By Chris Bascombe at Goodison Park
Abdoulaye Doucoure scored one of the most consequential goals in Everton history to ensure they avoided the relegation abyss.
Exiled under Frank Lampard, Doucoure will now be immortalised as the club’s latest saviour.
There have been too many assuming such status in Goodison’s hour of need, certainly for Evertonian hearts to endure.
But for Barry Horne against Wimbledon in 1994, read Doucoure against Bournemouth in 2023, a midfielder stepping up when it matters to turn anxiety into euphoria.
Victory was enough to keep the team two points above Leicester, whose 2-1 victory against West Ham was in vain. Leeds lost 4-1 to Tottenham, ending their stay in the top flight.
Follow latest reaction below:
06:52 PM
Leicester
So Dean Smith was appointed on 10 April. I make that eight games he has been in charge. The win today, they beat Wolves. That was it. Three draws in there too. Three defeats. You wonder whether not playing the best players against Newcastle last time out was a wise move. I like Leicester but they can have few complaints, that defence has been pretty awful all season.
06:49 PM
Sean Dyche talks to Sky
“Obviously it means a lot to me. I took over what was called a broken club. It wasn’t broken, but there were some cracks.
“We have maintained the belief, the mentality has been great. But we shouldn’t be here. You are only a big club if you are doing big club things.”
06:46 PM
Leicester
leave the Premier League after nine seasons, including one of course that they won. An FA Cup and Europe in there, too. No consolation right now but what a ride it was.
06:44 PM
Leeds are down and out
06:41 PM
Leicester players accept their fate
Will that be Maddison’s last act in a Leicester shirt?
06:39 PM
Gary
06:37 PM
Scenes at Goodison Park
06:36 PM
Twin Impostors: update
06:33 PM
Leeds fan gets on pitch
06:32 PM
Everton are staying up!
They beat Bournemouth 1-0 at Goodison, they have done just enough and the win over seals Everton’s Premier League status for another year. And it condemns Leicester City and Leeds to the drop.
06:30 PM
Everton look like they are going to do it
Bournemouth going nowhere fast, and they’re not all that bothered either way. Everton have the ball. It’s out for a throw. Everton still have it.
06:28 PM
All eyes on Everton then
They’ve got another three minutes to hold on.
06:27 PM
Full time: Leeds United 1 Tottenham 4
That’s all over at Elland Road, and to be honest, it was all over for a while there. Leeds are relegated.
06:27 PM
Full time: Leicester 2 West Ham 1
They’ve done all they could today, but as it stands Leicester are going down.
06:26 PM
Spurs have made it 4-1 at Elland Road
that really puts the cherry on the top for Leeds.
06:25 PM
What a save from Pickford for Everton
Ball hoofed forward, Moore heads it down for Vina, who meets it with a crunching volley. Pickford parries it to safety. Woah what a hit, and a really good save from the England man.
06:22 PM
Bournemouth carrying a threat
Solanke surges through but is caught offside, excellent defending from Everton’s Coady nonetheless. A long way off actually, the Brighton striker.
06:21 PM
Added time
Six minutes at Leicester and a stonking TEN MINUTES of added time at Goodison Park, thanks to that injury on Pickford.
06:17 PM
86 minutes on the clock at Goodison
And Everton are having a couple of corners. Everton managing to play in the Bournemouth final third, which will do nicely. Tarkowski heads the ball over.
06:10 PM
GOAL! West Ham score
That makes it 2-1, Fornals the scorer.
Still good enough for Everton but just imagine if Bournemouth pinch one at Goodison…..
06:07 PM
Spicy at Goodison right now
Gary O’Neil, the Bournemouth manager, is going in the book. Vina and Smith clash, Mina joins in and sorts Vina. The similar sounding names are completely too much for Merse, who has had a meltdown on Sky Sports News.
Here is Jason Burt: “Huge delay here at Goodison Park as Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford receives treatment after a scramble in the penalty area and also clashing with Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke. Means this game will probably still be being played as the others end.”
06:05 PM
West Ham fans serenade Leicester
“Two nil up, and you’re going down”. This is all factually correct.
Here are those Leicester fans.
06:03 PM
What’s this at Everton?!
Solanke seems to be suggesting that Mina has bitten him. “Has he had a nibble?” asks Gary Neville.
Meanwhile, Jordan Pickford has hurt his finger but he is carrying on, and now he has been booked by Stuart Atwell.
Jason Burt: “Absolute pandemonium inside Goodison Park as Everton score. Noise is incredible as the pyrotechnics are set off. Really is ear-splitting as the Everton fans go absolutely crazy.”
06:02 PM
All happening at Elland Road
Leeds have scored one, thanks to Harrison, but the celebrations are short lived because Kane nets for Spurs just a couple of minutes later. Leeds 1 Spurs 3
05:58 PM
Here’s the moment for Everton
05:56 PM
Here’s the table as it stands
05:52 PM
GOAL! Leicester have the second
It’s Faes with a header, making it 2-0 but if Everton win, it matters not if Leicester score two or 20.
Leicester 2 West Ham 0 (Faes 62)
05:47 PM
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL! EVERTON!!!!!
Doucoure! It’s a fine strike and it means that Everton, as it stands, are staying up. The ball was bouncing around just outside the Bournemouth box, up stepped Doucoure and he smacks it with a tremendous volley, no chance for the keeper and Goodison goes wild.
Here is Chris Bascombe: “Not sure Goodison has ever been so loud after Doucoure’s shot hit the net.”
05:42 PM
Evertonians turning to prayer
Everton should be ahead. Gray is in the six yard area and he has a chance to head it home, but he has fluffed his lines and nodded it tamely straight at the keeper. Dear me. That was a gilt-edged chance.
05:39 PM
GOAL! It’s two for Spurs
and Leeds United now look doomed.
Kane sets it up with a bit of class, flicking the ball over the head of an opponent, powers forward, slips it to Porro out on the right, who tucks it away with a cool finish.
And the Elland Road fans are making their feelings known, Luke Edwards reports: “The Leeds fans have had enough, serenading the players with chants about not being fit to wear the shirt before turning their anger on the board, urging owner Andrea Radrizzani to sell up and head home to Italy (this is the polite version). Just as they had in the first half, Leeds conceded inside the first two minutes of the second half, Kane passing through the middle of the defence for Pedro Porro to score. It looks like Leeds’ three year stay in the Premier League is over.”
05:37 PM
Doesn’t sound like
Everton are making any changes just yet.
05:36 PM
Back underway
At Everton and Leicester, just about to restart at Leeds.
05:35 PM
Soccer Special
funny bits and clips now on Sky. A lot of yelping. Very good.
05:28 PM
Here is Luke Edwards
“Leeds have huffed and puffed and have dominated territory and possession, but outside of set pieces they lack a goal threat. Been a problem all season and their club record January signing, a forward, Georginho Rutter, is on the bench.
“The failure to get their recruitment right is as much to blame as anything else for their predicament and the young Frenchman looked an odd signing when he arrived and three different managers have not trusted him to start games! So what was the point in signing him?
“There were a few boos from the home crowd at half time but the Leeds fans are keeping their spirits up with some gallows humour, including the chant “‘Leeds, Leeds are falling apart again’…”
05:27 PM
Been a bruising afternoon
so far for those of an Everton persuasion.
05:18 PM
Half time situation
Leicester are the first to finish their first half. Leicester lead West Ham 1-0 and as it stands Leicester are staying up.
Leeds are trailing Spurs 1-0.
Everton are 0-0.
Here is Jason Burt: “Half-time at Goodison Park and Everton have done nowhere near enough to gain the win that would guarantee their Premier League survival. They are paying a heavy price for not having a centre-forward, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and, so far, it has been far too comfortable for Bournemouth. Everton becoming increasingly desperate in appealing for penalties but are being rightly ignored by referee Stuart Attwell.”
05:16 PM
Everton panic stations
Tarkowski with a blunder, he’s let Bournemouth in…. Mina with a key block to deny Solanke.
But now here come Everton, two good saves in a row from the Bournemouth keeper.
05:12 PM
Here’s Harvey Barnes
with what might prove to be a priceless goal.
Quality.
05:11 PM
Leeds
Spurs very close to making it two as Harry Kane receives the ball but, surprisingly for Harry, his touch lets him down.
05:06 PM
GOAL! Leicester are 1-0 ahead
Harvey Barnes with a big of magic, cutting in from the left and slipping it home, that is a lovely bit of class under a lot of pressure. Leicester 1 West Ham 0
And this means that Leicester leapfrog Everton, and the Toffees are going down as it stands.
05:02 PM
Nearly, nearly for Everton
Everton looking pretty good now, Gana drives forward and lets rip. Tipped over the bar.
Here is Jason Burt: “Almost the goal Everton dream of as Amadou Onana plays in Idrissa Gana Gueye, whose shot is superbly tipped over by Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers. In a sign of how much it means Onana drops to the turf and beats the ground with frustration with his right hand. Meanwhile Everton fans getting frustrated at what they feel is time wasting by Bournemouth.”
04:59 PM
Leicester just went
very close. Iheanacho has clipped the bar.
04:58 PM
Meanwhile…
… at the other end of the table, if you want to check in on the race for the European places, follow with this blog.
Here is Luke Edwards at Elland Road: “Leeds have actually played really well since conceding and have pinned Spurs back inside their own half. Robin Koch definitely should have equalised with a free header eight yards out and Adam Forshaw has just had a goal bound effort deflected wide. There is a mood of defiance inside Elland Road and the team do look capable of getting back into this match and with it the survival fight — “
04:54 PM
As it stands
Everton, who are getting into it a bit against Bournemouth, are staying up.
Leeds, trailing at home to Spurs, are going down, and Leicester along with them.
Here is Jason Burt from Goodison Park: “Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers is down injured and manager Gary O’Neil uses the time while he is treated for a tactical team talk. Everton have gradually been getting on top, without really threatening but with the crowd behind them their momentum could be crucial. Predictably frantic but the fans really are trying to will Everton over the line.”
04:50 PM
Sam hearing that the buffet’s vegan-only
04:45 PM
Paul Merson on Everton
“If you were a Leicester fan you would be well pleased with how Bournemouth are doing [at Goodison]. I thought Everton would come out a hundred miles an hour but Bournemouth are comfortable and the crowd are getting a bit restless.”
04:43 PM
Bit more on Kane
has he nailed the Leeds coffin shut?
04:38 PM
Bianca Westwood
with a nice bit about a legend of the game departing, much loved, gives it the big build up…. and says Frank Lampard’s caretaker spell at Chelsea is coming to a close.
Jeff Stelling: “One of the nice things about leaving will be not having to link to Bianca every week.”
04:34 PM
Harry Kane!
has netted for Spurs at Leeds, side foot finish, that’s Harry’s 31st goal of the season and Leeds are 0-1 down before you know it.
The worst start for Leeds, cut open, and the marksman Kane did the rest. They did check it for offside but Var is not going to come to Leeds’ rescue.
Here is m’colleague Luke Edwards: “Oh dear, if this is his last game for Spurs Harry Kane has marked in with a goal after less than two minutes, a first time shot swept beyond Leeds goalkeeper Joel Robles. Incredibly, embarrassingly, Kane had been left completely unmarked inside the area by a team that lined up with a five man defence.”
04:33 PM
Kick off
at the three grounds. West Ham have got an early corner, Leicester clear it.
04:30 PM
Andre Marriner
is reffing his final Premier League game. The West Midlands whistler famously sent off the wrong Arsenal player in 2014.
04:26 PM
Foxes fans
04:21 PM
Meanwhile….
it’s penalties in Stockport vs Carlisle in the play off… Carlisle have done it! Jeff Stelling, of course, has the key stat to hand – the lad who has tucked the winning pen away for Carlisle had only ever scored one goal for the club.. Carlisle are going into League One, congratulations.
04:20 PM
Kick offs imminent
kick off is coming up about ten minutes from now. We will be following all three of these games as Everton play at home to Bournemouth, Leeds United at home to Tottenham and Leicester City at home to West Ham United.
Not directly relevant to relegation of course, but could be a significant day in the career of this Premier League great. Could this be Harry Kane’s last game for Spurs.
04:15 PM
And here is Chris Bascombe
from Everton.
“Already a hum of anxiety around Goodison pre-match. Dyche is moving from his favoured 4-4-2 because of injuries and the back five is currently rehearsing its offside trap, James Garner assuming the right wing back role. Where will Everton;s matchwinner come from? Set-plays, set-plays. set-plays.”
04:14 PM
Here’s Luke Edwards
Luke has got his eye on Leeds for us.
“Is this going to be Harry Kane’s last game for Tottenham? Is this going to be Sam Allardyce’s final game as a Premier League manager. Will Leeds keep him on if they are relegated to try and get them out of the Championship?
There are so many questions hanging in the air at Elland Road but the main one is can Leeds pull off a mission impossible style escape, save themselves from relegation and send Everton and Leicester down instead?
The mood among fans, having spoken to a few on the way here, is that this is going to be a step too far and life in the Championship beckons again. We shall see.”
04:03 PM
Permutations/who needs what
What do Everton, Leicester or Leeds need to avoid relegation?
One of three will survive. Everton’s fate is in their own hands. If they beat Bournemouth at Goodison Park they will survive and Leicester and Leeds will be relegated.
Leicester must beat West Ham at home. Dean Smith’s team have a superior goal difference to Everton, so a victory combined with dropped points by Everton would see Leicester stay up and Everton go down.
Leeds need to beat Spurs and hope the other two results go their way. In all likelihood, Leeds require three points, Leicester failing to win and an Everton defeat to stay up.
There is a scenario in which a Leeds win and Everton draw sees Allardyce’s team finish above Everton on goals scored or goal difference. However, this would require Leeds to win by three goals or more.
Leicester’s goal difference is significantly better than Leeds’s though, so the Yorkshire club would still need Leicester to drop points in order to stay up.
03:59 PM
Sean Dyche
“We are stretched today, but we think we have put a team out that can take on the challenge. Our mentality has been growing and I want to see that more today.”
03:58 PM
Jordan PIckford on Sky
“We need full commitment, the fans are right behind us.”
03:57 PM
Not even started yet…
…. and this chap can’t watch!
03:56 PM
Leeds wall
03:37 PM
Teams for Leeds
Leeds: Robles, Ayling, Kristensen, Wober, Cooper, Struijk, McKennie, Forshaw, Koch, Harrison, Rodrigo. Subs: Meslier, Firpo, Aaronson, Roca, Summerville, Rutter, Gnonto, Greenwood, Mullen.
Tottenham Hotspur: Forster, Emerson, Sanchez, Lenglet, Davies, Porro, Bissouma, Skipp, Son, Kulusevski, Kane. Subs: Richarlison, Danjuma, Tanganga, Lucas Moura, Sarr, Austin, Craig, Alonso, Abbott.
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)
03:36 PM
Teams for Leicester
Leicester: Iversen, Castagne, Faes, Evans, Thomas, Soumare, Dewsbury-Hall, Maddison, Tielemans, Barnes, Iheanacho. Subs: Vardy, Smithies, Souttar, Amartey, Daka, Ricardo Pereira, Mendy, Praet, Tete.
West Ham: Fabianski, Kehrer, Coufal, Aguerd, Cresswell, Downes, Rice, Benrahma, Lucas Paqueta, Fornals, Antonio. Subs: Zouma, Lanzini, Areola, Cornet, Ings, Bowen, Ogbonna, Soucek, Emerson Palmieri.
Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire)
03:32 PM
Teams for Everton
Everton: Pickford, Coady, Mina, Tarkowski, McNeil, Gueye, Garner, Onana, Doucoure, Gray, Iwobi. Subs: Holgate, Keane, Begovic, Maupay, Lonergan, McAllister, Simms, Welch.
AFC Bournemouth: Travers, Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kelly, Billing, Lerma, Brooks, Christie, Ouattara, Solanke. Subs: Stephens, Cook, Mepham, Randolph, Stacey, Vina, Moore, Anthony, Sadi.
Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire)
Coady back for his first start since February, he came off the bench against Man City earlier in the month.
03:31 PM
Paul Merson on Sky Sports News
“I’d be shocked if Everton don’t win today. Bournemouth have got nothing to play for. There will be drama along the way, no doubt about that.”
03:30 PM
Sue Smith, Everton fan, on Sky Sports News
“I am as nervous as anything. Hoping that Merse brings us some good luck please.”
03:17 PM
Handy graphic
03:07 PM
Flares in fashion
02:53 PM
Premier League statuses at stake!
Good afternoon and welcome to our live blog of this afternoon’s Premier League games; we will be focusing on the live scores and updates from the matches involving Everton, Leeds United and Leicester City.
Everton are at home to Bournemouth. Leeds United are at home to Tottenham. Leicester City are at home to West Ham United. All of the matches kick off at 4.30pm.
The state of play is as follows: Everton are 17th with 33 points. Leicester 18th with 31 points. Leeds 19th with 31 points. Everton’s goal difference is -24. Leicester’s, much the best, just -18. Leeds – 27.
Who needs what? Well, Everton are definitely staying up if they win. If Everton draw, they are still okay as long as Leicester don’t win.
Leicester have to win, but even then their fate is not in their hands and they need a favour from Bournemouth.
Leeds need to win but will still need Bournemouth to help them out.
Leicester boss Dean Smith says: “We are a few points short of where I expected to be and that’s why it has come down to the last one. This would be a very proud day if we do it, but we have to win our game and rely on other results. Each escape will have its own merits, the one at Villa with four games to go was seven points. That in itself was a big ask, this has been a big ask and hopefully we can do it.”
“This league is precarious. You’ve got to have really good models now to stay in the league. You look at Brighton and Brentford, two really good models of clubs, one I know very well because I worked there. It is hard. You need the finance behind it but it’s not just about finance as you can see in Brentford’s case. There are many different ways to stay in the league but it’s a real tough league. Very quickly you can go and lose two or three games on the spin. All of a sudden that just drains the confidence of players.”
Meanwhile, Sam Allardyce has admitted that Leeds chairman Andrea Radrizzani is “hugely frustrated and disappointed. He didn’t expect at the start of the season that the club would be in this position.
“He didn’t expect he would have to employ three managers to get out of this position. He’s hugely frustrated. The only way you sort that out is at the end of the season, have a look at the whole structure of the football club, and do whatever needs to be done.
“But in the meantime the only focus is one big game, one massive game for the players and for us all in controlling the destiny of Leeds, only by winning and hoping that other people lose. It’s not what we wanted, but it’s the position we’re in.”