Chelsea end on high; Stoke thrash Liverpool; Newcastle survive the drop

Loic Remy was at the double as Chelsea sealed things off in style with a 3-1 victory against Sunderland. Steven Gerrard’s last match as a Liverpool player was an absolutely disastrous affair, as Stoke City handed the Reds their worst defeat since 1963, in an absolutely mortifying 6-1 defeat at the Britannia Stadium. Newcastle United won the relegation battle, rather undeservingly, as Hull City suffered the drop after a stalemate against Manchester United.

Chelsea capped off their wonderful season, with another convincing win, coming from behind to end their campaign a high note. Chelsea spurned several chances to take the lead and were made to pay when Steven Fletcher, unmarked at the back-post following a corner, handed Sunderland the lead. Didier Drogba, who announced prior to kick-off that this was to be his last outing as a Chelsea player was carried off the pitch when he substituted by Mourinho, as all fans, players and even the referee applauded the prolific Ivorian. Diego Costa, who replaced Drogba, made an immediate impact when he leveled from the penalty spot after 36 minutes.

Sunderland were rather wasteful in a match against the champions and were made to rue those misses when substitute Loic Remy scored two late goals to take the game beyond the Black Cats. Chelsea finished their victorious campaign emphatically, 8 points ahead of their closest rivals Manchester City, including a Capital One Cup victory, in hugely successful season for the Blues.

Arsenal dominated proceedings in the final game of the season against West Brom at the Emirates Stadium, as Theo Walcott’s first-half hat-trick and Jack Wilshere’s mesmerizing strike ensured automatic qualification to the Champions League for the Gunners.

Steven Gerrard got his farewell goal but it proved to be nothing more than consolation after the Reds were annihilated by a ruthless Stoke City. Things aren’t looking good on Merseyside, after Raheem Sterling seems to have gotten sick of his current club and seeks a move to Manchester or London. Although Brendan Rodgers claimed earlier this week that he was “150 per cent sure” that he would stay on as manager next season, this utter obliteration surely changes things. A rampant Stoke City went 2-0 up in the opening period as Mame Biram Diouf finished clinically past Mignolet.

Emre Can’s appalling defending allowed Jonathan Walters to make it 3-0 within 30 minutes and 10 minutes later, former Liverpool-man Charlie Adam robbed Lucas off the ball to drive a low shot into the bottom-corner. N’Zonzi, in the dying stages, was gifted space from 25-yards and the Frenchamn exquisitely curled it into the top-right, to end the first-half 5-0. In the second-half, Gerrard got his goal when he shot low past Begovic as the entire stadium rose to applaud the departing captain but hopes of an almost impossible revival were dashed off by Peter Crouch when he headed home from 6 yards to culminate a miserable farewell for the legendary captain.

Frank Lampard, another departing legend off to the United States, capped off his final Premier League appearance in style, when he opened the scoring against Southampton. In typical Manchester City buildup, James Milner put in a low cross to the unmarked Lampard, who sent a powerful left-footed shot into the roof of the net. Sergio Aguero squandered several chances to increase the lead but got his goal with two minutes to spare, taking his tally to 26 goals for the term, as the Argentine was awarded the Golden Boot after the full-time whistle.

Southampton promised after the break but couldn’t score past Hart and now, their hopes of European football depend on the result of the FA Cup final. On-loan from sister club New York City FC, it seemed as if Lampard’s stay in Manchester was to be a short one, but his loan deal was extended and the aging Englishman helped the Citizens secure 2^nd place. By their standards, it wasn’t a particularly exceptional season for Manchester City and Manuel Pellegrini may be sacked after a trophyless season.

Tottenham Hotspur narrowed past Everton to pip Liverpool to 5^th place, securing Europa League qualification along with the Reds. Harry Kane, announced as the Young Player of the Season, ended this 4-match goal drought to edge his side past the Toffees, who’ve had a rather miserable season under Roberto Martinez, finishing in the bottom-half of the Premier League table.

Photo: Reuters

There couldn’t have been a more popular goalscorer on Tyneside than Jonas Gutierrez, a man who made a heroic return to football, valiantly beating testicular cancer. Having made his return to professional football just a few weeks ago, the Argentine scored his side’s second goal of the evening which effectively extended Newcastle’s stay in the top-flight. “A few months ago I didn’t know if i was able to play football again,” Jonas said after the 2-0 win over West Ham. “I’m here, I’m back enjoying myself. I have a second chance in my life I am proud to be a Geordie.”

Moussa Sissoko headed in the opener and miracle-man Gutierrez sealed the Magpies’ survival with a swiveling shot outside the area, which took slight deflection, completely wrong-footing ‘keeper Adrian, as the ball nestled into the bottom-corner. West Ham manager Sam Allardyce’s contract was not extended following the defeat to Newcastle, after spending 4 years with the Hammers. Allardyce said, “I didn’t want to stay. I suppose you could say it was mutual if they didn’t want me to stay either.”

Hull City needed a win to stay in the Premier League but only managed a draw against 10-man Manchester United. West Ham’s defeat meant that Hull were going down irrespective of the result but Steve Bruce’s men put up a fight against their superior opponents. Marouane Fellaini was sent off for an ugly stamp on Paul McShane which Louis van Gaal later dubbed ‘stupid’.

Leicester City called the curtains on their excellent season with a thumping 5-1 victory over relegated Queens Park Rangers. Burnley, at 19^th place and already relegated, went to the Championship with their heads held high with a 1-0 away win against Aston Villa.

So yet another exciting Premier League season has come to end! Here are the SpectralHues Premier League awards:

Team of the Season – Chelsea FC

Surprise Package – Southampton FC

Player of the Season – Eden Hazard (Chelsea FC)

Manager of the Season – Jose Mourinho (Chelsea FC)

Young Player of the Year – Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur FC)

Game of the Season – Everton 3 Chelsea 6 (August 30)

Team of the Season – De Gea (Manchester United); Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea FC), John Terry (Chelsea FC), Gary Cahill (Chelsea FC), Ryan Bertrand (Southampton FC); Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal FC), Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea FC), Nemanja Matic (Chelsea FC), Eden Hazard (Chelsea FC); Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur FC), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City FC)

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