Gary Lemke looks ahead to the final of the of the 2022/23 Premier League season. While there may not be much to play for near the top of the table, the race to avoid relegation remains on a knife’s edge.
Manchester (And The Premier League) Is Blue
This Sunday, on the final day of the 22/23 Premier League season, there will be no last-minute drama. Not at the top end of the table that is. We won’t be treated to the screams of “Agueerrrrooo!” that accompanied Sergio Aguero’s 93rd-minute goal against QPR in May 2012. That secured Manchester City the title, after they’d come from 2-1 down at 90 minutes to win 3-2 in extraordinary fashion.
This season the party hasn’t quite finished, but it started a week ago already when Arsenal’s defeat to Nottingham Forest gifted City the League title. On Sunday, in front of their home fans, they formally celebrated raising the trophy by beating a Chelsea XI masquerading as footballers in a lacklustre match.
What followed was a staged “pitch invasion”, lacking the spontaneity of a really dramatic end to the season – like 2012 – but ultimately everyone went home happy.
Jack Who?
Admittedly I had a chuckle when I saw a Jack Grealish lookalike, shirtless and in jeans and sporting a hairband and matching moustache, join the fans on the field. And I thought, “he must be a popular lad late at night on the town in Manchester”.
Jack Grealish’s ‘lookalike’ enjoying the post-match festivities last week.
I was reminded of Alan Ashcroft, who couldn’t believe his luck when Leicester won the 2015/16 EPL title as 300/1 outsiders. The unemployed electrician was a “dead ringer” for then manager Claudio Ranieri and claims that he “scored with 26 women” as a result of Leicester’s unexpected title win.
And when one of Everton, Leicester and Leeds avoids relegation this final Sunday – two of those clubs will join Southampton in the Championship next season – there might well be a famous lookalike among their fan base who will be doing more celebrating than the players and staff themselves!
Let’s take a look at some stats to help inform your betting choices as the curtain comes down on another Premier League season.
Foxes To Pull Off Great Escape?
Leicester finally kept a clean sheet, their first in 18 games since the World Cup ended last December, when they held Newcastle to a 0-0 draw at St James’ Park. The point earned might have come a little too late because even if they win their final game, at home to West Ham, they could still be relegated.
De Gea – The Golden Glove
Plenty of flak has been hurled David De Gea’s way this season, whether it’s been on social media, in fans’ forums, the media, on WhatsApp groups or in the pubs, but as we head into the final round of games here’s the irony: No keeper kept more clean sheets than De Gea the entire season.
In terms of clean sheets, Man United top the table with 17, followed by Newcastle and Liverpool with 14, Man City and Arsenal with 13 and Aston Villa with 12. At the other end, Southampton kept four clean sheets, Leeds five and Leicester and Nottingham Forest seven. All of which helps explain why the table looks like it does.
City Wont Raise Bat This Season
Despite the heroics of Erling Haland, Man City won’t reach the 100-goal mark for this EPL campaign. They’re on 93 headed into their final game, away to Brentford. City do hold the seasonal record with 106, followed by Chelsea (103), City again (twice 102) and Liverpool (101) as the scoring centurions.
36 From 36
When Man City beat Chelsea last week it was their 12th straight League win. And it’s streaks like that which turn clubs into champions. The staggering reality is that with those 12 wins – 36 points from a possible 36 – they would have staved off relegation even if they’d forfeited all their previous first 24 matches.
In a dozen straight games City earned more points than Everton, Leicester, Leeds and Southampton could all manage in 37 games. That highlights the gulf between top and bottom.
