Premier League Round-Up: Champions Leicester City complete fairytale as Tottenham slip-up at Chelsea

Leicester City’s dream season became a reality Monday night when Spurs’ draw with Chelsea meant they became Premier League Champions for the first time in their history.

The Foxes drew 1-1 at Old Trafford on Sunday thanks to a Wes Morgan goal, after Anthony Martial had put United ahead, to put themselves eight points clear at the top. That meant Spurs had to beat Chelsea on Monday night to take the title race to next weekend and things looked to be heading that way when goals from Harry Kane and Son Heung-min had them 2-0 up at half-time.

Captain Wes Morgan headed home Leicester’s equaliser at Old Trafford, before him and his teammates were crowned Premier League champions on Monday night – Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

However the North Londoners were pegged back in the second-half through goals from Gary Cahill and a wonderful Eden Hazard strike that proved to be the goal that secured the 5000-1 outsiders a historic first top division title in their 132-year history. Claudio Ranieri’s men will lift the Premier League title in their next game at home to Everton at the weekend, where they will be crowned the first new champions of England for 38 years.

At the bottom of the table, Newcastle moved out of the bottom three with a crucial 1-0 win over Crystal Palace at St James’ Park. Andros Townsend’s brilliant free-kick just before the hour proved to be the winner, but they had goalkeeper Karl Darlow to thank as well when he saved Yohan Cabaye’s penalty kick with just 20 minutes remaining. The win takes Rafa Benitez’s men a point above the drop zone whereas Palace stay 16th with just one win in the league in 2016.

Sunderland rescued what could prove to be a vital point in the relegation battle as they netted late on to draw 1-1 with Stoke at the Britannia. Marko Arnautovic put the Potters ahead in the second-half from a Peter Crouch knock-down. However in stoppage time, Jermain Defoe was fouled by Geoff Cameron, allowing the England hitman to step up and net the penalty to steal a point. The Black Cats drop into the bottom three despite the point, whilst Stoke stay ninth and are without a win in five.

Defoe tucked away his 14th league goal of the season to salvage a point for Sunderland – Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

Manchester City’s top four hopes were dealt a blow as they were comprehensively beaten 4-2 by Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium. Goals from Shane Long and Sadio Mane put them 2-0 ahead, before Kelechi Iheanacho pulled one back before half-time. Mane struck twice more after the break to complete his hat-trick, before Iheanacho curled in another before the end. City stay fourth, but now sit just four points above fifth having played a game more, whereas the Saints stay seventh and remain two points behind West Ham.

Arsenal have all but secured their top four place after their hard-fought 1-0 win over Norwich at the Emirates. Danny Welbeck came off the bench to net the winner on the hour mark following Olivier Giroud’s knock-down. The Gunners go up to third and are unbeaten in eight, whilst the Canaries slip to 19th with a third straight defeat.

West Ham maintained their hopes of a top six finish with a comfortable 3-0 win over West Brom at the Hawthorns. Cheikhou Kouyate headed the Hammers in front, before two goals from Mark Noble in either half sealed a win to take them to their highest ever Premier League points tally. Slaven Bilic’s men stay sixth, a point behind fifth spot, whereas the Baggies drop to 14th and are without a win in seven.

Swansea officially secured their place in the Premier League with a 3-1 over Liverpool at the Liberty Stadium. Goals from Andre Ayew and Jack Cork put the Swans 2-0 ahead by half-time, before substitute Christian Benteke pulled one back after the break. But almost immediately after the restart, Ayew restored the two-goal lead with his second goal of the game, before Brad Smith saw red for the visitors for a second yellow card. Swansea move up to 13th with the win, whilst Liverpool drop down to eighth.

Relegated Aston Villa were denied a first win since February as two stoppage time goals saw them beaten 3-2 by Watford at Vicarage Road. Ciaran Clark headed in to give the visitors the lead and Jordan Ayew drove them back ahead after Almen Abdi equalised on the stroke of half-time.

However Aly Cissokho was shown a straight red card with 20 minutes remaining and in stoppage time Troy Deeney headed in an equaliser. It was Deeney who would net the winner in the fourth minute of added time to condemn Villa to a 26th defeat of the season and take the Hornets up to 12th.

Everton won for the first time in seven games as they defeated Bournemouth 2-1 at Goodison Park. Tom Cleverley gave the Toffees the lead after just seven minutes with a smart finish, but Marc Pugh levelled just two minutes later. Leighton Baines netted the winner for the home side just after the hour when he turned in a low cross to leave Roberto Martinez’s side in 11th, whilst the Cherries drop to 15th.

Player of the Weekend: Sadio Mane (Southampton)
Team of the Weekend: Leicester City
Goal of the Weekend: Andros Townsend (NEWCASTLE UNITED vs Crystal Palace)