European spots still up for grabs in the Premier League’s final day

We can’t quite believe that we’re on matchweek 38 in the Premier League. In truth, it has been a mad season. A season gripped by a pandemic where we have been starved of the thing that makes football: the fans.

This has had a huge impact on teams and infact Manchester United are unbeaten away from home… but fell to SIX home defeats. Old Trafford has been a cold, gloomy place but despite that, second place was achieved by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men.

Liverpool also suffered hugely without their fans but are pulling together at the tail end of the season to book their spot in the Champions League next season. They are now undefeated in their last nine league matches and look more like the Liverpool that stormed to their first Premier League title last season.

Their final game comes against Crystal Palace at Anfield, in a game which has a nice twist to it. After over 45 years in management, Palace manager Roy Hodgson, “one of their own” is stepping away from top flight management. He did manage Liverpool at one point in his career, so this will be a bittersweet ending for England’s oldest manager.

Final day drama:

Roy Hodgson’s last game as Crystal Palace manager is at Anfield, where a win can totally extinguish Liverpool’s #ChampionsLeague hopes. . . pic.twitter.com/B2xrGc2cyu

— Casumo Sports (@CasumoSports) May 18, 2021

It is rather simple for Liverpool and sentiment will not play its part in this game. Win and qualify for Europe. Drop points and risk being leapfrogged by Leicester City.

Leicester’s final collapse is a recurring nightmare for them as last season ended on a similar downward trend. Defeat to Chelsea on Tuesday saw them drop to fifth place and are now level on 66 points with Liverpool. Brendan Rodgers deserves huge credit for a successful season which did after all see his Foxes win their very first FA Cup final against Chelsea, of all teams.

We can’t really say it’s the end of an era for Leicester, even though some members of the squad are at the latter stages of their career. Wes Morgan, Jamie Vardy and Marc Albrighton, all part of the sensational side that won the Premier League are getting on a little, but their recruitment has been brilliant. That factor makes a club consistent and with a bright manager at the helm, Leicester are in good hands and will not consider this season as a failure should they end up in the Europa League.

Interestingly, as if to help segway this article, Leicester play Tottenham, whose season can only be described as a disaster. Early promise faded and they might end up qualifying in the inaugural Europa Conference League… and guess what, Arsenal still have a chance of finishing above them despite their woeful season.

The North London sides have struggled and aggravated their own fans this season, but should Arsenal finish above Spurs it would add a dose of comic relief to their own misery.

West Ham’s: from relegation favourites to a European Tour

Seventh spot earns a place in the Europa Conference League, so it looks like no matter what, David Moyes has taken his side to Europe this season. That is an absolutely incredible achievement, especially when comparing this season to last. West Ham could have been relegated last term but Moyes has worked some magic to make his Irons dream. Remember, they spent most of this season in the top four and had you predicted that feat, any West Ham fan would have bitten your hand off. Yes, the dream of Champions League football is over, but at least it was there and dreams are what make life so wonderful. Ironically, West Ham started the season as favourites to get relegated.

West Ham face Southampton and are priced at 4/6 or 1.67 to win. 

As per tradition, All games will kick off at the exact same time on Sunday which means you’ll need to be swapping channels to keep your eyes on the race for those different, but essential European spots.

 

 

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