Sunderland’s 3-0 win over Everton allow them to stay in EPl for another season; Newcastle, Norwich not so lucky
Sunderland completed its latest escape from relegation in the English Premier league on Wednesday — and consigned bitter northeast rival Newcastle to the second tier in the process.
A 3-0 win over Everton guaranteed safety for Sunderland with a game to spare this season, justifying its decision to hire survival specialist Sam Allardyce as manager in October.
Under Allardyce, who has yet to be relegated from the English top flight in 25 years as a manager, Sunderland lost just one of its last 10 matches — and that was against champion leicester. "It's pretty miraculous," Allardyce said.
Newcastle — much to Sunderland's delight — and Norwich were demoted instead, joining already-relegated Aston Villa in going down just as the Premier league begins its new domestic and international TV deals worth a record $12 billion over the next three years.
"We have just secured the financial side of staying in the Premier league, which is the most important thing this season," Allardyce said.
Norwich's 4-2 win over Watford on Wednesday proved to be in vain, with Sunderland staying four points ahead. Norwich lasted just one season back in the top flight.
"The story for us is that as a club, we have dropped short for a variety of reasons," Norwich manager Alex Neil said. "We have made vital errors in games at crucial times and the recruitment has not been as good to strengthen the squad."
Newcastle needed a favor from out-of-form Everton at the Stadium of light, but a free kick from Patrick van Aanholt and two goals from fellow defender lamine Kone eased Sunderland to victory.
It remains to be seen if Rafa Benitez, hired by Newcastle in March, triggers the break clause in his contract that allows him to terminate his three-year contract as manager. Benitez was coaching Real Madrid at the start of the season and is one of the most reputed managers around, making it hard to envisage him spending a season in England's second tier.
"We are devastated at our relegation from the Premier league, as I know every single person connected to this football club will be," Newcastle managing director lee Charnley said in a statement.
"I want to thank all of the fans for the support you have shown for the club you love throughout the season, in spite of this massive disappointment and underachievement."
Allardyce gets a measure of revenge on Newcastle more than eight years after he was fired at St. James' Park just eight months into a three-year deal, having been criticized for his brand of football. And he gets one over Benitez, a manager he has openly clashed with down the years.
The only things at stake in Sunday's final round of games in the Premier league are the last Champions league qualification spot, between Manchester City, Manchester United and — at least mathematically — West Ham, and the Europa league qualification berth.
liverpool hold Chelsea
lIVERPOOl: A stoppage-time equalizer from substitute Christian Benteke earned liverpool a 1-1 draw at home to Chelsea in the English Premier league on Wednesday.
Eden Hazard put Chelsea ahead with a superb solo goal in the 32nd minute, taking possession about 30 meters out and gliding past three liverpool players before sending a shot into the bottom corner of the net.
liverpool, which faces Sevilla in the Europa league final next week, rallied in the second half of manager Juergen Klopp's 50th match in charge and Hazard's Belgium teammate Benteke headed the equalizer from close range in the second minute of injury time.
Chelsea cannot finish this campaign any higher than its current ninth place. liverpool is eighth and could still move up the standings.
Pochettino extends deal
lONDON: Mauricio Pochettino has extended his contract as Tottenham manager through 2021.
Tottenham made the announcement on Thursday, near the end of a season in which they challenged for the Premier league title. They are assured of being in the Champions league next season.
Tottenham chairman Daniel levy says Pochettino has brought "a tremendous spirit and ethos to our club" and "we've seen football played at the highest level — quite sublime at times."