Chelsea and Everton bid farewell to their respective managers on the final day of the Premier League and fittingly the game at Stamford Bridge was a evenly contested encounter that the Blues edged 2-1. Fernando Torres scored the decisive winner in the 76^th minute, his first goal in the Premier League since Boxing Day. Everton had earlier cancelled out Juan Mata’s 7^th minute opener through Steven Naismith on 14 minutes. The win ensures that Chelsea finish 3^rd and with it secure automatic qualification for next season’s Champions league while 5^th placed Everton finished above Liverpool despite the defeat.

Rafa Benitez had a surprise up his sleeve for Chelsea’s last home game of the season as he handed Nathan Ake a start whole Fernando Torres and Demba Ba also started together up-front. The top-heavy side had only Frank Lampard to call upon in a traditional central midfield role, with Juan Mata and Oscar the conduit between attack and defence. Branislav Ivanovic was shifted out to the right to accommodate Gary Cahill and David Luiz in the centre while Ashley Cole took up his usual position on the left.

Arsene Wenger kept up his incredible record of taking Arsenal into the Champions League in every one of his 16 years in charge as the Gunners managed to secure the win they needed on the final day, winning 1-0 against Newcastle thanks to a 2^nd half goal from Laurent Koscielny. The defender’s strike on 52 minutes separated the two sides at St.James’ Park in a scrappy game at best, which was unsurprising considering the stakes. Chelsea’s victory means that Arsenal will finish 4^th, ahead of Tottenham, who once again suffered heartbreak on the final day in the race for the Top Four.

Newcastle had their strongest eleven out on the pitch to welcome Arsenal as Papiss Demba Cisse led the line ahead of an attacking midfield which had Jonas Gutierrez, Yoan Gouffran and Haten Ben Arfa. Yohan Cabaye and Cheik Tiote had the central area covered, backing up a back four of Fabricio Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Mapou Yanga-Mbwia and Mathieu Debuchy.

Manchester City are getting ready to shell out a British record £54 million for Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao, reports the Sunday Mirror. The Colombian striker was widely expected to be heading to west London this summer but Manchester City have swooped in on the forward and are ready to meet his buyout clause.

Falcao’s agent, Jorge Mendes, also manages Jose Mourinho and the striker was reportedly keen to play under the Portuguese at Chelsea. However the forward wasn’t willing to fight with Fernando Torres, who’s the London club owner’s favourite, for a first team spot. So he has decided to join the Premier League 2011-12 champions instead where he will form a deadly striking partnership with a third former Atletico striker Sergio Aguero, who Falcao replaced in the Madrid club two seasons ago.

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Man City now lead the chase for Falcao

Atletico Madrid’s much sought after striker, Radamel Falcao, is set to snub Chelsea and Monaco by instead moving to Man City according to the Sunday People. The report suggests that City have met the £54m release clause in the Colombian’s contract, with the clincher supposedly being the imminent arrival of Manuel Pellegrini. We can confidently state that this will not be the last batch of gossip to be delivered with the 27 year olds name pasted all across the box.

Mourinho denied the permission to take Ronaldo with him to England

Jose Mourinho’s stock in the Spanish Capital couldn’t be lower after Real Madrid suffered the ignominy of a Copa Del Rey Final loss to Atletico Madrid. The defeat will only hasten Mourinho’s departure from the Bernabeu as the ‘Special One’ heads back to his beloved Stamford Bridge. But his hopes of brining Cristiano Ronaldo with him has been scuppered by FLoreinto Perez, who according to the Sunday People has blocked any possible approach for Ronaldo. The ‘Special One’ will still have Michael Essien for company on the flight back.

Arsenal are seemingly firm favourites to sign Fiorentina forward Stevan Jovetic in what would be a £20-25 million move for the Gunners. This would leave the striker position at the club vacant, and La Viola are looking to fill the void with strikers from the Premier League itself. They are said to be in the market for the seemingly in-form Fernando Torres and out-of-favour striker Edin Dzeko.

Chelsea acquired Fernando Torres in a record breaking £50 million move in January 2011 from Liverpool. Though since his arrival from the Reds, he has been woefully underperforming and was unable to replicate the form he showed at Anfield. He has been showing sparks of his ability here and there, but thats all they are, sparks. They don't last very long. In his 134 appearances for the Blues he has scored only 34 goals 22 of which have come this year, showing the two year drought he had to start his Chelsea career.

Rafael Benitez hasn’t had it easy since his appointment as the Chelsea ‘Interim Manager’. He has always been criticised for his past affiliations with Liverpool and has been booed vociferously by the fans in virtually every single game. Despite that, he has come through for Chelsea when they needed him the most. Though some Chelsea fans may not admit it, he has done a pretty decent job. With a 250,000 bonus on offer to Benitez if Chelsea finishes third, you can expect him to ensure that the team is up for the contest tonight.

Everton meanwhile will also be saying goodbye to their manager David Moyes, a man who has been a mainstay in the Toffees’ dressing room for a good part of eleven long years. Everton will need no further motivation to give their gaffer a fond farewell, and will no doubt go all out to show that they can compete with Chelsea, even if they are away from home.