Premier League

LIVERPOOL — Roberto Firmino scored a dramatic late equalizer in his final appearance at Anfield for Liverpool to keep the Merseyside squad's slim chances of a top-four finish in the Premier League alive with a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa on Saturday.

Firmino, who is one of four players leaving when his contract runs out, scored in the 89th minute to the delight of the crowd who serenaded the Brazilian after the final whistle.

Roberto Firmino last goal at Anfield

It just had to be him!

Weston McKennie could be playing in the Premier League next season even if Leeds United end up getting relegated. That’s because Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi is keen on his club signing the American midfielder this summer according to Italian outlet Calciomercato.

When McKennie joined Leeds on loan in January many U.S. fans thought the move was going to be a smashing success. Fans hoped that Tyler Adams and McKennie were going to dominate the midfield for Leeds and form an unstoppable duo.

Brentford and England striker Ivan Toney has been banned from soccer for eight months and fined $63,000 after admitting to 232 breaches of the Football Association's (FA) betting rules, the governing body said on Wednesday.

Toney will not be able to play for club or country until Jan. 16, 2024 and he has been warned as to his future conduct. The sanctions were imposed by an independent regulatory commission after a personal hearing.

LONDON - The flickering embers of Arsenal's Premier League title dream were all but extinguished as they suffered a 3-0 home drubbing by Europe-chasing Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday.

With relentless Manchester City winning at Everton in the earlier kickoff to move four points clear, long-time league leaders Arsenal knew only a victory would suffice.

Manchester City took a massive step on its journey to a third straight Premier League title by beating relegation-threatened Everton 3-0 at Goodison Park on Sunday afternoon.

City midfielder İlkay Gündoğan was man of the match after scoring a stunning opener in the 37th-minute before setting up Erling Haaland for a header just two minutes later. Then, six minutes into the second half, Gündoğan curled home a right-footed free kick beyond the despairing dive of Jordan Pickford to secure all three points for City.  

SOUTHAMPTON — Southampton were relegated from the Premier League after losing 2-0 at home to Fulham on Saturday, bringing an end to their 11-year spell in the English top flight with two games remaining in the season.

Carlos Vinicius opened the scoring at St. Mary's Stadium three minutes after halftime, with Aleksandar Mitrovic, who came off the bench for Vinicius, doubling their advantage to seal Southampton's fate.

Not the start to the half that Southampton needed.

LEEDS — Defender Rasmus Kristensen scored a late equalizer to give Leeds United a share of the points in a thrilling Premier League 2-2 draw with Newcastle United that saw Leeds miss one spot kick, concede two more and have a man sent off in stoppage time.

Leeds are still in the relegation zone but move up one spot to 18th on 31 points, one point behind Everton in 17th, while Newcastle remain third in the table on 66 points, three ahead of Manchester United and four ahead of Liverpool.

The summer transfer window must be approaching because the Christian Pulisic transfer rumors are back. A week after Olivier Giroud said that AC Milan would love to have Pulisic, Napoli and Juventus are also showing interest.

LIVERPOOL — An early goal by Mohamed Salah was enough to give Liverpool a 1-0 Premier League win over Brentford on Saturday that keeps the pressure on fierce rivals Manchester United in the hunt for Champions League football next season.

Before the game got underway, the Liverpool fans loudly booed, whistled and chanted their team's name as the national anthem was played to mark the coronation of King Charles in London earlier on Saturday.