Premier League Closing Day Preview: What’s There to Win? What’s There to lose?
After 37 exciting game weeks, the Premier League is drawing to a close. There is only one game remaining for all teams but there is still plenty to win or lose. Let's take a look at what is still on the line for some teams on the last game day of the season.
Title Race
This year’s title race will be decided on the last day of the season. The title match will be between Manchester City and Liverpool. Liverpool is currently trailing Manchester City by one point. Liverpool will face eighth place Wolverhampton Wonderers at home for the last game of the season. It will be a relatively easy game but the Wolves have been able to pull off some upsets this season. For Manchester City, they will face 14th place Aston Villa at home. Aston Villa is currently led by Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard. Surely Gerrad will try and throw everything at Manchester City in order to help his boyhood club lift the trophy.
Under current circumstances, if both City and Liverpool win, City will lift the title. If City draws or loses and Liverpool wins, Liverpool will lift the title. If Liverpool draws or loses, and City draws or wins, City will lift the title. This will truly be a title race down to the wire.
Last Ticket to Champions League
The number four spot is special in the Premier League because it is the last ticket for a Premier League team to participate in the most prestigious European soccer tournament, the Champions League. This spot will be contested by North London rivals, Tottenham Hotspurs and Arsenal. Arsenal is on a two-game losing streak while Tottenham is on a two-game winning streak. Momentum is on Tottenham’s side and they will face already relegated Norwich for the remaining game, while Arsenal will face Everton, who are still fighting for their Premier League survival. Tottenham is currently leading in fourth place by one point, and Arsenal is following closely behind at fifth.
Tottenham has the point advantage and the easier game on paper, but will they be able to not slip under pressure? For Arsenal, will they be able to perform and bounce back for a crucial three points for the last game of the season? The ownership of the last ticket to the Champions League will be decided on Sunday.
Fight to Stay Up
At the bottom of the table, there is also one spot left. However, this is the spot that no one wants, the relegation spot. Norwich and Watford have already confirmed their relegation, which means they will play at a lower level next season in the Championship. After the dramatic events in Goodison Park on Thursday, Everton came back from a two-goal deficit to win the game against Crystal Palace. Everton has secured their safety in the Premier League.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s late goal gave Everton all three points to guarantee the Toffees’ safety in the Premier League
There is still one more team that will drop to the Championship and it will either be Burnley or Leeds United. Currently, Burnley and Leeds are equal on points, but Burnely has a goal difference of -18 which is better than Leeds’ -38. Therefore, Burnley has a slight advantage in 17th place, while Leeds is in 18th place, the last relegation spot. Burnley will face Newcastle, which is predicted to be a difficult matchup, while Leeds will play Brentford, a relatively easier matchup on paper. If Leeds does not get more points than Burnley, Leeds will be relegated.
All 10 matches will be played at the same time on Sunday in traditional Premier League closing day fashion. With teams up and down the table fighting different battles, there is plenty to look out for this Sunday.
