Premier League Last Round Preview, Odds, and Picks
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Liverpool is the champion, Manchester City is the runner-up, Norwich is getting relegated – these are some things we know ahead of the English Premier League last round. The list of things we won’t know until the final round of the season is played is much, much longer.
Some of the answers we will get on Sunday will deal with the following questions:
- Which two teams will finish in #3 and #4 place, thus getting their tickets to the UEFA Champions League?
- Who will finish in 5th place and get a direct ticket to the UEFA Europa League?
- Who’s going to the Championship apart from Norwich?
The answers to these questions depend on the team’s performances in the final round of the Premier League, which is played this Sunday at 11 a.m. (Eastern Time).
Who’s Going to the Champions League?
Liverpool and Manchester City, that much is certain. However, there are two more places left, with three teams still in the competition ahead of the Premier League last round. Those three sides are Manchester United (#3), Chelsea (#4), and Leicester (#5).
The games involving these teams are the following:
- Chelsea vs Wolves
- Leicester vs Manchester United
Leicester is having a very tough challenge on Sunday, as the Foxes are going to be without several of their key men. Plus, they’re not in a too good form, unlike their next opponent Manchester United.
Theoretically, it is possible for Leicester to drop down one spot if they lose to Manchester United. In the worst-case scenario, this team would end up a spot lower. This scenario, however, is almost impossible to happen as the team that’s breathing by Leicester’s neck is Wolves.
To leapfrog Leicester, Wolverhampton would need to beat Chelsea, as well as see Leicester lose big. This is because the tiebreaker in the Premier League is goal difference. Ahead of the Premier League final round, Leicester has +28, Wolverhampton has +13.
This, of course, does not mean Wolves are coming into the final round of the English Premier League with no desire to beat Chelsea. On the contrary, this team is competing for the 6th spot with Tottenham.
Who’s Going to the Europa League After Premier League Last Round?
Tottenham is playing Crystal Palace in the final round of the season. Mourinho’s team has been in a really decent form lately, with three wins in a row. As it’s very likely Wolves aren’t going to beat Chelsea in the last round, the Spurs need a win, which would get them to the Europa League qualification.
Their opponent is Crystal Palace, a team that’s safe from relegation, with no European aspirations. Another fact that’s going to Tottenham’s favor is that Crystal Palace has lost each of their previous seven Premier League games. In fact, this team did not lose only one game since the start of the Project Restart.
Who’s Going to be Relegated to the Championship?
Aston Villa beat Arsenal in the previous round, thus getting on equal points with Watford. The reason Villans are now in the safe zone is that they have a better goal score than Watford, who’s playing Arsenal in the final round.
Aston Villa, on the other hand, has a much easier job – this team is playing West Ham, which has secured a stay in the Premier League in the previous round by playing 1-1 with Manchester United.
With a win, Aston Villa would secure a stay in the Premier League. The same could happen even without a win depending on what happens in the game between Arsenal and Watford.
There are three reasons why Watford seems destined for a trip to the Championship:
- They’re in a terrible form, with two defeats in a row, with score difference of 1-7.
- They’ve recently sacked their manager Nigel Pearson, putting Hayden Mullins in charge.
- Their captain Troy Deeney and their goalkeeper Ben Foster almost had a fist-fight in the previous game.
However, the game with Arsenal has the potential to be interesting. Although the Hornets are not as good as the Gunners, Arsenal doesn’t have any major incentive to win this match, as it wouldn’t get them much higher in the rankings.
An important thing that we need to mention is that Arsenal has a chance to win the FA Cup and grab a ticket to the Europa League that way.
Odds & Picks for the English Premier League Last Round
- Chelsea to draw with Wolves (+275)
- Manchester United to beat Leicester (+135)
- Tottenham to beat Crystal Palace (-175)
- Aston Villa to beat West Ham (+129)
- Arsenal to beat Watford (-105)