Leeds United and Leicester City have been relegated from the Premier League on a dramatic final day of the season.
Abdoulaye Doucoure scored what proved to be the pivotal goal of the afternoon as Everton beat the drop with a 1-0 home win over Bournemouth.
It had looked very different when Harvey Barnes and Wout Faes put Leicester ahead against West Ham United and temporarily moved them out of the drop zone.
But Doucoure’s second-half strike from outside the box at Goodison Park was enough for all three points to keep Everton up and preserve their 69-year stay in the English top-flight.
That result meant Leeds’ fate was sealed even before the 4-1 home defeat by Tottenham Hotspur.
Harry Kane scored twice with Pedro Porro and Lucas Moura adding further goals as Leeds’ three-year stint in the Premier League was brought to an end.
Southampton, who drew 4-4 in a thrilling final game with Liverpool, were already the third team heading down to the Championship, with their own relegation confirmed earlier this month.
On Everton’s survival, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford told Sky Sports: “It’s been a grind again. We spoke earlier about mentality. I think we showed that in the first half with our attitude, our dedication and the mentality. We just needed to add that quality, that extra 10 per cent and Doucs found that strike, I don’t know where from.
“To get us over the line, it’s massive for the club for us as players, for the club, the fans. We’ve worked our nuts off all week and every week. We’ve given our all. Sometimes it doesn’t pay off but if you put in the work you know you can be proud no matter what.
“It’s come down the line in the last couple of years but we keep going.”
Premier League final day results
(Photos: Getty Images)