Race for the Champions League timeline - how it all unfolded
- Simon Bullock
- 23 May 2021
Tottenham did Chelsea a favour with a 4-2 win at Leicester which stopped the Foxes from qualifying for the Champions League. We take a look at how the top-four race panned out.
KO: 3rd: Chelsea - 67pts. 4th: Liverpool - 66pts. 5th: Leicester City - 66pts.
18' GOAL: Leicester City 1 - 0 Tottenham Hotspur. Jamie Vardy is caught in the box by Toby Alderweireld and after a VAR check, a penalty is given. Vardy steps up to take it and sends Hugo Lloris the wrong way. Leicester go into third place and Liverpool drop out of the top four.
36' GOAL: Liverpool 1 - 0 Crystal Palace. Sadio Mane scrambles the ball home at the back post from a corner. Liverpool up into third.
Liverpool's Sadio Mane celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool.
41' GOAL: Leicester City 1 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur. A Son Heung-Min cross comes into the box and is smashed home by Harry Kane to level the scores. Leicester down to fifth.
43' GOAL: Aston Villa 1 - 0 Chelsea. Bertrand Traore opens the scoring against Chelsea with a good finish from a corner. Chelsea still fourth, but a Leicester goal would send them into fifth.
52' GOAL: Leicester City 2 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur. This time it's Davinson Sanchez who fouls Jamie Vardy inside the area. Same result, Vardy scores the penalty. Chelsea drop out of the top four, having started the day third.
Jamie Vardy celebrates for Leicester
52' GOAL: Aston Villa 2 - 0 Chelsea. Jorginho brings down Bertrand Traore in the box and Anwar El Ghazi converts the penalty to leave Chelsea even further away from fourth.
70' GOAL: Aston Villa 2 - 1 Chelsea. Christian Pulisic pulls the ball back for Ben Chilwell who volleys home. Chelsea are still fifth.
74' GOAL: Liverpool 2 - 0 Crystal Palace. Wijnaldum to Salah to Mane and Liverpool have their second. That should seal their place in the top four.
Liverpool's Sadio Mane (right) celebrates with Andrew Robertson after scoring their side's second goal of the game during the Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool.
76' GOAL: Leicester City 2 - 2 Tottenham Hotspur. Oh my. Kasper Schmeichel punches the ball into his own net from a corner. Leicester drop to fifth and Chelsea are back up to fourth!
87' GOAL: Leicester City 2 - 3 Tottenham Hotspur. Harry Kane rounds Kasper Schmeichel and squares the ball to Gareth Bale who puts Tottenham into the lead.
90+6' GOAL: Leicester City 2 - 4 Tottenham Hotspur. Leicester have completely collapsed. Gareth Bale strikes the post before netting the rebounding effort.
Gareth Bale sends Tottenham to Europe
FULL TIME: After a dramatic 90 minutes, it's Liverpool and Chelsea who will play in next season's Champions League. Leicester City qualify for the Europa League, having spent nearly all season in the top four before dropping out right at the end for the second season running.
