Former giants, Manchester United, will be playing Europa League football next season, not because of their prowess but the failure of West Ham United.
This is in spite of Wilfried Zaha scoring in a 1-0 win for Crystal Palace over the Red Devils on the final day of the 2021/2022 English Premier League (EPL) season.
Incoming Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was in attendance at Selhurst Park as Zaha punished a languid first-half showing by Ralf Rangnick’s side to put Crystal Palace in front.
Manchester United, without the injured Cristiano Ronaldo, could not find a breakthrough in the second half as they fell to a sixth straight away league defeat.
However, West Ham were defeated by Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday.
This kept Manchester United in sixth in spite of the Red Devils finishing the term with a club record-low Premier League points tally.
Edinson Cavani, playing in his final game for Manchester United, almost wrongfooted Vicente Guaita with a volley after 14 minutes, but the Spaniard readjusted to parry away.
David de Gea showed quick reflexes to thwart low drives from Zaha and Jeffrey Schlupp.
But the Manchester United goalkeeper had no response shortly after when the Côte d’Ivoire international drilled into the bottom-left corner.
Bruno Fernandes tamely curled a free-kick into Guaita’s hands after the interval, while Conor Gallagher dragged a presentable opportunity wide at the other end.
Anthony Elanga sliced wide from Juan Mata’s cutback as Manchester United searched for a late equaliser, although a belated offside flag against the Spaniard spared the Sweden international’s blushes.
Manchester United continued pressing forward but Crystal Palace held firm for a fifth consecutive top-flight home clean sheet for just the second time in history.
Rangnick was tasked with transforming Manchester United’s fortunes after the dismissal of club legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer last November.
However, the German was unable to do so and leaves Manchester United with the lowest win rate of any Red Devils manager in Premier League history (41.7 percent — 10 wins from 24 games)
Meanwhile, Burnley slipped out of the English Premier League as a late fightback was not enough to avoid a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United and their former manager Eddie Howe on Sunday.
The Clarets had looked down and out after Callum Wilson punished an inexplicable Nathan Collins handball from the penalty kick spot.
Newcastle United’s top-scorer was given the freedom of the Burnley box to score an easy second on the hour mark.
Maxwel Cornet powered home a Burnley reply in the 69th minute and, when word came through of a Brentford equaliser against Leeds moments later, Burnley responded.
It was with their best spell of the game, pegging back Newcastle United and forcing corner-kick after corner-kick.
But Cornet headed their best chance straight at Martin Dubravka three minutes from time.
And, as Jack Harrison secured a 2-1 win for Leeds United, Burnley saw their six-year stay in the Premier League come to an end.
It was a cruel finish for the Clarets, who had made themselves favourites to avoid the drop, with a battling draw at Aston Villa on Thursday.
It was the latest point picked up by Mike Jackson, who had taken 11 from eight games since replacing the sacked Sean Dyche last month.
But, when it got to the decisive day the pressure seemed to get to Burnley, who were too panicked in their play for long periods.
They were unable to get a grip on the game they needed a result from most.
Newcastle United fans will now look ahead to what should be a fascinating close season of investment under their new Saudi owners.
Burnley on the other hand face a host of potential problems in the second tier.
Club accounts show they must now repay a “substantial” portion of a £65 million pounds ($81 million) loan taken out as part of Alan Pace’s leveraged takeover in late 2020.
Also, Ben Mee, James Tarkowski, Ashley Barnes and Matej Vydra are on a list of nine first-team players out of contract.
