Magpies survive; Gerrard loses last Reds game 6-1
Hull’s season ended in painful frustration as the Tigers were relegated from the Premier League after being held to a goalless draw by Manchester United.
Steve Bruce’s side had several chances but could not make the breakthrough against a United side who will have Marouane Fellaini suspended for the first three matches of next season after the Belgium midfielder was sent off for a studs-up challenge on Paul McShane.
Victory would have been in vain anyway for the Tigers as relegation rivals Newcastle beat West Ham 2-0 to secure their top-flight status.
There were some nervy moments for the Magpies before Moussa Sissoko’s far-post header gave them the lead and Jonas Gutierrez made it 2-0 late on.
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers’ troubled season ended in disaster with a 6-1 hiding at Stoke.
Rodgers left Raheem Sterling on the bench after another week of negative headlines – and saw his side slump to 5-0 down by half-time in Steven Gerrard’s last game for the Reds.
Two goals from Mame Biram Diouf started the rout before Jon Walters, Charlie Adam and a stunning strike from Steven Nzonzi left Liverpool shell-shocked.
Gerrard was given a standing ovation by the Stoke fans after making it 5-1 but Anfield old boy Peter Crouch came off the bench to intensify the agony with a header.
Arsenal were also rampant at home to West Brom, where Theo Walcott grabbed a first-half hat-trick to put himself firmly in the frame for the FA Cup final. Jack Wilshere also did his Wembley chances no harm with an excellent performance and a superb strike as the Gunners raced into a 4-0 lead by the break.
Gareth McAuley’s header regained some respect for the Baggies but Aaron Ramsey hit the woodwork twice as the match ended 4-1.
Champions Chelsea came back from a goal down at home to Sunderland, with substitute Diego Costa levelling from the spot after Steven Fletcher had put the visitors 1-0 up.
Costa had replaced Didier Drogba, who was carried shoulder-high from the pitch by his team-mates after his final performance in a Chelsea shirt. Loic Remy then scored twice to make it 3-1 to ensure a positive end to the title-winning campaign.
There were some farewell flourishes elsewhere in the Premier League too – Frank Lampard found the net in his last match for Manchester City as the runners-up saw off Southampton 2-0, with the league’s top scorer Sergio Aguero heading the second.
Danny Ings scored at Aston Villa in what is likely to be his last game for Burnley as the striker is out of contract in the summer.
The relegated Clarets ended their season with a flourish, winning 1-0, while Villa looked to be focused on next week’s FA Cup final.
Leicester’s astonishing run of form continued right to the end of the season as the Foxes made mincemeat of relegated QPR winning 5-1. Jamie Vardy celebrated his England call-up with a goal before Marc Albrighton struck to make it 2-0.
Leonardo Ulloa grabbed a third after the break and Argentina international Esteban Cambiasso fired in for 4-0. Charlie Austin headed a consolation for his 18th of the season but Andrej Kramaric made if five for Nigel Pearson’s side.
Striker Harry Kane made it 21 league goals for the season as Tottenham took the lead at Everton and held on for a 1-0 win and fifth place in the table.
Marouane Chamakh ended a barren run of 1,008 minutes without a goal as he drove home to open the scoring for Crystal Palace against Swansea. The 1-0 win saw Alan Pardew’s side finish the season in the top half of the table.
