Liverpool seal top-four spot as Chelsea fall at Newcastle
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte admits he fears for his teams chances in next weeks FA Cup final after their Champions League qualification bid evaporated in a 3-0 defeat at Newcastle on Sunday.
The Blues needed to win at St James Park to retain any hope of catching Liverpool on the final day of the Premier League season but instead they surrendered as two goals from Ayoze Perez and one from Dwight Gayle ensured Newcastle a top-half finish.
Liverpools 4-0 win at home to Brighton, earned by goals from Golden Boot winnner Mohamed Salah, Dejan Lovren, Dominic Solanke and Andrew Robertson, saw them claim fourth place in emaphatic fashion.
Read more: Manchester United retain top spot on most valuable football brands list
Conte insisted that defeat at Newcastle and the midweek draw with Huddersfield had not been the decisive factors in his teams failure to qualify for Europes top competition but, with a Wembley showdown against Manchester United and his old foe Jose Mourinho still to come, the Italian confessed to concerns.
“We lost the game and I think we deserved this defeat. Newcastle looked more determined than us,” said Conte.
“We didnt lose a place in the Champions League today or in the last two games. The chances were zero. But I think to finish the season this way is not good. Now we have six days to prepare for the last game of the season – the FA Cup – and for sure we have to change.”
Dwight Gayle put Newcastle ahead against Chelsea (Source: Getty)
Chelseas meek end to the season mirrored their title defence and did nothing to quell the belief that Conte will depart in the summer. “Well see,” he added. “I have a contract and I am committed for this club.”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, meanwhile, hailed “a nearly perfect season” after they prepared for the Champions League final against Real Madrid later this month by confirming their place in next seasons edition.
Salah opened the scoring with his 32nd league goal of the season, meaning he finished two ahead of three-time Golden Boot winner Harry Kane of Tottenham.
Lovrens thumping header made it two before half-time, and after the break Solanke netted his first for the club – a rasping finish into the roof of the net – and Robertson added a fourth from close range.
Klopps men at one stage threatened to overtake third-placed Spurs, who came from behind to beat Leicester 5-4, but the German declared himself satisfied.
“What the boys did this season is unbelievable. A nearly perfect season. We had no chance to challenge Man City so the only thing you can really go for is a Champions League spot and its a big thing,” he said.
“We will try it again. Its not easy to play better than we did in some moments but to do it more consistently is the next challenge for us.”
[contf]
[contfnew]
CityAM
[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]
