganga, Alderweireld, Dier, Reguilón, Højbjerg, Dele, Lo Celso, Bale, Son, Kane.#THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/w20GMOvIFs

Here's how Wolves line-up for this afternoon's @premierleague fixture against @SpursOfficial. #TOTWOL

pic.twitter.com/S7hh6QBXNn

12.38pm BST

It’s already been a good weekend for Spurs. West Ham’s draw at Brighton last night means that a Europa League place is back in their admittedly slippery hands. If they win their last three games they will qualify, the end. It’s a mixed bag of fixtures: Wolves at home today, Aston Villa at home on Wednesday and Leicester away next Sunday.

The doom and gloom surrounding Spurs in the last few weeks obscures some pretty decent home form. They’ve won four of the last five, hitting 15 goals in the process, and are odds-on to beat Wolves today.

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Published on May 16, 2021 07:54

May 15, 2021

Brighton 1-1 West Ham: Premier League – as it happened

The substitute Said Benrahma scored a superb equaliser to earn West Ham a point after Danny Welbeck put the home side ahead

10.06pm BST

Ed Aarons’ match report has landed, so I’ll leave you with that. Thanks for your company and emails - goodnight.

10.06pm BST

9.51pm BST

Peep peep! Another frustrating night for West Ham, whose Europa League place is now out of their hands. It could have been worse: they needed an excellent equaliser from Said Benrahma after Danny Welbeck put Brighton ahead in the 84th minute.

9.49pm BST

90+2 min Bissouma shoots miles wide from distance. Limits, know, your.

9.48pm BST

90+2 min “Welbeck’s goal in musical form,” says Oliver Beige.

9.48pm BST

90+1 min Three minutes of added time. Lingard’s cross did hit Webster’s hand, though he was trying to get it out of the way.

9.47pm BST

90 min: Big appeal for a West Ham penalty! Lingard’s cross seems to hit the arm of a Brighton defender, but nothing is given and there’s no VAR intervention. I’d like to see that again.

9.47pm BST

89 min As soon as that goal went in, David Moyes waved his team back the halfway line. He knows how vital a win tonight would be.

9.46pm BST

It’s Benrahma’s first goal for West Ham. Coufal’s cross was headed away to the edge of the D, where Benrahma retrived the loose ball and then shaped a lovely curling shot that beat Sanchez to his left and went in off the inside of the post.

9.45pm BST

Said Benrahma equalises with a beautiful goal!

9.43pm BST

86 min If it stays like this, Spurs and Everton will really fancy their chances of stealing a Europa League place from West Ham.

9.42pm BST

The substitute Percy Tau made it with a delicious angled through ball towards Welbeck. Fabianski came to meet him on the edge of the area, so Welbeck lifted the ball over him on the run. A good finish, though Fabianski made up his mind for him.

9.41pm BST

A huge goal for Spurs, Everton, Liverpool and even Brighton!

9.40pm BST

84 min Brighton bring on Andi Zeqiri for Leandro Trossard.

9.40pm BST

83 min: Dawson misses a great chance! Cresswell’s corner beats everyone and is picked up by Benrahma on the far side of the field. He puts in a terrific cross that is headed just wide of the far post by Dawson. That’s a seriously good chance for somebody so good in the air.

9.39pm BST

82 min Fornals wins a corner for West Ham, who are stirring for one last push.

9.39pm BST

81 min Burn makes an important interception to stop Antonio putting Benrahma through on goal.

9.38pm BST

80 min This match in musical form.

9.34pm BST

78 min “81st-minute Lallana winner still on,” vociferates Matt Dony. “Come join me and Copestake on the corner, Rob. We can all throw metaphorical empty beer bottles at City, like the petty, tribalistic muppets that football turns us into (no matter how much we try to deny it).”

9.33pm BST

76 min Both teams continue to huff and puff to no great effect. We’ve had three shots on target all night.

9.30pm BST

73 min Another change for Brighton: Percy Tau replaces Ali Jahanbakhsh.

9.30pm BST

72 min Now West ham are enjoying a decent spell of possession. Fornals beats the keeper Sanchez to a loose ball on the left edge of the area, but his subsequent cross is parried away by Sanchez. No matter: Fornals was proabbly offside.

9.27pm BST

69 min Brighton have been the better team in the last 20 minutes or so, and West Ham might be revising their ambitions. One point is literally better than none.

9.24pm BST

67 min A change for Brighton: Adam Lallana replaces Steven Alzate in midfield.

9.21pm BST

64 min A West Ham change: Said Benrahma replaces Jarrod Bowen.

9.20pm BST

60 min All we are saying is give us a shot on target. Lingard tries and fails, hoofing over from 20 yards.

9.17pm BST

59 min Nothing comes of the corner but Brighton regain possession and continue to pin West Ham back.

9.16pm BST

58 min This is a decent spell for Brighton, probably their best of the match, and Jahanbakhsh wins another corner.

9.14pm BST

55 min: Chance for Brighton! Burn sprays a long crossfield pass towards Jahanbakhsh, which the stretching Cresswell heads back towards his own goal. Fabianski comes a long way, to the left edge of the area, but is beaten to the ball by Jahanbakhsh. He shoots first time from a very tight angle and the ball bounces just wide of the far post.

9.11pm BST

53 min Trossard’s long-range stinger is blocked. Gross picks up the rebound and plays in Jahanbakhsh, whose shot from a tight angle is beaten away by Fabianski.

9.08pm BST

51 min Cresswell’s cross is headed over by Soucek, under pressure from Burn.

9.07pm BST

50 min Brighton almost take the lead on the break. Jahanbakhsh gets clear on the right, cuts into the area and slides a low cross-shot that is kicked away by the stretching Fabianski.

9.04pm BST

47 min Bowen’s cross is crucially cut out at the near post by Webster. West Ham have picked up where they left off.

9.03pm BST

46 min An early effort from Antonio, who thrashes over from long range after a barnstorming run.

9.02pm BST

46 min Peep peep! Brighton begin the second half. It’s a big 45 minutes for West Ham, who need to win to keep Europa League qualification in their own hands.

8.47pm BST

Half-time reading

8.47pm BST

Peep peep!

8.45pm BST

45 min At the other end, Alzate’s long-range drive is blocked by Ogbonna.

8.44pm BST

44 min Bowen’s low cross from the right of the area finds Fornals, whose first-time shot is again blocked by a defender in the six-yard box. Moments later, a swirling long-range drive from Soucek is beaten away by Sanchez!

8.43pm BST

43 min West Ham’s greater need is starting to show; they have been much the better team for the last 20 minutes or so.

8.42pm BST

41 min: Fornals misses a good chance! After a slick passing move, Cresswell cut the ball back sharply to Fornals in the area. He took a touch and hit a shot that was blocked in the six-yard box, though I’m not sure it was on target anyway.

8.40pm BST

41 min “As a sad Everton fan I enjoyed the Foxes’ trophy triumph and I hope Rodgers sticks with Leicester,” says Mary Waltz. “The working-class ethos of Leicester is a soothing antidote to the Super League fungus that tried to ruin the PL.”

The celebrations were particularly charming.

What an incredible moment

pic.twitter.com/6jqWVjJgaF

8.39pm BST

39 min Fornals beats Webster with a glorious turn 30 yards from goal, but White comes across to block him on the edge of the area.

8.35pm BST

35 min West Ham are starting to spend more time in the Brighton half. The low-key start to the game makes it easy to forget how important this is for West Ham. They’ll happily take a filthy 1-0 win.

8.33pm BST

33 min Lingard’s cross from the right is headed back across goal by Antonio and booted away by Burn. I’m not sure why Antonio didn’t go for goal, although it doesn’t matter because he was offside.

8.30pm BST

30 min So far this has definitely been more comedown than afterparty. We still haven’t had a shot on target.

8.29pm BST

28 min “As this seems to be the street corner where sad Liverpool fans hang out,” begins Ian Copestake, “let me just say that, in the parlance of our times, I’m ‘psyched’ by Brendan Rodgers’ win.”

The same, and I’m not even a Liverpool fan. He’s a class act.

8.28pm BST

27 min Lingard slithers into the area but then falls over. He must have slipped because nobody appealed for a penalty, and VAFR didn’t get involved.

8.25pm BST

25 min Cresswell’s dangerous cross just evades the stretching Antonio at the near post.

8.24pm BST

25 min It’s still Brighton 0-0 West Ham. That’s shots on target, never mind goals.

8.23pm BST

24 min Saying which, Jahanbakhsh’s snapshot from the edge of the area is blocked.

8.23pm BST

23 min So far it’s been groundhog game for Brighton: lots of neat, precise passing, bugger all goal threat.

8.20pm BST

20 min Cresswell’s corner from the left skims off the head of Dawson, eight yards out, and flies across to the other side of the field. That looked like a decent chance, though we haven’t seen a replay. It might have been slightly too high for him.

8.17pm BST

18 min Bissouma is booked for crumping Lingard after the ball had gone.

8.16pm BST

16 min Bowen wins a corner for West Ham, which he’ll take himself. He doesn’t clear the first man.

8.14pm BST

14 min Jahanbakhsh plays a good pass out to Moder, who galumphs into the area from the left and tries to return the ball to Jahanbakhsh. Rice reads the play well and makes a good interception.

8.12pm BST

11 min Gross gets to the byline on the right and hammers a dangerous low cross that flashes through the six-yard box.

8.10pm BST

10 min With nothing happening on the field, the camera cuts to the suspended Lewis Dunk sipping a hot beverage in the stands. Apparently Brighton have never won a Premier League game without him.

8.07pm BST

7 min A decent spell of possession for West Ham ends with an overhit cross by Coufal.

8.03pm BST

4 min Nothing to report so far. Brighton are having plenty of the ball, as you’d expect.

8.01pm BST

2 min As expected, Brighton are playing a back three, though it’s Pascal Gross rather than Steven Alzate at right wing-back.

8.00pm BST

1 min Peeeeep peeeeep! West Ham kick from left to right. They’re in their black away kit; Brighton are in blue and white.

7.39pm BST

“The FA Cup was alright, I guess, but it’s no Premier League,” says Matt Dony, Liverpool fan. “Wonderfully, the league feels all relevant and important again (since Thursday night). Looking forward to a Lallana winner in the 81st minute. West Ham westhamming the run in, like we all secretly expected they would.”

7.19pm BST

The teams in (possible) formation

Brighton (3-4-2-1) Sanchez; White, Webster, Burn; Gross, Alzate, Bissouma, Moder; Jahanbakhsh, Trossard; Welbeck.
Substitutes: Steele, Karbownik, Mac Allister, Lallana, Caicedo, Connolly, Andone, Tau, Zeqiri.

7.16pm BST

Chelsea 0-1 Leicester For the first time in their history, Leicester have won the FA Cup. Youri Tielemans scored a wonderful goal, Kasper Schmeichel made two immense saves and then Chelsea had a late equaliser ruled out by VAR. Get all the reaction with Scott Murray.

7.02pm BST

https://t.co/S3j1TIvOB3 #BHAFC ⚪ pic.twitter.com/CZ5U7Ly6yM

Declan Rice is back!

Here's how we line-up tonight...#BHAWHU pic.twitter.com/RL22JrwQIo

6.27pm BST

Hello and welcome to live coverage of Brighton and Hove Albion versus Wes- ah what’s the point, you’re all following the FA Cup final, aren’t you? Quite right too, but maybe you’ll join us later for the afterparty at the Amex Stadium. At least I hope it’s an afterparty; a comedown can’t be ruled out, especially by those of us with memories of Brighton 0-0 Everton last month.

Either way, it’s a very important game for West Ham. Their chance of qualifying for the Champions League has almost gone, but a Europa League place is still in their hands. If they win their last three games - tonight, West Brom (A) and Southampton (H) - there’s nothing Spurs, Everton, the Spice Girls or anyone else can do to stop them.

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Published on May 15, 2021 13:53

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