Pro Sports

Stoke relegated, West Brom beats Tottenham in EPL

Posted May 05, 2018 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Stoke City's Xherdan Shaqiri reacts after Stoke City are relegated following the English Premier League soccer match between Stoke City and Crystal Palace, at the bet365 Stadium, in Stoke, England, Saturday May 5, 2018. (Dave Thompson/PA via AP) The Associated Press

LONDON (AP) - Stoke was relegated from the English Premier League after a 10-year stay while West Bromwich Albion earned a stay of execution, at least for a few hours on Saturday.

Jake Livemore's dramatic injury-time goal earned West Brom a 1-0 win against Tottenham although the Baggies could still be relegated if Southampton beats Everton in the late match.

West Ham took a giant step toward securing its survival by beating Leicester 2-0, while Swansea remained fearful of relegation after losing at Bournemouth 1-0.

GREAT ESCAPE

West Brom needed to beat fourth-place Tottenham to stand any chance of staying up and left it late when Livermore turned the ball past Hugo Lloris.

West Brom has dropped 26 points from winning positions this season - the most in the league - and there were few hints it would take the lead at The Hawthorns.

Spurs carried the greater threat and Ben Foster needed to be alert when Erik Lamela threatened before he palmed away Christian Eriksen's free kick after 62 minutes.

Harry Kane almost scored a spectacular own-goal until Lloris turned his sliced clearance over with 17 minutes left.

But the hosts kept pressing and grabbed the winner in stoppage time when Danny Rose and Livermore went for the ball during a goalmouth scramble and Livermore poked it in to spark wild celebrations.

Defeat meant Tottenham has yet to confirm its top-four spot. Chelsea could close the gap to two points with two games left if it beats Liverpool on Sunday.

DOWN AND OUT

Stoke became the first team relegated this season when it lost to Crystal Palace 2-1.

Stoke took the lead through Xherdan Shaqiri's 43rd-minute free kick, but James McArthur equalized for Palace in the 68th and Patrick van Aanholt netted the winner in the 86th.

Palace lost its first seven games but is mathematically safe, completing the considerable upturn in its fortunes after Roy Hodgson succeeded Frank De Boer early in the campaign.

OTHER MATCHES

West Ham inflicted on Leicester a fourth loss in five league matches with goals in each half from Joao Mario and Mark Noble.

The win moved David Moyes' team six points clear of the bottom three.

Swansea could find itself back in the bottom three if Southampton avoids defeat. At Swansea's expense, Bournemouth secured Premier League safety.

Elsewhere, Watford ended a seven-match winless run by beating Newcastle 2-1 despite captain Troy Deeney missing a penalty.

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More AP Premier League coverage: www.apnews.com/tag/PremierLeague

Stoke City's Ryan Shawcross, left, gestures after Crystal Palace's Patrick van Aanholt scores his side's second goal of the game, during the English Premier League soccer match between Stoke City and Crystal Palace, at the bet365 Stadium, in Stoke, England, Saturday May 5, 2018. (Dave Thompson/PA via AP) The Associated Press

Stoke City's Mame Biram Diouf, second left gestures after Stoke City are relegated following the English Premier League soccer match between Stoke City and Crystal Palace, at the bet365 Stadium, in Stoke, England, Saturday May 5, 2018. (Dave Thompson/PA via AP) The Associated Press

Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland, centre, reacts after Crystal Palace's Patrick van Aanholt scores his side's second goal of the game, during the English Premier League soccer match between Stoke City and Crystal Palace, at the bet365 Stadium, in Stoke, England, Saturday May 5, 2018. (Dave Thompson/PA via AP) The Associated Press

Stoke City's Xherdan Shaqiri, centre right, celebrates scoring his side's first goal of the game against Crystal Palace during the English Premier League soccer match between Stoke City and Crystal Palace, at the bet365 Stadium in Stoke, England, Saturday May 5, 2018. (Dave Thompson/PA via AP) The Associated Press

Tottenham Hotspur's Victor Wanyama, left and West Bromwich Albion's Jake Livermore battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between West Bromwich Albion and Tottenham Hotspur at The Hawthorns, in West Bromwich, England, Saturday May 5, 2018. (Anthony Devlin/PA via AP) The Associated Press

West Bromwich Albion's Salomon Rondon, centre left and Tottenham Hotspur's Toby Alderweireld battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between West Bromwich Albion and Tottenham Hotspur at The Hawthorns, in West Bromwich, England, Saturday May 5, 2018. (Anthony Devlin/PA via AP) The Associated Press

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