Premier League: Who needs what on the final day of the season?
All to play for in the race for the top four and battle to avoid relegation
July 25, 2020
The 2019/20 Premier League season finally reaches its delayed conclusion on Sunday, and while Liverpool have been champions for some time, there is still plenty on the line.
Three teams are still in the hunt for two top four places and Wolves and Tottenham are battling for one Europa League spot.
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At the bottom of the table, Aston Villa and Watford are separated by just one goal either side of the drop zone, while Bournemouth also have a chance of avoiding relegation.
On the eve of the last day of the season, we take a look at the various permutations that will decide the final table.
Champions League dreams
Leicester City in midweek fell out of the top four for the first time since September after a run of three wins in 13 games either side of the coronavirus shutdown.
However, United's and Chelsea's failures to win on Wednesday means the door is still open for Brendan Rodgers's men to salvage all the good work they did early in the season with victory against United on home soil.
Leicester are hampered by injuries to James Maddison, Ben Chilwell and Ricardo Pereira, but have had a full week to prepare in stark contrast to United's packed schedule.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men have looked jaded in the past week in losing 3-1 to Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals and being held 1-1 at home by West Ham having overturned an eight-point deficit to Leicester since the restart.
Chelsea just need a point at home to Wolves to seal Champions League football next season, but should Frank Lampard's men lose, then a draw between Leicester and United would see the latter two finish in the top four.
Spurs surge toward Europa League
Whoever misses out on the Champions League between United, Chelsea and Leicester will be guaranteed fifth and a place in the Europa League next season.
Wolves are looking to go one better than their fine first campaign back in the top-flight last season by finishing in the top six and have the potential to upset Chelsea's push for the Champions League at Stamford Bridge.
However, any slip from Nuno Espirito Santo's men would give Spurs the chance to move into sixth.
Jose Mourinho's side have won their last three and will be confident ahead of a trip to Crystal Palace, who have lost their last seven games.
Seventh could still be good enough for European football next season, but that depends on Chelsea beating Arsenal in the FA Cup final on August 1.
Relegation dogfight
At the bottom, two of Bournemouth, Watford and Villa will join already relegated Norwich in the Championship next season.
Villa have the upper hand with a three-point lead on Bournemouth and a marginally better goal difference than Watford.
Dean Smith's men also have momentum after a 1-0 win over Arsenal on Tuesday and travel to a West Ham side now sure of their place in the Premier League next season.
Watford's sacking of Nigel Pearson with just two games of the season remaining did the Hornets little good in a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Manchester City on Wednesday and they travel to Arsenal needing to better Villa's result.
Should both lose then Bournemouth could extend their five-season stay in the top-flight by beating Everton at Goodison Park.
Published: July 25, 2020 02:17 PM
