The Premier League season now approaches its final weekend, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are still poised to lift the coveted title, but it is with Liverpool that the tense race seems to have a hint of ‘miracle’ attached! The bookmakers seem to still be firmly in the blue corner…but stranger things have happened in the run in to the close of the domestic season.
To Win Outright
Manchester City 1/10
Liverpool 11/2
Manchester City have once again missed out on the chance to claim their maiden Champions League title and having been knocked out of the FA Cup and EFL Cup, they have only the Premier League to contend. As things stand, they are well and truly on course to adorn themselves in league glory, but it hasn’t exactly been as straightforward as they would have liked.
When you consider that at the turn of the year City were miles ahead in the league race, one should find comfort in questioning their stability and grit – but as (recent) history has shown, doubt them at your peril.
Last month Liverpool travelled to the Etihad Stadium knowing that only a win would allow them to seize control of this race. An open and dynamic game of football pitted two different schools of thought against one another to produce another spectacle. The 2-2 draw didn’t completely rule them out, but they weren’t exactly driving the bus of success either.
Tottenham’s 1-1 draw with Jurgen Klopp’s men seemingly gifted the title to City, but if ever we needed further reminders, nothing is guaranteed in this game; and very often, little makes sense. West Ham plucked two points from the defending champions last week which now means only one thing… The unthinkable has a chance. Steven Gerrard and Phillipe Coutinho have the chance to do what neither has been able to do before – win Liverpool a league title!
Manchester City’s fixture: Aston Villa (H)
Liverpool’s fixture: Wolves (H)
Top Four Chase
The final place in those European places will be the prize for just one of these two sides from the North of London. For so long, it seemed as though none of these sides really wanted to qualify for the Champions League! Nevertheless, with just one game to go all Antonio Conte’s men need to do is avoid defeat to Norwich.
To Finish Top Four
Tottenham 13/20
Arsenal 11/10
With all the work Mikel Arteta has done at Arsenal, and the resurgence they have seen under their manager, he has seemingly still failed to change their propensity to well…completely bottle it.
I cannot see how Norwich affect Spurs on Sunday really. They have nothing to play for – I know this is becoming a bit of a stuck record sentence – but Spurs should be buzzing. They will take the game to Norwich with aggression and confidence that they will not only achieve a place in European club football’s finest tournament, but also finish above Arsenal.
Monday night would have been painful for Arsenal and their fans. Knowing that all they needed to do was travel to St. James’ Park and win (easier said than done these days) but that crowd performed as though they were about to see they’re on side competing in Europe once again!
Arsenal now needs to go to Everton and better Spurs’ result at home to Burnley. Everton needs points and will make their presence felt at the Emirates. You’ve got to say that even though Arsenal is more than likely to win – you just cannot see Spurs losing. Even if it is Spurs!
Remaining fixtures on the final day:
Tottenham: Norwich (A)
Arsenal: Everton (H)
Relegation Battle
Norwich and Watford have already booked their spots in the Championship next year, but one final relegation spot is still to be decided. Everton, Burnley, and Leeds will all be doing what they can to avoid the drop this season – but something has got to give!
To Be Relegated
Leeds 7/10
Everton 7/1
Burnley 16/10
Just one more round of fixtures remain and although Leeds looks the likeliest to depart the league, mathematically there is still an equation which we need to address.
Everton looked dead and buried, almost set to drop into the Championship for the 2022/2023 season, but the situation took a sudden turn and Frank Lampard looked as though he would truly be their Savior. At the time of writing, Everton have their destiny in their own hands. However, travelling to the Emirates to face an Arsenal side in need of a victory may just add a couple unwanted (if you are a Toffee) thrills and spills.
Burnley made the bold move of replacing Sean Dyche with Mike Jackson in a bid to give themselves the best chance at survival. That message wasn’t necessarily well-received, but I guess we cannot argue with the fact that the caretaker manager has claimed four results from his first six games.
The only saving grace I can see for the Clarets is that their final fixtures are against teams who have nothing more to play for. Aston Villa and Newcastle will likely struggle to get up for this game (I say that with all the respect in the world) whilst Burnley will know they are fighting for their lives.
Leeds are the favourites to join Norwich and Watford in the Championship next season. Jesse Marsch has done a sterling job in my opinion, but the injuries and the mood around Elland Road won’t help their fickle belief.
Leeds will be hopeful that they are still outside of the relegation zone come Sunday evening, and then will know they need to beat a Brentford side who will surely enjoy sending their compatriots back from whence they came – while the former continues to enjoy the spoils of England’s Premier League!
Remaining fixtures on the final day:
Leeds: Brentford (A)
Everton: Arsenal (A)
Burnley: Newcastle (H)
Ryan’s Picks
To win the League: This is tough, and I say this with all the honesty in the world to you the reader. Of course, Manchester City are supremely better than Villa in every area of the field. You then must couple this with the fact that City play at home! So, my head says City win this and win the league – simple as that.
However, in a season so full of twists and turns, how can you not think this is just meant to happen? Have the stars aligned and is the quality that Liverpool Football Club has begun to permeate being rewarded? I must be honest and say, I cannot dissuade you from putting a fair few coinages on Liverpool achieving the unthinkable (and with it every Liverpool fan you know shouting it from the rooftops).
To finish in the Top Four: Tottenham is an absolute banker! I fear that the price available will significantly change the closer we get to the weekend – but I would certainly get on as soon as possible. Oh, and add this to absolutely everything. Provident fund confidence.
To be Relegated: I think Burnley go down. I know they play sides with little else to play for, but Burnley will still need to show quality getting the ball forward and then asking the right questions of a Premier League side’s defence.
I can’t help but think that Sean Dyche decision will come back to haunt them – especially now that the honeymoon period is over with Mike Jackson.
