Premier League: Everton avoids relegation on dramatic final day as Leicester City and Leeds United drop down to Championship

Everton avoided relegation from the Premier League by the skin of its teeth on Sunday, earning a hard-fought 1-0 win over Bournemouth at a raucous Goodison Park.

The outlook was bleak for Everton for quite some time after Harvey Barnes gave Leicester City a first-half lead against West Ham, vaulting the Foxes above Everton and out of the relegation zone.

However, Abdoulaye Doucoure's crisp volley just before the hour mark clinched three of the most important points in Everton's history to maintain its Premier League status and condemn Leicester to the Championship, despite a 2-1 win over the Hammers.

Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford pulled off a huge save late in the game to keep the Toffees' lead intact, before a bellowing roar from the fans almost blew the roof off Goodison Park when the referee blew the whistle for full time.

Leeds United will join Leicester in England's second tier after losing 4-1 at home to Tottenham Hotspur, with Southampon's relegation already confirmed weeks ago.

Defender Conor Coady said the overriding emotion was "relief" after Everton avoided relegation from the Premier League for the first time, but admitted the club needs to avoid these relegation battles "becoming a bit of a thing."

"It was last season and now this season," he told Sky Sports after the match. "This is where we need to improve and we need to reset, but it's relief - I'll be honest, it's been the hardest season of my life, of my career.