Premier League Final Week Drama
Sunday 24th May will see the final matchday of the Premier League season. After 37 games, the final game of the season for all 20 teams will kick off simultaneously and there is still plenty of things to be decided, although exactly what is up for grabs won’t be known until the remaining games from matchday 37 have been played later this week, so we will include a look at these games in this review.
So what can be decided and when? Let’s take a look at the issues that can be decided, those that already have been decided and the final set of games coming up this week.
Premier League – What Has or Has Not Yet Been Decided
- Champions – Arsenal or Manchester City
Both teams are in action twice this week and if Arsenal win their first game and City lose their first game of the week, Arsenal will be Champions ahead of the final days’ action.
- Champions League Qualification – Assured – Arsenal, Man City, Manchester United, Aston Villa Up for Grabs – Liverpool, Bournemouth
The EPL has five Champions League places this season and all but one have been decided with Liverpool or Bournemouth battling it out for that final spot. A defeat for Bournemouth against Manchester City would mean Liverpool clinch the fifth spot, otherwise it will go to the final day.
- Relegation – Assured – Wolves, Burnley, Up for Grabs – Tottenham, West Ham
Wolves and Burnley are already relegated, Tottenham have two games left and are two points ahead of West Ham who have just one game remaining. A win for Spurs would ensure their safety but a draw would also be enough given Spurs far superior goal difference.
Matchday 37 – Remaining Games
There are three games remaining for Matchday 37 in the EPL, the first played on Monday and the second two on Tuesday.
Arsenal vs Burnley
Arsenal come into Monday night’s game knowing a win would mean Manchester City need to beat Bournemouth on Tuesday in order to take the title race to the final day. Burnley are already relegated and the Gunners should have few problems in picking up the three points at home here. Which would move them five clear of City ahead of Tuesday’s games.
Bournemouth vs Manchester City
Bournemouth are unbeaten in their last 15 Premier League games, albeit with lots of draws in that run. They also have home advantage against a Manchester City side who will know that nothing less than a win will do, regardless of whether Arsenal have won, drawn or lost their game the night before.A defeat or draw for City here, combined with a win for Arsenal, would hand the Gunners the title. On a secondary note, if City were to win here, not only would the title race be guaranteed to go to the final day, it would also ensure that Liverpool qualify for the Champions League next season.
Chelsea vs Tottenham
With Chelsea out of contention for the Champions League, the main focus here switches to Tottenham who could assure themselves of Premier League football with a win at Stamford Bridge. In truth, a draw would also be enough as they would be three clear of West Ham but with a 13-goal better goal difference compared to the Hammers.
Matchday 38 – Full Fixture List
The full set of games for the final Matchday of the EPL season is as follows. All kick off at 4 pm on Sunday, 24th May.
- Brighton v Manchester United
- Burnley v Wolves
- Crystal Palace v Arsenal
- Fulham v Newcastle United
- Liverpool v Brentford
- Manchester City v Aston Villa
- Nottingham Forest v Bournemouth
- Sunderland v Chelsea
- Tottenham v Everton
- West Ham v Leeds United
Key Games
Title Race – Crystal Palace v Arsenal, Man City v Aston Villa.
If the title race goes down to the final day, these are the two matches that will decide the outcome. Neither is an easy fixture for Arsenal or City but the odds still strongly favour Arsenal.
Champions League Place – Liverpool v Brentford, Nottingham Forest v Bournemouth
If Bournemouth can still catch Liverpool after their midweek game v City they will need to win this game and hope Liverpool lose (or draw) against Brentford to pip the Reds to fifth spot.
Relegation – Tottenham v Everton, West Ham v Leeds United
Should this go to the final day, these two games will decide which of these two huge London clubs drop into the Championship.The odds are strongly in Spurs favour and if they can get a point or a win at Chelsea in midweek, they’d be safe heading into this final game of the campaign.
Our Predictions
In truth, there doesn’t look likely to be too many surprises given the remaining fixtures, We predict Arsenal will claim the title ahead of City, Liverpool will beat Bournemouth to the final spot in the Champions League and that West Ham will be the team relegated to the Championship for next season.
