Julius OkorieEnglish Premier League side Southampton with Super Eagles duo Joe Aribo and Paul Onuchu on parade, made the wrong history after becoming the first team to to be relegated in the 2024-2025 season with seven games to play.
The Saints relegation surpassed previous record held by Derby County, who were relegated with six games remaining in the 2007-08 season.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelSouthampton’s relegation was confirmed Sunday, after a tough match against Tottenham Hotspur, where Brennan Johnson delivered an impressive performance. The Wales forward scored the opening goal in the 13th minute, converting a well-placed cut-back from Djed Spence, and he made it a brace just before halftime with a deft flicked header from James Maddison, putting Southampton under early pressure.
Although Mateus Fernandes managed to score a late consolation goal in the 90th minute, the match concluded with a significant moment as Mathys Tel netted his first league goal for Spurs from the penalty spot, sealing Southampton’s fate.
Joe Aribo was in action for 64 minutes in the encounter before being replaced by Will Smallbone while compatriot Paul Onuachu saw in action for 17 minutes after stepping in as late substitute for Desmong Archer.
Nigerian-born French footballer Lesley Ugochukwu was also in action for the Saints for 83 minutes but impressive runs failed to stop Southampton from going down.
The atmosphere at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was subdued before the match due to a pre-match protest against Chairman Daniel Levy, reflecting growing concerns about manager Ange Postecoglou amid a difficult spell for the team.
With only one victory in their last 10 home league matches, Spurs were in a precarious position, sitting fifth from the bottom of the table at the start of the day. But the win lifted them to the 14th spot with 37 points in 31 games, even as they pray and hope not to drop more points.
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in another development, table toppers Liverpool had their unbeaten run hulted by Fulham on Sunday. Super Eagles and Fulham forward Alex Iwobi contributed in no small measure to denting Liverpool record in the encounter.
The Nigeria international grabbed the second goal for Fulham in the 32nd minute just few minutes after teammate Ryan Sessegnon cancelled the Reds’14th minute curtain raiser.
Rodrigo Muniz increased the goal tally to three for Fulham in the 37th minute. It all looked like it was heading for a 3-1 victory for
Fulham before Columbia ace Luis Fernando pulled one back. Prior to Sunday’s defeat, Liverpool have enjoyed 26 match unbeaten run
The result saw the Reds fail to capitalise on closest challengers Arsenal dropping points in their 1-1 draw at Everton on Saturday, missing out on extending their 11-point lead at the summit, with seven matches remaining in the title race.
“It wasn’t 45 minutes of disaster but the errors we made weren’t something that we’re used to and it’s something different,” “It’s disappointed us all, the players and the fans” said Liverpool manager Arne Slot. The win sees Fulham bounce back from their FA Cup quarter-final exit to Crystal Palace last month and their 1-0 midweek defeat at Arsenal as they move up to eighth in the table.
Leicester City host Newcastle Monday (today). Leicester City have lost eight of their matches in a row with relegation starring them in the face. The Foxes who have Super Eagles defender Wilfred Ndidi as one of their must play materials are on the verge of equally going down just like Saints did after losing to Tottenham.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
