English Clubs

MANCHESTER, England — UEFA's claim that Manchester City "disguised equity funding" from their owners was "unsubstantiated" but the club showed "blatant disregard" to the Financial Fair Play investigation, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said on Tuesday.

The CAS panel that heard Premier League City's appeal published their full reasoning for overturning the English club's two-year ban from European football earlier this month.

The decision allows City to compete in next season’s elite Champions League competition.

Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp was named League Managers' Association (LMA) manager of the year on Monday after guiding the Merseyside club to their first top-flight title in 30 years.

Klopp's Liverpool side won the Premier League title with seven games to spare and they finished the season 18 points clear at the top of the table.

The German coach pipped Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa, Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth and last year's winner Chris Wilder of Sheffield United to the Alex Ferguson Trophy — named after the former Manchester United manager.

Manchester United's 14-game unbeaten run to end the Premier League season, culminating in Sunday's 2-0 win at Leicester City, pushed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side into the Champions League spots but now the club faces a crucial transfer window.

The Norwegian delivered on United's main goal for this season — they were never expected to challenge Liverpool or Manchester City for the title — but being back in Europe's elite competition is just part of the journey back to the top.

Manchester City midfielder David Silva will return to the Etihad Stadium for a proper send-off after making his final Premier League appearance for the club in Sunday's 5-0 thrashing of Norwich City, manager Pep Guardiola said.

Silva, who joined City a decade ago, will leave the club at the end of the season and made his 309th league appearance against Norwich, going off to a standing ovation from the City bench in the 85th minute.

Aston Villa preserved its Premier League status with a nerve-racking 1-1 draw at West Ham United on Sunday — a result that meant they finished one point above the relegation zone.

Captain Jack Grealish thought he had won it for Villa when he fired past Lukasz Fabianski in the 84th minute but West Ham hit back almost immediately through Andriy Yarmolenko.

The final day of the Premier League season on Sunday promises to be a nerve-racking one for fans of clubs at both ends of the table as three teams vie for two Champions League spots and three more look to avoid relegation.

At the top, champions Liverpool and second-placed Manchester City have already sealed their spots in the Champions League while Manchester United (63 points), Chelsea (63) and Leicester City (62) fight it out for the two remaining places.

Manchester United dropped crucial points in the Champions League race and West Ham secured its safety in the Premier League after the two clubs drew 1-1 on Wednesday.

The real story out of the feisty tie was Paul Pogba’s questionable decision making that led to the Hammers’ goal.

West Ham took the lead moments before halftime courtesy of Pogba pulling the most youth soccer move you’ll ever see at the highest level of the sport. Pogba was clearly caught off guard during a West Ham free kick and instinctively chose to protect his face.