Leicester move to brink of title after Man United draw

Manchester, May 1 

Leicester City must wait at least one more day for their first-ever Premier League title after drawing 1-1 with Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Claudio Ranieri’s side failed to get the victory that would have brought the silverware but they will be crowned champions on Monday if second-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who trail them by eight points, fail to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, where they have not won since 1990.

Hopes of a Leicester triumph on Sunday suffered an early setback when striker Anthony Martial put United ahead with a neat right-foot finish from Antonio Valencia’s eighth-minute cross. The goal galvanised Leicester, who equalised nine minutes later when captain Wes Morgan headed home a Danny Drinkwater free kick.

The visitors thought they deserved a penalty when Riyad Mahrez clashed with Marcos Rojo in the United area, but without the suspended Jamie Vardy they lacked their usual threat on the break. United could have grabbed a late winner but Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel was quick off his line to foil the advancing Memphis Depay.

Leicester finished the game with 10 men after Drinkwater was sent off for a second bookable offence five minutes from time. 

Southampton’s Mane man leaves Man City reeling

Sadio Mane bagged a hat-trick in a vibrant display of attacking football from Southampton that swept aside Manchester City 4-2 and left the visitors facing a scramble to secure Champions League qualification.

The defeat, just three days before their semifinal second leg against Real Madrid, was never in doubt from the moment Shane Long capitalised on a Dusan Tadic assist in the 25th-minute.

The Serb also set up two of the goals for Senegalese striker Mane who pounced after 28, 57 and 68 minutes to complete his second hat-trick of a prolific season which has yielded 14 goals.

Fourth-placed City lead Manchester United by just four points and their neighbours have a game in hand.

Ayew double teaches Liverpool’s Klopp a lesson

Jurgen Klopp was made to pay for fielding Liverpool’s youngest ever Premier League starting line-up as Swansea swept them aside to secure their own survival in England’s top flight.

Klopp made eight changes from the Liverpool side beaten 1-0 by Villarreal on Thursday, sending out a team with an average age of just 23. Afterwards the German admitted the Reds had “a bad day”.

Liverpool struggled against the pace of Andrew Ayew, who scored twice. — Reuters