How Leicester and Leeds were relegated on the final day of the Premier League season
The final day of the 2022/23 Premier League delivered plenty of entertainment as teams scrapped for the last few available placings in England’s top flight.
It would be Everton who escaped the relegation fight by the skin of their teeth thanks to Abdoulaye Doucoure’s winner in a 1-0 success over Bournemouth. That result rendered Leicester’s victory over West Ham meaningless, while Leeds never looked capable of earning a result against Tottenham.
Here’s how the tussle for Premier League survival unfolded on the final day.
16:33 – Kane takes advantage
Leeds made an awful start / Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/GettyImages
Leeds didn’t start their clash with Spurs with the look of a side trying desperately to stay in the Premier League. Really hesitant defending from Pascal Struijk allowed Pedro Porro to charge forward and feed Son Heung-min, who gave it to Harry Kane to finish.
United’s task was gargantuan to start with and their sloppy start only made things bleaker at Elland Road.
17:04 – Barnes puts Leicester in the driving seat
Barnes put Leicester ahead / James Williamson – AMA/GettyImages
There were goals galore elsewhere but not too many in the games concerning relegation. It took another half hour for another ball to hit the back of the net and it was Leicester who took advantage.
Harvey Barnes drifted infield and played a one-two with Kelechi Iheanacho, driving to the byline and finishing beyond Lukasz Fabianski.
How it stood at half time’s approach to their game against Bournemouth was awfully stodgy. There was little goal threat from Sean Dyche’s side and it would be the Toffees who dropped into 18th at half time due to Barnes’ strike against West Ham.
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17. | Leicester | 38 | 9 | 7 | 22 | -17 | 34 |
| 18. | Everton | 38 | 7 | 13 | 18 | -24 | 34 |
| 19. | Leeds | 38 | 7 | 10 | 21 | -28 | 31 |
| 20. | Southampton | 38 | 6 | 7 | 25 | -37 | 25 |
17:37 – Porro sinks Leeds’ hopes
Porro made things worse for Leeds / OLI SCARFF/GettyImages
Leeds started their clash with Spurs horribly and were caught cold again at the start of the second half as Pedro Porro popped up to smash in the visitors’ second.
17:47 – Doucoure brings Goodison Park to its feet
Doucoure scored a crucial goal for Everton / Will Palmer/Allstar/GettyImages
Everton put themselves back in the driving seat as recent talisman Abdoulaye Doucoure stepped up.
A long punt fell to the edge of the area perfectly for the Frenchman, who caught his half volley sweetly to leave Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers rooted to the spot.
That strike lifted Everton back above Leicester into 17th.
17:59 – Leeds’ comeback hopes quashed
Leeds’ fait chances of a comeback were slammed when Kane got his second. Whistles and jeers began to ring around Elland Road, with the inevitable later confirmed when Lucas Moura scored Tottenham’s fourth to really rub salt into the wound.
18:08 – Fornals halves the deficit
Fornals struck for West Ham / James Williamson – AMA/GettyImages
West Ham have a European final to look forward to so were never likely to put everything into their trip to the King Power Stadium but did at least add some more tension to the final few minutes as Pablo Fornals made it 2-1.
While Leicester were ahead, they still needed Bournemouth to peg Everton back to stay up.
18:20 – Ten minutes added on at Everton
Leicester’s hopes of a Bournemouth comeback were boosted when ten minutes of added time were added.
Balls kept being pumped into the Toffees’ box but the likes of James Tarkowski and Conor Coady repelled everything that was thrown their way.
18:31 – Everton safe at full time
Pitch invasions are becoming a popular pastime at Goodison Park / Jan Kruger/GettyImages
Fans streamed onto the pitch quickly once the whistle sounded for full time, sparking memories of similar scenes from last season.
Supporters of the Merseyside club won’t want a third season of trepidation and pressure will be put on the hierarchy to step down to allow sweeping changes to take place.
How it stood at full time
With the results confirmed, so were Leicester and Leeds’ relegations. The two sides ended up taking 18th and 19th and will join Southampton in the Championship next season.
Those three teams will be replaced in England’s top flight in 2023/24 by Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton.
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17. | Everton | 38 | 8 | 12 | 18 | -23 | 36 |
| 18. | Leicester | 38 | 9 | 7 | 22 | -17 | 34 |
| 19. | Leeds | 38 | 7 | 10 | 21 | -30 | 31 |
| 20. | Southampton | 38 | 6 | 7 | 25 | -37 | 25 |
Source: 90mins
