Premier League 2022/23 | Southampton relegated in front of British PM, Man United enters top-four

Southampton’s 11-year stay in the English Premier League is over, with relegation sealed on Saturday by the 24th loss of a forgettable season and in front of its most famous fan. Read the latest football story on The Hindu.

Southampton’s 11-year stay in the English Premier League is over, with relegation sealed on Saturday by the 24th loss of a forgettable season and in front of its most famous fan.

Not even the presence of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at St. Mary’s stadium could inspire Southampton in its 2-0 home loss to Fulham, which consigned the south-coast team to life in the Championship with two games to spare.

“It is a moment that has been coming,” said James Ward-Prowse, Southampton’s England midfielder.

“We knew we had put ourselves in a difficult position. When these things happen you go away individually and as a club and ask if you have done enough? I don’t think we have.”

At the other end of the league, Manchester United has almost done enough to secure a return to the Champions League.

United rebounded from back-to-back losses to ignite its push to reach Europe’s top competition with a 2-0 win over Wolverhampton.

United moved level on points with third-placed Newcastle — which drew at Leeds 2-2 — and both teams were four ahead of fifth-placed Liverpool in the race for a top-four finish. All three teams have three games left.