logo
Back in the big time! Leeds, Burnley seal Premier League returns

Back in the big time! Leeds, Burnley seal Premier League returns

Perth Now21-04-2025
Leeds United and Burnley have secured their return to the Premier League after two and one seasons in the second-tier respectively, their promotions secured by the latter's 2-1 win over third-placed Sheffield United at Turf Moor.
The Leeds players, who had earlier done their bit by beating Stoke City 6-0, watched on from the Billy Bremner suite at Elland Road as John Brownhill scored twice for Burnley either side of Tom Cannon's first goal for the Blades.
Joel Piroe had struck four goals for a rampant Leeds side, Junior Firpo and Willy Gnonto also scoring.
'It's amazing. If you look at the scenes here, as it was after the final whistle, just pure excitement,' Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu said.
'Within ourselves we've got another target, so we can enjoy this now, but we've got another target we want to achieve. But right now, it's very good.'
Leeds boss Daniel Farke, who won promotion from the Championship to the EPL twice with Norwich City in 2019 and 2021, said he was 'lost for words'.
'You can see the atmosphere here, it's incredible. It's well deserved, 94 points at this stage is unbelievable. The lads should celebrate, all our supporters should celebrate.
'We will make sure that this Easter Monday will last for one or two more days.
'We played fantastic last season, with 90 minutes, before the heart-breaking game at Wembley, but to show resilience and keep going, we deserve today to celebrate.'
At the other end of the table, relegation-threatened Plymouth Argyle stunned play-off hopefuls Coventry City 3-1 to claim their third home win in a row.
Cardiff City suffered a huge blow to their survival hopes as a stunning Cameron Brannagan free kick salvaged a 1-1 draw for Oxford United.
The remainder of the teams in acute relegation danger all won, Derby County earning a much-needed 3-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion.
Hull City came from behind to beat fellow strugglers Preston North End 2-1, while a terrific second-half display saw Luton Town give their hopes a boost by beating play-off chasing Bristol City 3-1.
Colby Bishop's goal earned Portsmouth a 1-0 win over 10-man Watford to seal their safety, with Socceroo Kusini Yengi making a substitute appearance.
Tyrhys Dolan kept alive Blackburn Rovers' chances of making the play-offs after a hard-earned 1-0 win at Sunderland.
Millwall are just three points off sixth-placed Coventry in the play-off places with two matches to go after a 3-1 win over Norwich at The Den, but Middlesbrough's ambitions were dented by a damaging 2-1 loss at Sheffield Wednesday.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Socceroos legend Craig Foster drops Ange Postecoglou truth bomb as Tottenham begin post-Ange era
Socceroos legend Craig Foster drops Ange Postecoglou truth bomb as Tottenham begin post-Ange era

News.com.au

time2 hours ago

  • News.com.au

Socceroos legend Craig Foster drops Ange Postecoglou truth bomb as Tottenham begin post-Ange era

Socceroos legend Craig Foster has declared Tottenham will improve under new coach Thomas Frank as the club puts their Ange Postecoglou era in the rear-view mirror. Postecoglou was unceremoniously dumped in June despite delivering Tottenham its first trophy in 17 years, with a 1-0 win over Manchester United in the Europa League final in Bilbao. Two months on from the 59-year-old's sacking, the Australian manager has yet to put pen to paper on a coaching contract as he waits for another top-flight club to give him a chance. And that may ultimately come down to how well his Tottenham reign ages as the club looks to bounce back from finishing 17th in the Premier League last season. The new Premier League season kicks off this Saturday on the new Home of Football, Stan Sport. Live & on demand with 4K. Click here for more details. Since replacing Postecoglou, Danish manager Frank has made three new signings and there is a growing sense of optimism around the club after they took Champions League winners PSG to penalties in the Euefa Super Cup earlier this week. And Foster told in an exclusive interview that he believes Tottenham will be back up fighting for a top five spot in 2025. 'They (Tottenham) will improve out of sight because they won't finish 17th again that's not possible,' Foster told 'I think they looking very good and under Thomas Frank they won't finish there again as they will improve drastically.' However, despite feeling they will improve out of sight in 2025, Foster believes every one of the other big six teams – Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea – will also be better in 2025. 'Tottenham are going to be strong this season. They're not going to have an injury crisis like last years for starters. It is impossible that happens again, that was like a once in a decade phenomenon,' Foster continued. 'But the problem is all their rivals have improved as well. 'Liverpool absolutely smashed the league in Arne Slot's first season and they will be even better this year, but so will Arsenal now they have a proper No.9. Manchester City will also improve out of sight and Chelsea are really building something special, they've got a lot better.' But despite feeling Tottenham will be back fighting with the big boys, Foster says they likely would have under Postecoglou as well. 'With this Tottenham side Ange would've been pushing for the top six this year as well, probably about the same place as Frank will have them to be honest,' Foster said. 'They were going to improve anyway because they just couldn't have a similar season to last year. 'Rather than go for the (Premier League) title I think the FA Cup or Carabao Cup this year is the real target and the judgement for Frank will be whether he can get them back in the top five. 'They'll be top eight but I don't know about top five simply because the top five have all strengthened, they're all looking really good. It's going to be one of the most competitive seasons in recent memory I think.' Ange Postecoglou looking for next challenge However, Frank's tenure will likely reflect well or poorly on Postecoglou one way or another. Despite bringing Tottenham an elusive trophy all while dealing with an unprecedented injury crisis, last year's result in the Premier League was not good enough. And with Spurs almost certainly set to improve it could spell bad news for the Aussie as he hunts for his next job. On optics if Tottenham are back fighting for a top five place and especially if they win a domestic trophy under Frank, it could dissuade clubs from taking a chance on the Aussie, simply due to his Spurs tenure not ageing well. Since being sacked Postecoglou has been linked to a move to the MLS to manage Los Angeles FC and is also rumoured to be of interest to Saudi Pro League Al-Ahli, who won the AFC Champions League in May. In the meantime, Postecoglou is living it up in Europe. But it is understood that the Aussie wants another shot at either the Premier League or one of the top leagues in Europe. However, the 'big clubs' in England and almost all the 'major' leagues' managers are pretty settled, meaning he may have to bide his time for a job to present itself. In his favour is the fact Postecoglou is a winner. He has won titles at Tottenham, at Celtic in Scotland, in the J League coaching Yokohama F and even won the Asian Cup coaching Australia. And Foster says that is something that he has going for him and hopes another top club will give him a chance. 'It's tricky to see where he can go as in the Premier League all the top six clubs have all settled coaches,' Foster continued. 'Maybe teams under sort of the top six or top eight could be looking at him but the bigger question is what sort of club does he want and what lessons does he take out of Tottenham? 'I think the lesson is that he needs a particular type of team and time to build a squad to play the style of football he wants to play. 'Maybe he can get that in Europe in like Germany or Spain. I think it would be fantastic to see but at this point in time it is a bit of a wait and see.' Tottenham will begin their 2025/26 Premier League campain on Saturday night against Burnley.

Socceroos great Robbie Slater reveals his SuperCoach EPL team for 2025-26
Socceroos great Robbie Slater reveals his SuperCoach EPL team for 2025-26

News.com.au

time5 hours ago

  • News.com.au

Socceroos great Robbie Slater reveals his SuperCoach EPL team for 2025-26

Goals galore, assists aplenty and dogged defending ­– my SuperCoach EPL team covers all bases. Starting at the back, it's hard to go past Liverpool's Brazilian gloveman Alisson . Having a good goalkeeper is really important, and Alisson is among the best in the Premier League and with Liverpool favourites to go back- to-back, he's a good pick-up. Alisson's selection also contributed to my decision to choose his Reds teammate Virgil van Dijk among my defenders. The Dutchman is a towering figure in front of Alisson, and having the pair as part of my spine should lead to plenty of SuperCoach points. The only concern is that Liverpool conceded too many goals in the pre-season, but once the real stuff starts, bank on it being a different story. Another Dutchman, Tottenham's Mickey van de Ven (5.28m), is partnering van Dijk in the heart of my defence. We know his quality, including his lightning speed. It's not a surprise that he was a favourite of Ange Postecoglou during the former Socceroos coach's time in charge of Spurs. A worry perhaps is van de Ven's injury history, as well as Tottenham's poor Premier League form last season, but his selection is worth the game. Either side of the Dutch pair in my back four are Manchester United's Danish left-back Patrick Dorgu (4.4m) and Everton captain and right-back, Irishman Seamus Coleman (3.9m). Coleman has a lot of experience and can score the odd goal. He's also available at a good price, and Everton will have a decent season. Dorgu's selection is more of a risk, but Manchester United will have a better campaign than last season's disaster, and if he's not getting selected, I've got the insurance of Spurs' Italian left-back Destiny Udogie (4.64m) on the bench. A combination of quality and value for money has me confident of securing a lot of midfield points. Chelsea's Cole Palmer (12.72m) probably didn't really have a good second-half of last season, but he came alive in the recent FIFA Club World Cup, producing a man-of-the-match performance in his team's 3-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the final. A worry is Chelsea's lack of a decent break after the Club World Cup, and that it might catch up on Cole as the season progresses, but there is no doubting his class. Manchester City's Phil Foden (7.8m) has similar quality. He sets up plenty of goals and can find the back of the net himself. City will challenge for the title, with Foden likely to be a key contributor. Elsewhere in my midfield, West Ham's James Ward-Prowse (5.36m) and Aston Villa's Scotsman John McGinn (4.84m) are good value for what they can provide. Ward-Prowse does well wherever he goes, and he's a free-kick specialist, while McGinn is a real force and somewhat of an unsung hero for a Villa side that should again perform this season. Up front, I haven't been scared to splash the cash, and with good reason. Norwegian ace Erling Haaland (11.57m) is going to score a stack of goals for Manchester City. He's 11 to 10 on with the bookies to finish the season as the EPL's top goalscorer, way ahead of anyone else in terms of odds, including Liverpool star Mo Salah, who topped the charts last season with his 29 goals. People say Haaland had a bit of an off 2024-25 campaign, but he still scored 23 EPL goals. Haaland's fellow Scandinavian Alexander Isak (11.61m) will also regularly find the back of the net, regardless of whether he stays at Newcastle or moves to Liverpool, which is what the Swedish marksman wants to do. Limited funds made it tricky choosing a bench. Udogie's selection has already been explained, while there is plenty of hype about Chelsea's Belgian midfielder Romeo Lavia (3.9m). My bench striker is Patrick Bamford (3.9m) because if Leeds are going to score goals, he will be the one netting them. Reserve goalkeeper is cheap Newcastle option Mark Gillespie (3.5m). He won't play for the Magpies this season, so if Alisson gets injured, I will have to do some work in the transfer market, but that's the beauty of SuperCoach EPL.

The Premier League is back — and with it comes unmatched sporting drama
The Premier League is back — and with it comes unmatched sporting drama

News.com.au

time6 hours ago

  • News.com.au

The Premier League is back — and with it comes unmatched sporting drama

Money, ego and expectation. Put it all together, throw in a football, and it's why the Premier League is the richest source of storylines a curious mind could ask for. Three poor games in a row turns tepid heat into a furnace. Three good ones morph quiet hope into unhinged confidence. Three titans should be confident. Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City are all well positioned to reign supreme after the gruelling ten-month, 38-game campaign, every second of which is live on Stan Sport. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has the most to gain, and lose. A noted control freak, details as well-kept as his exemplary hairline, the Spaniard finally has exactly what he wants in a goalscorer and deep-lying pass-master. Martin Zubimendi is the link who will start it all, bullocking Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres is the man to finish it all, the man to end the misery! No pressure for a guy last seen in an English league playing for Coventry, before 68 goals in 66 games for Sporting Lisbon in Portugal enhanced his reputation into a must have acquisition. Liverpool and Manchester City have spent big. Arne Slot's unexpected first season success allows credit to remain if consecutive titles aren't secured, and while Pep Guardiola did lose a little lustre in the last campaign, well, he's still Pep. Outside those three, it would appear there is no possibility of a Leicester City at 5000/1 to shock the planet as happened in 2016. Only Chelsea looks capable of making an enormous leap. Not quite as romantic; American venture capitalists spending $3 billion in three years on boom prospects, giving them long contracts to help fall inside spending rules, to win it all. Real rags to riches stuff. Manchester United can't. Can they? Can they?! No. Getting back into a European is a nice story for them. Higher is fantasy, because the trainwreck of last season was borderline satire: Give Erik Ten Hag another go. Back him with a chequebook. Sack him. Complain about overspend. Spend six months asking if Ruben Amorim can actually coach. Watch departed players turn into Ballon d'Or nominees. Lose Europa League final to… Tottenham! Ricky Gervais hasn't got material like that in him. Better times are surely ahead. But wait. Can it happen again? In the immortal words of Mick McCarthy… 'it can'. My club, Newcastle, looks to be the punchline club. Central characters in THE transfer saga, big fan base restless despite qualifying for the Champions League. If Alexander Isak bails, a fall is expected. The big watch is how far down. In the age of data analytics running rife in every football club, Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford, both owned by gambling geniuses, are two worth paying attention to. Both readily sell players, both let top-class managers depart, Brentford most recently with Thomas Frank to Spurs. Brighton appears immune to the maxim of 'you don't sell and get better', but it will be fascinating to see if traditional thinking can outweigh modern trends. Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest all rose above expectation last season, the latter two with European games to enjoy in the coming months. Cause for celebration among Burnley, Leeds and Sunderland fans will be staying in the division. Promoted sides have bounced back down in the past two seasons. It's a story if they don't. You'd say it is a documentary if they don't, but everyone does that now. Other stories are also predictable. By October, we will have seen at least three meltdowns about VAR. A big money signing will be labelled a complete flop. David Moyes will cut an interviewer in half if slightly off their game. And other managers, not Moyes, will start to feel searing heat. Thomas Frank (Tottenham), Amorim (Manchester United), Daniel Farke (Leeds) and Graham Potter (West Ham) need good starts. Seven managers lost their job last campaign. Eight if you include Ange Postecoglou's fate at Tottenham despite the noted non-winners actually winning the Europa League. In a recent interview with Gary Neville, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy looked lovingly at the trophy saying it was the greatest night of his life. Then he sacked Ange. It's like getting introduced by a mate to your future wife, then ghosting said mate for eternity. The Premier League doesn't make sense sometimes. The uncertainty is a blessing.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store