5 May 2019

Cardiff relegated, Liverpool remain in the hunt for title

10:13 am on 5 May 2019

Cardiff City have been relegated from the English Premier football League following a 3-2 loss to Crystal Palace, while a late goal against Newcastle kept Liverpool's title bid alive.

Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool celebrates with his team-mates.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

An 86th minute header from substitute Divock Origi secured Liverpool a 3-2 win at Newcastle United, leaving the Reds with a two-point advantage over Manchester City.

However Pep Guardiola's team have two games remaining, including Tuesday's home match with Leicester City, while Liverpool have just one.

Elsewhere, nine-man Tottenham Hotspur missed a chance to clinch a top-four place by losing 1-0 at Bournemouth.

In Wales, goals from Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha, Michy Batshuayi and Andros Townsend helped send Cardiff back to the second-tier Championship one season after winning promotion.

Though Bobby Reid scored a late consolation it wasn't enough to prevent Cardiff's second consecutive one-season stint in the top division.

The Bluebirds will join Fulham, who were also promoted a year ago, and Huddersfield in going down next season.

Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock said relegation from the Premier League was insignificant compared with the loss felt by the death of Emiliano Sala in a plane crash in January.

"That puts it into perspective - yes, we've got relegated, but life is far more important," Warnock said after the defeat.

"You can't plan for something like that and I didn't think it would affect the players in the way it did.

"I did think he would score 10 or 15 goals, he was the type we needed. It wasn't to be."

Meanwhile Tottenham were their own worst enemy at the Vitality Stadium as Son Heung Min and Juan Foyth were both sent off either side of halftime.

Still they were able to hold out until Nathan Ake headed home a corner kick in the 91st minute.

"I will respect the decision of the referee (on the red cards)," manager Mauricio Pochettino told the BBC.

"Nothing to say, that is football."

Tottenham are third, two points clear of Chelsea, four ahead of Arsenal and five above Manchester United in the race for the final two Champions League qualifying spots.

Spurs have one game remaining while the chasing trio have two, with all in action tomorrow.

Wolverhampton remain in the running for a possible Europa League place after beating Fulham 1-0 on Leander Dendoncker's goal 15 minutes from time.

Wolves are seventh and would qualify for Europe if Manchester City beat Watford in this month's FA Cup final.

-Reuters