BRIGHTON, England (AP) — Christopher Nkunku inflated a blue balloon and held it between his lips to celebrate his second-half goal in a 2-1 win for Chelsea at Brighton in the Premier League on Wednesday. The France striker’s 64th-minute strike added to Cole Palmer’s 22nd goal of the campaign in the 34th minute at Amex Stadium as Chelsea claimed its fourth straight victory to boost ambitions of qualifying for a European competition next season. Chelsea moved three points behind fifth-place Totten
The win puts eighth-placed United level on 53 points with Newcastle in seventh.
Both clubs are hoping to secure European qualification for the 2024/25 season
KILMARNOCK, Scotland (AP) — Celtic clinched a third straight Scottish league title with a game to spare on Wednesday. A 5-0 win at Kilmarnock gave Celtic an unassailable six-point lead over fierce Glasgow rival Rangers. It's the first silverware of Brendan Rodgers’ second spell in charge and moved Celtic onto 54 league titles — one behind Rangers’ record total in Scotland. Celtic could also secure a league-and-cup double because it plays Rangers on the Scottish Cup final on May 25. ___ AP soccer