Premier League: Liverpool, Chelsea into CL, Leicester 5th

Posted May 23, 2021 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Liverpool's Sadio Mane, right, celebrates scoring his sides second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, May 23, 2021. (Paul Ellis/Pool via AP) The Associated Press

LONDON (AP) - Liverpool and Chelsea secured the final two Champions League qualification spots on a thrilling last day of the Premier League season, with Leicester missing out in the three-way fight for a top-four finish on Sunday.

Chelsea's 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa didn't prove critical because Leicester conceded three late goals to lose 4-2 at home to Tottenham and stay in fifth place.

Liverpool beat Crystal Palace 2-0 thanks to two goals from Sadio Mane and jumped into third place, two points above fourth-place Chelsea.

Leicester, which also missed out on Champions League qualification by losing on the final day of last season, was leading 2-1 after 76 minutes, only for goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel to punch the ball into his own net. Substitute Gareth Bale scored in the 87th and again in stoppage time as Leicester poured forward in search of a winner.

West Ham beat Southampton 3-0 to finish in sixth place to qualify for the Europa League and Tottenham's win at Leicester ensured the team got into the new Europa Conference League.

Sergio Aguero marked his final Premier League game for Manchester City by scoring twice as a substitute in the champions' 5-0 win against Everton.

Harry Kane finished as the league's top scorer, for the third time, on 23 goals - one ahead of Liverpool's Mohamed Salah - after scoring at Leicester. The striker also had more assists than anyone else, with 14.

Arsenal failed to qualify for European competition for the first time in 25 years after finishing in eighth place, a point behind north London rival Tottenham, despite beating Brighton 2-0.

There were also wins for Manchester United, Newcastle, Leeds and Sheffield United.

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More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Leicester's goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, center, scores an own goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur at the King Power Stadium, in Leicester, England, Sunday, May 23, 2021. (Shaun Botterill/Pool via AP) The Associated Press

Leicester's Marc Albrighton wipes his face during the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur at the King Power Stadium, in Leicester, England, Sunday, May 23, 2021. (Mike Egerton/Pool via AP) The Associated Press

Aston Villa's Anwar El Ghazi, right, celebrates after scoring his side's 2nd goal on a penalty kick, during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Chelsea, at Villa Park stadium in Birmingham England, Sunday, May 23, 2021. (Richard Heathcote/Pool via AP) The Associated Press

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