Newcastle and Chelsea secured vital wins in the Premier League on Saturday, significantly impacting the battle for Champions League spots and confirming Ipswich Town’s relegation.
As Newcastle manager Eddie Howe made a return to the sideline after recovering from pneumonia, his team delivered a dominant 3-0 victory over Ipswich Town at St. James’ Park. This win propelled Newcastle into third place, intensifying the race for one of the top five positions, which guarantees a place in next season’s Champions League. Unfortunately for Ipswich, co-owned by pop star Ed Sheeran, this defeat confirmed their demotion back to the Championship, following suit with Southampton and Leicester in returning to the second tier just a season after promotion. It’s the second consecutive year that newly promoted clubs have faced immediate relegation.
Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna, who orchestrated the club’s rise through the ranks with back-to-back promotions, reflected on the journey. “It’s been a challenging ride,” McKenna admitted. “We’ve made significant strides that will benefit us moving forward, although there are lessons we need to learn from our shortcomings.”
Having already led Newcastle to their first major trophy in 70 years by claiming the English League Cup, Howe acknowledged the importance of their remaining league fixtures, comparing them to cup finals. “We are counting down,” Howe remarked. “We’ve positioned ourselves strongly, but everything can change swiftly.”
Chelsea climbed into fifth, just two points shy of Newcastle and a point behind Manchester City, with a narrow 1-0 victory over Everton thanks to Nicolas Jackson’s goal in the first half. This triumph marked consecutive wins for Chelsea, tightening the top of the table.
Only five points separate Newcastle from seventh-placed Aston Villa, who were not involved in Premier League action this weekend. Instead, Aston Villa suffered a 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Wembley in the FA Cup’s first semifinal. Eberechi Eze and two goals from Ismaila Sarr powered Palace to their third final appearance, seeking their first significant trophy, having previously lost in the finals against Manchester United in 1990 and 2016.
In the wake of Jamie Vardy’s announcement about leaving Leicester at the season’s end, he had a penalty saved during a 3-0 loss at Wolverhampton. “It was a frustrating moment,” commented Leicester manager Ruud van Nistelrooy. “I wanted him to score for both the team’s sake and his own personal satisfaction.” Meanwhile, Wolves’ Brazil forward Matheus Cunha, rumored to be on Manchester United’s radar, starred with a goal and two assists, continuing Wolves’ escape from relegation with their sixth consecutive win. “His performance shows his dedication to the team,” Wolves manager Vitor Pereira praised Cunha. Van Nistelrooy admitted uncertainty about his future at Leicester following the club’s relegation. “We need to remain patient and await developments,” the Dutchman expressed.
In dramatic fashion, bottom-placed Southampton conceded in stoppage time, leading to a 2-1 home defeat against Fulham, leaving them with a mere 11 points—matching Derby County’s Premier League low from the 2007-08 season. Brighton, meanwhile, secured an exhilarating 3-2 victory over West Ham, scoring in the 89th minute and again during stoppage time. West Ham, despite its struggles under new manager Graham Potter, remained safe from relegation due to Ipswich’s drop but recognized its precarious standing just above the relegation zone. “We must acknowledge this season’s poor performance,” Potter admitted. “Our position above the drop zone offers some relief, but improvement is necessary.”