Chaos reigned within the English Premier League’s relegation battle on Monday as Everton scored 5 objectives in a shocking win to climb out of the underside three and Leicester conceded 5 in a confidence-sapping loss to drop into it.
Southampton’s 11-year keep within the high division is definitely over, in the meantime, after a 4-3 loss at Nottingham Forest plunged the last-placed crew eight factors from security with three video games left.
There was a complete of 21 objectives in three video games involving relegation-threatened groups, who appeared to take the view that assault was the most effective type of protection with time working out within the combat to keep away from the drop.
Everton’s objective spree was essentially the most shocking. A 5-1 victory at Brighton got here out of nowhere, ending a seven-game winless run on the residence of a crew that had an out of doors shot at Champions League qualification.
Even wilder was Fulham’s 5-3 win over Leicester, which is at risk of taking place simply seven years after capturing the league title in one of many biggest sporting tales of all time.
Leicester and Leeds fell into the relegation zone and had been tied on 30 factors, two behind Everton and three adrift of Forest.
More worrying for Leicester is its powerful remaining schedule, with video games to return towards Liverpool at residence, Newcastle away and West Ham at residence.
EVERTON’S DREAM START
Everton netted after 34 seconds on its approach to the massive win at Brighton, with Abdoulaye Doucoure’s objective the tenth to be scored within the first minute of a league sport this season — a document within the league.
Doucoure volleyed residence a second within the twenty ninth and it acquired even higher for the guests when a cross from Dwight McNeil deflected in off the heel of Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele for an own-goal within the thirty fifth.
McNeil acquired his objective within the 76th when he dribbled round Steele on the finish of a length-of-the-field counterattack and the winger added the fifth, quickly after Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister grabbed a 79th-minute comfort for Brighton.
Brighton stayed in seventh place and eight factors off the highest 4 with a sport in hand.
Everton is trying to prolong its 69-year keep in England’s top-flight and has video games to return towards Manchester City, Wolverhampton and Bournemouth.
NO HUNGER
Leicester trailed 4-0 after 51 minutes earlier than its second-half fightback got here up brief towards a mid-table Fulham crew enjoying for satisfaction.
Willian and Tom Cairney scored twice every for Fulham together with a objective for Carlos Vinicius at Craven Cottage.
Harvey Barnes and James Maddison — from the penalty spot — scored both facet of Willian’s second earlier than Barnes added his second objective within the 89th to cap an end-to-end encounter.
Maddison is one in all a slew of high gamers dealing with relegation with Leicester and mentioned his crew was “not at it.”
“We were not hungry enough to want to win the game,” the England playmaker said.
Jamie Vardy also had a penalty saved for Leicester.
ON BRINK
Southampton’s demotion might be confirmed as early as this weekend — even when it beats Fulham on Saturday — due to the outcomes of its relegation rivals.
Taiwo Awoniyi’s double, Morgan Gibbs-White’s penalty and Danilo’s sensible crew objective earned Forest a second straight win at residence, and its that kind on the City Ground which may preserve Steve Cooper’s crew up.
Forest is three factors above the drop zone with three video games to play, towards Chelsea, Arsenal and Crystal Palace.
Southampton had objectives from Carlos Alcaraz and Lyanco earlier than James Ward-Prowse’s penalty within the sixth minute of stoppage time sparked a tense end.
Source: www.thehindu.com
