Everton stage another final day breakaway in the Premier League to extend their 69-year stay in England’s best football flight.
Leicester were relegated from the Premier League just seven years after a spectacular title win, as Everton extended their 69-year stay in England’s top flight by beating Bournemouth 1-0.
Leeds also return to the Championship after three seasons in the Premier League, as their relegation was confirmed with a 4-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Abdoulaye Doucoure was the Everton hero as the French midfielder struck home from the edge of the penalty area on 57 minutes, sparking a jubilant celebration around Goodison Park in Liverpool, UK.
In contrast, Leicester were disappointed when they went down despite their 2-1 win over West Ham.
Everton started the afternoon in control of their own destiny, but put a raucous support from 40,000 fans at Goodison Park through the mill before securing survival.
Scoring goals was a problem for Sean Dyche’s men and they lacked the presence of talisman striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Even as Everton opened up to the visitors, Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers made a stunning save for Idrissa Gueye midway through the first half.
The Cherries upset their chances of survival weeks ago, refusing to lay down and make life easy for the home side.
Marcos Senesi shot inches wide before Yerry Mina had to mount a desperate last-ditch challenge to block Dominic Solanke’s attempt on goal.
Travers was a late substitute for Bournemouth’s side after captain Neto missed for personal reasons and more heroics from the Irish goalkeeper prevented Demarai Gray from opening the scoring early in the second period.
Giving in first would probably have been fatal for Everton, who have not scored more than once at home since October.
The relief was palpable when Doucoure’s sweet attack finally got the better of Travers.
Everton still had an anxious half hour to watch. Jordan Pickford had to make a fine save to deny Matias Vina the equalizer in the 10th minute.
Leicester did what they had to do as the Foxes won for the second time in 17 games.
But it was too little, too late for a talented squad that underperformed this season.
Unlike Everton, Leicester have an arsenal of offensive weapons and they showed the quality they possess with the opening goal as Harvey Barnes exchanged a one-two with Kelechi Iheanacho and calmly pushed into the far corner.
Wout Faes headed in Leicester’s second just after the hour mark, but at that point the home crowd at King Power Stadium knew Everton were leading and needed a favor from Bournemouth that never came.
Leeds needed a series of results to go in their favor and never gave themselves a chance as Harry Kane opened the scoring after just two minutes at Elland Road.
Pedro Porro doubled Spurs’ lead early in the second half and Kane reached 30 Premier League goals for the season after Jack Harrison pulled one back for Leeds.
Lucas Moura rounded out the scoring with virtually his last kick in a five-year career at Tottenham Hotspur.
The victory for the Spurs was not enough to secure a place in next season’s Europa Conference League as Aston Villa defeated Brighton 2–1 to finish seventh.
Manchester United climbed above Newcastle to finish third thanks to a 2-1 win over Fulham.
In the wildest match, Southampton and Liverpool drew 4-4.