Leeds win Championship title on goal difference, Luton relegated
Leeds won the second tier Championship title after a frantic final day of the season. (PA/AP pic)
LEEDS : Leeds United edged out Burnley to win the second tier Championship title on goal difference after both teams finished the season with 100 points as Luton Town suffered a second straight relegation today.
On a frantic final day, Leeds found themselves trailing Plymouth Argyle early in the game through a Sam Byram own goal but Wilfried Gnonto levelled eight minutes into the second half.
With Burnley leading Milwall, Leeds desperately needed a winner and it was Tottenham Hotpsur loanee Manor Solomon who popped up with a goal in added-time to give Leeds a 2-1 victory that also relegated Plymouth.
Burnley beat Milwall 3-1 but lost out on the title due to Leeds' superior goal difference.
Both Leeds and Burnley had sealed promotion to the Premier League last month with a guaranteed top two finish.
Sheffield United finished third with 90 points after a 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers, who ended seventh and missed out on the last playoff spot by two points.
In the playoffs, Sheffield United will take on Bristol City, who finished sixth with 68 points while fourth-placed Sunderland (76 points) take on Frank Lampard's Coventry City (fifth with 69 points).
The two-legged playoffs will be held between May 8-13 and the final is on May 24.
At the bottom of the table, Luton became only the fourth club in history to suffer back-to-back relegations from the Premier League.
They were playing in the top flight only a year ago but will start next season in League One.
Luton will be joined in the third tier by Cardiff City, who finished bottom after a 4-2 defeat by Norwich City.
Norwich and Cardiff were being managed by former Arsenal teammates Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey after both took interim charge of their respective clubs last month.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Chelsea's Club World Cup Fixtures & Squad Preview 2025
AFTER securing their return to the Champions League on the final day of the season, Chelsea have an early chance to show they belong back among the elite this summer at the Club World Cup. Enzo Maresca's side beat Nottingham Forest in their last Premier League match to clinch fourth place after an inconsistent campaign, ending a two-season absence from Europe's top competition. The Blues, who reached FIFA's revamped and expanded event by landing a second Champions League triumph in 2021, have been handed a favourable opening raft of fixtures in the United States. Chelsea begin their Club World Cup campaign in Group D against Los Angeles FC, who battled through a play-off round against Club America to replace the disqualified Club Leon. After that opening fixture in Atlanta on Monday, Chelsea head north to face Brazilian team Flamengo and Tunisia's Esperance, both in Philadelphia. Los Angeles boast former Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud, although the 38-year-old is not a regular starter. Flamengo, who qualified by lifting the Copa Libertadores in 2022, are coached by well-regarded former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid defender Filipe Luis. Esperance have won eight of the last nine Tunisian league titles but are considered the weakest team in the group. In the knock-out rounds tantalising potential clashes against Bayern Munich and Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain may lie ahead. Chelsea won the competition in its previous format in 2022, beating Brazil's Palmeiras in the final. There will be special interest in how new Chelsea signing Liam Delap fares after his recent move from relegated Ipswich. The Blues beat Manchester United among other clubs in the race for the 22-year-old striker who netted 12 times in 37 top-flight matches and moved for £30 million ($41 million). Chelsea lacked firepower up front this season with Nicolas Jackson inconsistent and Christopher Nkunku struggling badly for form. Palmer introduction Delap, the son of former Stoke midfielder Rory Delap, came through the Manchester City youth academy like Chelsea's star player, Cole Palmer. The England international's revival towards the end of the season is a positive sign, with Palmer dazzling in the Conference League final win over Real Betis. The 23-year-old missed Chelsea's pre-season tour of the US last summer and Maresca said it was a chance for the playmaker to take the country by storm. 'Palmer is up there with the very best top players who can produce something at any moment, create something out of nothing,' said the coach. 'He wasn't with me on the USA tour last summer, so it will also be a chance for him to experience the environment there and to introduce himself to North America.' Beating Betis in Poland earned Maresca his first trophy as Chelsea manager and a deep run in the United States would be another sign that the Blues are heading in the right direction. On an upwards trajectory and with a young squad, Chelsea have plenty of potential to improve in the years to come. '(Critics) were saying that we were not able to win... because we're too young, because we're not experienced,' said Maresca after sealing fourth place in the Premier League. 'Unfortunately for them, they have all been wrong.' Summer success is also important to the club's co-owners, US businessman Todd Boehly and private equity firm Clearlake Capital, with nearly £100 million on the line for the winners. While not among the set of top favourites, including English rivals Manchester City, 15-time European champions Real Madrid and PSG, Chelsea are still expected to reach the last eight. With fans not fully sold on Maresca's brand of possession football, and even Palmer saying he was 'sick' of the ball going from side to side in the Conference League final, another trophy could help soothe any building tension in south-west London.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Club World Cup a test of Chelsea's elite credentials
AFTER securing their return to the Champions League on the final day of the season, Chelsea have an early chance to show they belong back among the elite this summer at the Club World Cup. Enzo Maresca's side beat Nottingham Forest in their last Premier League match to clinch fourth place after an inconsistent campaign, ending a two-season absence from Europe's top competition. The Blues, who reached FIFA's revamped and expanded event by landing a second Champions League triumph in 2021, have been handed a favourable opening raft of fixtures in the United States. Chelsea begin their Club World Cup campaign in Group D against Los Angeles FC, who battled through a play-off round against Club America to replace the disqualified Club Leon. After that opening fixture in Atlanta on Monday, Chelsea head north to face Brazilian team Flamengo and Tunisia's Esperance, both in Philadelphia. Los Angeles boast former Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud, although the 38-year-old is not a regular starter. Flamengo, who qualified by lifting the Copa Libertadores in 2022, are coached by well-regarded former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid defender Filipe Luis. Esperance have won eight of the last nine Tunisian league titles but are considered the weakest team in the group. In the knock-out rounds tantalising potential clashes against Bayern Munich and Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain may lie ahead. Chelsea won the competition in its previous format in 2022, beating Brazil's Palmeiras in the final. There will be special interest in how new Chelsea signing Liam Delap fares after his recent move from relegated Ipswich. The Blues beat Manchester United among other clubs in the race for the 22-year-old striker who netted 12 times in 37 top-flight matches and moved for £30 million ($41 million). Chelsea lacked firepower up front this season with Nicolas Jackson inconsistent and Christopher Nkunku struggling badly for form. Palmer introduction Delap, the son of former Stoke midfielder Rory Delap, came through the Manchester City youth academy like Chelsea's star player, Cole Palmer. The England international's revival towards the end of the season is a positive sign, with Palmer dazzling in the Conference League final win over Real Betis. The 23-year-old missed Chelsea's pre-season tour of the US last summer and Maresca said it was a chance for the playmaker to take the country by storm. 'Palmer is up there with the very best top players who can produce something at any moment, create something out of nothing,' said the coach. 'He wasn't with me on the USA tour last summer, so it will also be a chance for him to experience the environment there and to introduce himself to North America.' Beating Betis in Poland earned Maresca his first trophy as Chelsea manager and a deep run in the United States would be another sign that the Blues are heading in the right direction. On an upwards trajectory and with a young squad, Chelsea have plenty of potential to improve in the years to come. '(Critics) were saying that we were not able to win... because we're too young, because we're not experienced,' said Maresca after sealing fourth place in the Premier League. 'Unfortunately for them, they have all been wrong.' Summer success is also important to the club's co-owners, US businessman Todd Boehly and private equity firm Clearlake Capital, with nearly £100 million on the line for the winners. While not among the set of top favourites, including English rivals Manchester City, 15-time European champions Real Madrid and PSG, Chelsea are still expected to reach the last eight. With fans not fully sold on Maresca's brand of possession football, and even Palmer saying he was 'sick' of the ball going from side to side in the Conference League final, another trophy could help soothe any building tension in south-west London.
Free Malaysia Today
4 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Grealish left out of Man City squad for Club World Cup
Jack Grealish has slipped down Manchester City's pecking order, making just seven Premier League starts this season. (AP pic) LONDON : Jack Grealish's future at Manchester City was plunged into further doubt on Wednesday after the England international was left out of Pep Guardiola's squad for the Club World Cup. Despite City naming just 27 players from a possible 35 for the tournament beginning in the US on June 14, Grealish was omitted alongside former captain Kyle Walker. All four of the club's new signings this week – Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki, Tijani Reijnders and Marcus Bettinelli – are included. Ballon d'Or winner Rodri is also selected after making his comeback from a long-term knee injury just before the end of the Premier League season. Grealish, who remains City's record signing after a £100 million move from Aston Villa in 2021, has fallen down the pecking order over the past two seasons. He made just seven Premier League starts in the 2024/25 campaign and was notably not summoned from the bench as City went down to a 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final last month. The 29-year-old still has two years left to run on his City contract and his reported £300,000-a-week wages are a barrier to finding a potential suitor. Guardiola threatened last month he could leave the club if the size of his squad is not cut before the new season begins. Grealish is just one of a number of expected exits, along with Walker. The 35-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at AC Milan, but the Italian giants have not taken up an option to buy. City begin their Club World Cup campaign against Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca in Philadelphia next Wednesday before facing further group games against Al Ain of Abu Dhabi and Juventus.
