Match Of The Day a few quick thoughts
Dan Tracey
May 22, 2017
1,878 Views
- There may not have been a great deal to play for yesterday what with matters at both the top and bottom of the table already sorted
- But there was still the small matter of qualification for the Champions League and we now know who will be completing the line up of the top four
- Champions Chelsea and Tottenham were already safely in the top two places and that meant it was a three way shootout between Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal
- That was the order going into the final day in regards to 3rd through to 5th and that is how it would end up
- No change as all three sides did there bit and won their final matches of the season
- For Liverpool it was a case of just getting the opener and then the rest would take care of itself
- It was a slightly tense opening 45 minutes but Georgino Wijnaldum’s effort flashed past Brad Guzan and that meant Jurgen Klopp’s men now had an all important breakthrough
- The game could and perhaps should have taken a completely different complexion though when Dejan Lovren clumsily bought down Patrick Bamford on the edge of the box
- An indiscretion which started outside the box and ended inside it, Liverpool fans had their hearts in their mouths but referee Martin Atkinson failed to give anything and Middlesbrough were rightly aggreived at the lack of decision
- Arsenal fans would have no doubt felt the same as had Liverpool played the majority of the game with 10 men then who knows what might have happened but that said it’s all conjecture as the Merseyside outfit went up through the gears in the second half
- It was a job well done for Liverpool and the relief was palpable as they got themselves over the line on the final day
- Manchester City had a very easy task as they went to Vicarage Road and hit a halpess Watford for five in what was Walter Mazzarri’s last game in charge of the Hornets.
- It was going to be a dead rubber for Watford who had no fit centre backs available yesterday and it certainly showed as Pep Guardiola’s men handed out a 6th straight defeat to Watford
- City finished their season strong but were still a sizeable distance from Chelsea as Guardiola’s first season in the Premier League is something of an eye opener
- Arsenal will have to make do with the Europa League due to the two wins that are mentioned above
- They may have beaten Everton 3-1 yesterday but it came at a cost as Laurent Koscielny’s reckless first half tackle on Enner Valencia saw the French international given his marching orders by Michael Oliver
- Credit must to go to Arsenal for winning the game with 10 men but Everton had nothing to play for bar Romelu Lukaku’s bid for the golden boot and it was a case of too little too late for the Gunners
- Arsene Wenger’s decision not to join in a lap of the pitch after the game just raises more question as to whether he is staying or going in the next few weeks
- First he has to prepare though for the F.A. Cup Final this Saturday and he will be concerned that Chelsea are showing no let up at the end of the season
- Sunderland may have ruined the script slightly when Javier Manquillo got the opener but then Antonio Conte’s men scored five unanswered goals to make it a party atmosphere at Stamford Bridge
- Talking of scripting, John Terry’s send off on 26 minutes was farcical. What makes it worse is that Sunderland agreed to boot the ball out of play.
- If Chelsea were dominant then Tottenham were rampant, they hit a hapless Hull for seven yesterday meaning it is 13 goals in two matches for Mauricio Pochettino’s men
- Not only that but it is seven in two for Harry Kane, that magnificent seven saw Kane move to the top of the scoring list as he wins the Golden Boot for the second successive season
- Tottenham almost do not want the season to end but now you have to wonder just how they will deal with the transition to Wembley
- Manchester United played a young side at home to Crystal Palace and still ran out 2-0 winners
- Wayne Rooney playing in this youthful eleven and then being subbed off two minutes from time would indicate he will be departing Old Trafford in the Summer, just where will his new home be
- United have limped towards the end of the season and now all focus is on the Europa League Final on Wednesday
- As for Palace it was a missed opportunity to move up the table and earn some more prize money
- West Ham finished strongly which was ideal for Slaven Bilic as that is arguably enough to keep in the job for next season
- They did what many have failed to do and that is win at Turf Moor and consign Burnley to a defeat
- A solid season for Burnley but they are going to have to make sure they do not rest on their laurels next season
- Swansea’s turnaround has been magnificent and Paul Clement rightfully takes all the plaudits for pulling off the great escape
- Credit also must go to Fernando Llorente and Gylfi Sigurdsson and it may well be hard to keep hold of those two in the close season, especially the latter
- As for West Brom they have been on the beach since mid March but with it being a Tony Pulis side that should come as no real season, safety was achieved with ease but a failure to kick on must be a concern for the clubs owners
- Still that said it has been a season which has exceeded opportunities
- Bournemouth leapfrogged West Brom on the final day of the season after their draw away at Leicester
- Eddie Howe will be delighted with the Cherries 9th place finish as they came away from the King Power Stadium with a share of the points
- As for Leicester, Craig Shakespeare will now be discussing as to whether or not he will be given the job on a full time basis
- He has certainly done what was required of him but will this be the opportunity to start afresh going into next season
- The same questions may well be asked of both Southampton and Stoke
- Southampton boss Claude Puel is perhaps harshly under pressure after delivering an 8th place finish
- But the football has not been all that easy on the eye down at St Mary’s
- While Stoke boss Mark Hughes arguably looks devoid of ideas
- But it was Hughes who won out on the final day and after a string of 9th place finishes, they have to make do with 13th this time around
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