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Sunday, May 13, 2012

2012 PREMIER LEAGUE'S FINAL DAY LIVE: Manchester City and United winning, but City seems to hold the crown for now

 

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Follow the coverage of the final day of the Barclays Premier League season with everything from the title race to the final relegation place still to be decided. All 10 games kick-off at 3pm and include Chelsea v Blackburn, Everton v Newcastle, Manchester City v QPR, Norwich v Aston Villa, Stoke v Bolton, Sunderland v Manchester United, Swansea v Liverpool, Tottenham v Fulham, West Brom v Arsenal and Wigan v Wolves.  

Live scores

Click here for the live goals as they go in
Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn
Everton 2-0 Newcastle
Manchester City 1-0 QPR
Norwich 1-0 Aston Villa
Stoke 1-2 Bolton
Sunderland 0-1 Manchester United
Swansea 0-0 Liverpool
Tottenham 1-0 Fulham
West Brom 2-2 Arsenal
Wigan 2-1 Wolves
15.49: Half times in the Premier League are coming in. Just Swansea and Liverpool still playing.

15.46: GOAL! Stoke 1-2 BOLTON
It's an absolute howler from Thomas Sorensen but Bolton won't care after the Danish stopper somehow drops Kevin Davies' cross into his own net. The Trotters' heads are back above water!
AS IT STANDS:
17. Bolton
18. QPR
19. Blackburn
20. Wolves

15.43: Drama at both ends of the table! Mark Davies equalises for Bolton but it gets better for the Trotters.
Pablo Zabaleta has fired Manchester City into the lead and not only does that put Roberto Mancini's side top but it puts Bolton's Premier League fate into their own hands.
AS IT STANDS:
1. Manchester City
2. Manchester United

17. QPR
18. Bolton

15.41: GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 QPR
15.40: GOAL! Stoke 1-1 BOLTON
15.38: Great chance for Sunderland to equalise, but Fraizer Campbell's effort at full stretch just falls narrowly past the post.

15.37: GOAL! CHELSEA 2-0 Blackburn
The Blues are on their way to three points as Raul Meireles doubles the Blues' lead. Chelsea will finish sixth no matter what happens at Stamford Bridge today.

15.35: It's still all Manchester City but the home fans are getting nervous at the Etihad Stadium as their side struggle to break down the QPR defence.

15.33: GOAL! CHELSEA 1-0 Blackburn
A positive way for John Terry to end the season as he heads his side in front - the defender of course will miss the Champions League final.

15.31: GOAL! West Brom 2-2 ARSENAL
Gunners hopes restored after Andre Santos crashes home an equaliser from 25 yards.
AS IT STANDS:
3. Tottenham
4. Arsenal
5. Newcastle

15.30: GOAL! EVERTON 2-0 Newcastle
Well it doesn't look like the Toon are going to be getting a Champions League spot as Nikica Jelavic doubles the Toffees' lead.

15.27: Arsenal are well on top at West Brom, they are probably still feeling a sense of injustice from Shane Long's equaliser as they win a free-kick right on the edge of the box.

15.24: GOAL! Sunderland 0-1 MANCHESTER UNITED
So United go top of the table as Wayne Rooney finishes from close range...over to you City who are dominating QPR. Meanwhile Simeon Jackson doubles Norwich's lead.
AS IT STANDS:
1. Manchester United
2. Manchester City

15.23: GOAL! NORWICH 2-0 Aston Villa
15.22: Controversial scenes at the Britannia Stadium as Jonathan Walters barges Adam Bogdan into the goal to hand Stoke the lead - that result would send Bolton down.

15.19: Right, let's recap. Goals from Franco Di Santo and Emmerson Boyce have put Wigan ahead.
Arsenal have fallen behind to a Shane Long strike, but the striker looked offside, before Graham Dorrans turned that game around too.
Newcastle are also behind to a Steven Pienaar strike - who is of course on loan from Spurs.
AS IT STANDS:
3. Tottenham
4. Arsenal
5. Newcastle

15.18: GOAL! EVERTON 1-0 Newcastle
15.17: GOAL! WEST BROM 2-1 Arsenal
15.16: GOAL! WIGAN 1-1 Wolves
GOAL! WIGAN 2-1 Wolves
15.15: GOAL! STOKE 1-0 Bolton
15.14: GOAL! WEST BROM 1-1 Arsenal
15.13: GOAL! NORWICH 1-0 Aston Villa
Grant Holt scrambles the hosts in front from close range.

15.12: GOAL! Wigan 0-1 WOLVES
Will Terry Connor sign off with a win? Matthew Jarvis puts the visitors ahead with their first goal inside 15 minutes this season.

15.10: Not a great day for goalkeepers at West Brom. Wojciech Szczesny drops the ball trying to collect a corner, but his Arsenal defence are on hand to bail him out.

15.08: Manchester City nearly go in front at the Etihad Stadium, but Yaya Toure's strike flies wide of the post.

15.06: GOAL! West Brom 0-1 ARSENAL
Because Yossi Benayoun has capitalised on a howler from Marton Fulop to put the Gunners ahead.

15.04: GOAL! TOTTENHAM 1-0 Fulham
First blood Spurs. Emmanuel Adebayor strikes on what could be his final game for the club but the celebrations at White Hart Lane are short lived...

15.01: AWAY WE GO! Don't forget you can stay up-to-date with the league table by clicking the link in the green box.
14.57: Players are out up and down the country as we prepare for the final kick-off of the season.

14.54: From InfostradaLive:
This is also Chelsea’s youngest starting line up in over four-and-a-half years – since they were 26 years and 121 days old  (also at home against Blackburn) in September 2007. This was Jose Mourinho’s final PL match as their manager. 

14.51: Wolves make two changes for their final Barclays Premier League match before relegation at Wigan.
Matt Jarvis and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake replace Michael Kightly and Steven Fletcher for Terry Connor's last match in charge before the arrival of new manager Stale Solbakken.
Wigan bring in Adrian Lopez to take the place of absent centre-back Antolin Alcaraz as their only change from Monday's win at Blackburn which secured an eighth straight season in the top flight.

14.46: Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish elects not to risk captain Steven Gerrard for his side's Barclays Premier League finale at Swansea.
Gerrard has failed to recover from a back problem as Alexander Doni starts in goal and Martin Kelly comes in for Martin Skrtel in defence.
Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers is able to name his strongest XI with midfielder Leon Britton restored to the starting line-up, while youngster Gwion Edwards in line for a first-team debut from the bench.

Sign of things to come? A Manchester City fan lifts a mock Premier League trophy
Sign of things to come? A Manchester City fan lifts a mock Premier League trophy
14.44: I knew there was one missing, here is the full line-ups from the Liberty Stadium:

Swansea v LiverpoolSwansea: Vorm, Rangel, Caulker, Williams, Taylor, Allen, Sigurdsson, Dyer, Britton, Sinclair, Graham. Subs: Tremmel, Tate, Routledge, Monk, Moore, Gower, Edwards.
Liverpool: Doni, Kelly, Agger, Carragher, Johnson, Downing, Henderson, Shelvey, Maxi, Carroll, Suarez. Subs: Jones, Jose Enrique, Coates, Kuyt, Spearing, Sterling, Bellamy.
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire)

14.43: Jonny Evans and Ryan Giggs are drafted in as Manchester United look to hang on to their Barclays Premier League title at Sunderland.
The Northern Ireland international defender replaces the injured Chris Smalling, while veteran midfielder Giggs comes in as striker Javier Hernandez makes way.
Earlier this week, Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed Evans would miss the Olympics as he needs ankle surgery in the summer.
There is a surprise return to the Black Cats starting line-up for defender Titus Bramble, who has not played since suffering achilles tendon damage against Everton on Boxing Day, while David Vaughan and Fraizer Campbell are also included at the expense of Matt Kilgallon, Lee Cattermole and Ji Dong-won.

14.41: Bolton boss Owen Coyle makes two changes for their must-win game at Stoke this afternoon as they battle to preserve their Barclays Premier League status.
Zat Knight comes in at the back for David Wheater, who became the latest long-term casualty at Bolton when he damaged knee ligaments last week, while up front Ivan Klasnic replaces David Ngog to play alongside Kevin Davies.
For Stoke, full-back Marc Wilson is ruled out by a back problem but Andy Wilkinson is fit again after a groin injury while Dean Whitehead and Matthew Etherington come into midfield after starting on the bench in last week's defeat by QPR.

14.40: Roberto Di Matteo rests all his likely Champions League final starters for Chelsea's final Barclays Premier League game of the season against Blackburn today.
All four of the Blues players - John Terry, Ramires, Branislav Ivanovic and Raul Meireles - suspended for Saturday's clash with Bayern Munich are in the line-up, which also sees full Premier League debuts for Sam Hutchinson and Romelu Lukaku.
Blackburn boss Steve Kean hands a debut to namesake Jake in goal and makes three further changes, drafting in Marcus Olsson, Mauro Formica and Adam Henley.

14.39: Newcastle boss Alan Pardew names an unchanged team for this afternoon's Barclays Premier League last-day clash with Everton at Goodison Park as his side look to make a final push for a top-four finish.
Pardew, named on Friday as the top-flight's manager of the season, keeps faith with the same line-up from last weekend's 2-0 defeat to Manchester City, while his opposite number David Moyes makes three adjustments from the Toffees' goalless draw with Wolves.
Fit-again trio Leighton Baines, Phil Neville and Darron Gibson return to the first XI for the hosts, replacing Sylvain Distin, Tim Cahill and James McFadden.

Stepping in: Jake Livermore (left) replaces Scott Parker in Tottenham's midfield
Stepping in: Jake Livermore (left) replaces Scott Parker in Tottenham's midfield
14.38: Scott Parker and Ledley King both failed fitness tests as Tottenham attempt to secure at least a top-four finish by beating Fulham at White Hart Lane.
Jake Livermore replaces the suspended Danny Rose, with Gareth Bale expected to drop to left-back.
Kerim Frei comes in for the injured Clint Dempsey for Fulham, who are looking to break their record Barclays Premier League points tally with a win in this afternoon's season-finale in north London.

14.36: Norwich striker Simeon Jackson starts alongside captain Grant Holt in an unchanged XI for today's final Barclays Premier League game of the season at home to Aston Villa.
Long-serving defender Adam Drury recovers from a groin injury to make the bench as the Canaries look to sign off in style after last weekend's thrilling 3-3 draw at Arsenal.
Villa, who are safe bar a massive swing in goal difference, have Emile Heskey and Gabriel Agbonlahor fit again to lead the attack.

14.35: Full line-ups from Stamford Bridge:

Chelsea v BlackburnChelsea: Turnbull, Hutchinson, Ivanovic, Terry, Bertrand, Meireles, Essien, Malouda, Ramires, Lukaku, Sturridge. Subs: Hilario, Cole, Romeu, Torres, Drogba, Ferreira, Piazon.
Blackburn: Kean, Henley, Dann, Givet, Martin Olsson, Formica, Lowe, Pedersen, Marcus Olsson, Hoilett, Yakubu. Subs: Usai, Modeste, Grella, Petrovic, Rochina, Goodwillie, Morris.
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)

14.34: Full line-ups from Carrow Road:
Norwich v Aston VillaNorwich: Ruddy, Naughton, Martin, Ryan Bennett, Lappin, Elliott Bennett, Johnson, Hoolahan, Howson, Holt, Jackson. Subs: Steer, Drury, Morison, Crofts, Surman, Fox, Wilbraham.
Aston Villa: Given, Cuellar, Collins, Dunne, Lichaj, Ireland, Clark, Herd, Warnock, Agbonlahor, Heskey. Subs: Guzan, N'Zogbia, Delfouneso, Bannan, Baker, Gardner, Carruthers.
Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)

14.32: Full line-ups from the DW Stadium:

Wigan v WolverhamptonWigan: Al Habsi, Lopez, Caldwell, Figueroa, Boyce, McCarthy, McArthur, Beausejour, Moses, Di Santo, Maloney. Subs: Pollitt, Crusat, Ben Watson, Gomez, Sammon, Rodallega, Diame.
Wolverhampton: De Vries, Zubar, Stearman, Berra, Ward, Jarvis, Henry, Edwards, Hunt, Ebanks-Blake, Doyle. Subs: Ikeme, Elokobi, Fletcher, Johnson, Milijas, Jonsson, Forde.
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)

Back in business: Titus Bramble makes a long awaited return in defence for Sunderland
Back in business: Titus Bramble makes a long awaited return in defence for Sunderland
14.31: Full line-ups from the Stadium Of Light:
Sunderland v Man UtdSunderland: Mignolet, O'Shea, Turner, Bramble, Bardsley, Gardner, Vaughan, Colback, McClean, Sessegnon, Campbell. Subs: Westwood, Bridge, Wickham, Ji, Meyler, Kyrgiakos, Elmohamady.
Man Utd: De Gea, Jones, Evans, Ferdinand, Evra, Carrick, Scholes, Valencia, Giggs, Young, Rooney. Subs: Amos, Owen, Berbatov, Park, Hernandez, Nani, Rafael Da Silva.
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire)

14.29: Full line-ups from the Britannia Stadium:
Stoke v Bolton
Stoke: Sorensen, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Upson, Huth, Walters, Whelan, Whitehead, Etherington, Fuller, Crouch. Subs: Begovic, Jones, Delap, Shotton, Jerome, Woodgate, Palacios.

Bolton: Bogdan, Boyata, Knight, Ream, Ricketts, Eagles, Mark Davies, Reo-Coker, Petrov, Kevin Davies, Klasnic. Subs: Jaaskelainen, Alonso, Lee, Sordell, Miyaichi, Vela, Ngog.
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)
14.28: Full line-ups from the Etihad Stadium:
Man City v QPRMan City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, Nasri, Toure Yaya, Barry, Silva, Tevez, Aguero. Subs: Pantilimon, Richards, Milner, Dzeko, Kolarov, De Jong, Balotelli.
QPR: Kenny, Onuoha, Ferdinand, Hill, Taiwo, Wright-Phillips, Barton, Derry, Mackie, Cisse, Zamora. Subs: Cerny, Gabbidon, Taarabt, Campbell, Bothroyd, Traore, Buzsaky.
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)

14.27: Full line-ups from Goodison Park:

Everton v NewcastleEverton: Howard, Hibbert, Heitinga, Jagielka, Baines, Osman, Neville, Gibson, Pienaar, Fellaini, Jelavic. Subs: Mucha, Stracqualursi, Distin, Cahill, Gueye, Barkley, Coleman.
Newcastle: Krul, Perch, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Cabaye, Tiote, Ben Arfa, Gutierrez, Cisse, Ba. Subs: Elliot, Gosling, Ryan Taylor, Marveaux, Shola Ameobi, Obertan, Ferguson.
Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands)

One more win: Arsenal striker Robin van Persie will hope to fire the Gunners to third spot in the table
One more win: Arsenal striker Robin van Persie will hope to fire the Gunners to third spot in the table
14.25: Full line-ups from the Hawthorns:
West Brom v ArsenalWest Brom: Fulop, Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell, Cox, Morrison, Mulumbu, Dorrans, Long, Fortune. Subs: Dawson, Shorey, Odemwingie, Scharner, Andrews, Daniels, Hurst.
Arsenal: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Andre Santos, Rosicky, Song, Coquelin, Benayoun, Gervinho, van Persie. Subs: Fabianski, Djourou, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott, Gibbs, Chamakh.
Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire)

14.23: Full line-ups from White Hart Lane:
Tottenham v FulhamTottenham: Friedel, Walker, Gallas, Kaboul, Bale, Lennon, Livermore, Sandro, Modric, Van der Vaart, Adebayor. Subs: Cudicini, Saha, Giovani, Defoe, Nelsen, Kane, Smith.
Fulham: Schwarzer, Kelly, Hughes, Hangeland, John Arne Riise, Diarra, Murphy, Dembele, Duff, Pogrebnyak, Frei. Subs: Stockdale, Kasami, Senderos, Gecov, Bjorn Helge Riise, Briggs, Trotta.
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)

14.20: From InfostradaLive:
If #BWFC win and are still relegated they will be 1st club in a 38-match #EPL season to go down with as many as 11 wins in the whole season

14.17: Manchester United starting XI:
De Gea, Jones, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs, Valencia, Young, Rooney.

14.14:  We are still waiting on the Manchester United team news but that is an interesting line-up at Tottenham.
With Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Danny Rose out, it looks like Gareth Bale is playing left-back for Spurs.

14.11: Tottenham starting XI:
Friedel, Walker, Gallas, Kaboul, Bale, Livermore, Sandro, Lennon, van der Vaart, Modric, Adebayor.

14.09: Arsenal starting XI:
Szczesny, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Santos, Rosicky, Song, Coquelin, Benayoun, Gervinho, Van Persie.

14.06: Newcastle starting XI:
Krul, Perch, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez, Ba, Cisse.

14.03: Right on cue, here is Manchester City's starting XI:
Hart, Zabaleta, Clichy, Kompany, Lescott, Barry, Yaya, Silva, Nasri, Aguero, Tevez.

Hats off to you: Manchester City players Mario Balotelli (left) and Samir Nasri leave their hotel with team-mates on Sunday afternoon
Hats off to you: Manchester City players Mario Balotelli (left) and Samir Nasri leave their hotel with team-mates on Sunday afternoon
14.00: An hour to kick-off. In truth I thought we would have some team news by now so it should be here any second now...

13.58: There's going to be a familiar face in the crowd this afternoon at the Etihad Stadium.
Former chief executive Garry Cook will be in attendance, eight months after he resigned for sending an offensive email to the cancer-stricken mother of defender Nedum Onuoha - who as fate has it is now a QPR player.

13.53: From InfostradaLive:
There have been 1034 #PL goals scored this season - 29 short of the record most in a 20-team PL division (the 1063 #EPL goals last season)

13.50: From InfostradaLive:
This is only the 8th time in English top flight history that the top 2 clubs have gone into the final match level on points with each other.

13.45: Team news will be in shortly now so while you wait, check out Des Kelly's latest column for Sportsmail as he warns that this season may be as good as it gets...
History repeating itself? Bolton will hope to replicate Wigan's final day escape from relegation at Stoke last year
History repeating itself? Bolton will hope to replicate Wigan's final day escape from relegation at Stoke last year
13.40: Good news for Bolton fans? This from Stoke's Twitter account:
Our last home win on the final day came in 2003 when Ade Akinbiyi scored against Reading to keep us up. More stats.
Are the Potters on the beach again? Wigan won at Stoke on the final day of last season to maintain their Premier League status.

13.35: A good time to remind you that as the goals go in, you can also click on the live league table in the green box to see how the places will change throughout the afternoon.
I'll try and keep you updated but it is always handy to hit a refresh on it every now and then.
13.30: Just 90 minutes until kick-off, don't forget you can follow all of this afternoon's goals on Twitter as they go in with our live goals service - it's very handy especially if you are out and about.

13.25: Some more on the race for the Champions League, as the managers from Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle have their say.
13.15: Another battle to watch today is the one between Everton and Liverpool.
The Toffees are above their Merseyside rivals in the table and providing they can match the Reds' result, they will finish above Kenny Dalglish's side for just the second time in the Premier League era.
The first being when they pipped Liverpool to fourth in 2005.

13.10: From Rob Harris on Twitter:
If Man City win Premier League trophy will be presented by Richard Scudamore. If Man Utd win they'll get it from Dave Richards.

Way back then: Manchester City boss Joe Mercer lifts the Football League trophy aloft the last time the club won the title in 1968, while below players celebrate in the dressing room
Way back then: Manchester City boss Joe Mercer lifts the Football League trophy aloft the last time the club won the title in 1968, while below players celebrate in the dressing room

Way back then: Manchester City boss Joe Mercer lifts the Football League trophy aloft the last time the club won the title in 1968, while below players celebrate in the dressing room
Way back then: Manchester City boss Joe Mercer lifts the Football League trophy aloft the last time the club won the title in 1968, while below players celebrate in the dressing room
13.05: Relegation could have dire consequences for Bolton too.
Manager Owen Coyle has admitted the club have over-spent so if they go down this year, who knows when they could return?
It could be a nervy summer at the Reebok Stadium.

13.00: So what's it like to be relegated on the final day of the season?
12.55: Of course fourth could open the door for Champions League football, but if Chelsea win Europe's elite competition on Saturday then it will only result in a Europa League place.

12.50: Another battle today centres around the Champions League places.
Three in to two doesn't go but Arsenal have the pound seats. A win at West Brom and they will finish third and secure Champions League football.
Tottenham can take advantage of their rivals if they slip up at the Hawthorns by defeating Fulham and swiping third from under the Gunners' noses.
Defeat for Arsenal and a failure to win for Tottenham could also pave the way for Newcastle to finish third but they must win at Everton.

12.40: Disappointed I haven't ventured far from the title race? Time for Gary Neville to help me out.
Check out the Mail On Sunday columnist and his take on every team this season and their challenges for the future.
12.35: Turning our attention to the bottom of the table and you have to say it looks bleak for Bolton.
They must win at Stoke this afternoon and rely on Manchester City to defeat QPR to stay up.
The good news for Owen Coyle is they probably couldn't have picked a harder fixture for QPR to try and get a result, but the Trotters face a testing trip at the Britannia Stadium.

Decider: Manchester United and Manchester City will battle for the Premier League title on the final day
Decider: Manchester United and Manchester City will battle for the Premier League title on the final day
12.30: Speaking of open-top buses by the way, it turns out both Manchester clubs have booked one to celebrate winning the league title, as mentioned in Joe Bernstein's article here. At least someone in Manchester will be celebrating I guess.
Manchester United must be full of confidence going into the final day of the campaign — they have planned an open-topped bus parade on Wednesday.
A Manchester council source said: ‘Both clubs needed to give a week’s notice for a victory parade so the police and roads can be organised and both clubs have done that. They must be confident.’
City, poised to win a first title since 1968, have booked their open-topped bus tour tomorrow. Manchester came to a standstill twice in a few days last year when both clubs went on open-topped bus parades.
12.25: From OptaJoe:
0 - M.Hughes has never lost as a boss away at Man City in the PL (W1 D4), only G.Hoddle has gone as many PL games there w/out losing. Shock.

12.20: Speaking of the title race, let's go over the scenarios. If Manchester City defeat QPR they will win the 2011/12 Premier League title (providing Manchester United do not win at Sunderland by eight more goals.)
The only way United can realistically finish top of the table is if they better City's result today.

12.15: Now that is tempting fate. Already there are scarves to celebrate Manchester City winning the Premier League title this season and these things have come back to haunt teams in the past.
Who can forget the Liverpool open-top bus to celebrate them 'winning' the 2007 Champions League final against AC Milan?
Job done? Scarves have already been produced to celebrate a Manchester City title victory
Job done? Scarves have already been produced to celebrate a Manchester City title victory
12.10: So what's on the line? Well, pretty much everything! The two Manchester clubs are gunning for the league title, Bolton and QPR are scrambling to avoid the final relegation spot, while Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle are fighting for Champions League places.
12.00: It's been claimed that this is the greatest Premier League season ever. But while I think the mid-1990s might have something to say about that, there is little doubt that this could be one of the most dramatic final days ever to a league campaign.
Good afternoon folks, welcome to our live coverage of the last round of matches of the Barclays Premier League this seas..

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