You are here: HomeSportsBoxing2021 05 23Article 440887

Sports News of Sunday, 23 May 2021

Source: www.completesports.com

Ndidi, Iheanacho in final push for UCL slot; Iwobi eyes Europa Berth

Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi

Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi and their Leicester City teammates will hope that a win over Tottenham Hotspur in the last fixture of the season on Sunday afternoon, will be enough for them to finish inside the Premier League top four and secure one of the Champions League places.

The Foxes had, for long spells, looked certain of a Champions League position for next term, but they are now up against it heading into what is set to be a fascinating final day of Premier League action.

The recently crowned champions of the FA Cup, side are currently fifth in the table, level on points with fourth-placed Liverpool and just one point behind third-placed Chelsea, meaning that it is still all to play for.

A win for Liverpool over Crystal Palace would almost certainly be enough for the Reds to make the top four due to their superior goal difference.

This means that Leicester will need Jurgen Klopp’s side to drop points to move above them, but Chelsea could drop out of the top four if they fail to overcome Aston Villa.

A point might yet be enough for Leicester, who lost 2-1 at Chelsea on Tuesday night, but they will be desperate to pick up all three and see where that leaves them come Sunday.

For Alex Iwobi and Everton, they remain in contention for European football heading into their clash with champions Manchester City on the final day.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side are eighth in the table and just three points off the sixth, while Man City will now have more than one eye on next week’s Champions League final.

The Meysersiders have struggled for consistency pretty much throughout a frustrating 2020-21, yet that has also been the case for each of the teams around them in the table.

Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, secured through a Richarlison goal, means that Everton can still technically qualify for the Europa League.

However, they trail sixth-placed West Ham United by three points and have a significantly worse goal difference, so seventh place – and a spot in the inaugural Europa Conference League – is the more realistic aim.

For that to be achieved Everton will almost certainly need to beat Man City as Arsenal – one point worse off – are at home to Brighton & Hove Albion, while also hoping Tottenham Hotspur fail to beat Leicester City.

Winning at the Etihad Stadium is no easy feat, of course, especially when taking into account that Everton has not won back-to-back league games since the start of March.

Ancelotti’s men have won just three of their last 11 games since then, though their away form does provide hope of an upset this weekend, losing just one of their last 14 away from Goodison Park.