Premier League top four tussle among things to look out for on final day

Three teams are competing for two places in the Premier League top four, while another three are hoping to avoid the same scenario in the relegation zone.

Fight for places in the Premier League top four

When the 2019/20 fixtures were announced 13 months ago, one sensed that Leicester’s game against Manchester United would be the most important. So it has proved, as both sides head into Sunday’s clash with a Champions League place on the line. Despite holding a 14-point lead over the visitors in December, Leicester now find themselves a point behind United at kick-off.

A 13-game unbeaten run has fired the Red Devils up the table, in no small part thanks to the arrival of Bruno Fernandes in January. In contrast, the Foxes have found form hard to come by in the second half of the season. Sunday’s defeat to Tottenham, coupled with United’s draw with West ham, saw Brendan Rodgers’ men drop out of the Premier League top four for the first time since Matchweek Five.

Nonetheless, a win for either side would ensure entry to Europe’s elite competition next season; a draw would also suffice for the visitors. As it stands, the scenario sits in United’s favour. However, having seen his defence struggle in recent games against first Southampton and then Chelsea, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer cannot afford to play for a 0-0.

That is, of course, unless Chelsea should find themselves behind against Wolves, whom they host at the same time. Defeat for the Blues, who are currently fourth, would allow both Leicester and Man United to finish in the top four with a point apiece. In fact, under such circumstances Solskjaer’s side could even afford to lose. Two teams potentially basing their approach on events 100 miles away, neither of whom can risk a defeat. Both have dropped points against Wolves this season; surely Nuno Espirito Santo’s side can do them a favour here?

Deeney and Watford hope Arsenal lack “cojones”

How costly could Hawk-Eye’s error at Villa Park on June 17th prove? The faulty technology failed to award Sheffield United a first-half opener that night after the ball clearly crossed the line, with the game against Aston Villa eventually ending “goalless”. Following Tuesday’s win over Arsenal, that fortuitous point for Dean Smith’s side means that they go into the final day above Watford in 17th by virtue of a superior goal difference,

It is now Watford’s turn to face the Gunners, knowing that they will have to better the Villans’ result at West Ham in order to avoid the drop. The stats don’t look good. Arsenal have only failed to win once on the final day since 2007, and the last time it happened on home turf was in 1993. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has four goals in his four previous meetings with the Hornets, who have not scored on either of their last two visits to the Emirates. With one goal in their last five away games, the visitors need to find inspiration from somewhere.

That source could be skipper Troy Deeney. Three years ago the club captain famously commented that the Gunners lacked the bravery for a physical battle, and this is the ideal opportunity to remind them of it. Just six days before the FA Cup final, the last thing Mikel Arteta needs is any injuries, particularly at the back. Shkodran Mustafi has joined Calum Chambers and Pablo Mari in the treatment room which means that, despite there being eight centre backs on the club's books, only three are available. Could this play into Deeney and Watford’s hands?

Bournemouth must rediscover familiar scoring touch against Everton

Should Watford and Villa both suffer defeat on Sunday, Bournemouth’s fate will be back in their own hands. Victory over Leicester two weeks earlier could have been the catalyst for an unlikely comeback. Instead, despite their best efforts they took zero points from matches against Manchester City and Southampton, leaving them 19th in the standings and three points from safety. Sunday’s game at Everton gives them one final chance to retain their top-flight status as they chase sixth successive season in the Premier League. Since promotion in 2015 their matches against the Toffees have often been high-scoring affairs; an average of 3.89 goals per game makes it one of the most entertaining fixtures in Premier League history.

Unfortunately for Eddie Howe’s side, the away side has never run out winners in this fixture. What’s more, Everton have gone 11 league games without defeat at home; only Liverpool are on a longer run. If they are to survive, Bournemouth will need goals at Goodison Park. Scoring three, as the Cherries did when these sides met in September, would do the trick. The hosts have only netted five goals since the restart, but a mean defence has also conceded just seven. If the visitors can maintain the first number, while doing damage to the second, they can at least give themselves some hope.

Tottenham making progress under Mourinho

Jose Mourinho came in for plenty of criticism earlier this month following Tottenham’s 0-0 stalemate at Bournemouth. The London side could not muster a single shot on target during the game and only a VAR decision saved them from what would have been a deserved defeat.

Things have looked better since, though. Victory against Arsenal in the North London Derby preceded wins over Newcastle and Leicester, and Spurs have now won four of their last five games, scoring three times in each of the last two. They have also picked up 44 points since the Portuguese’s arrival in November; only Liverpool and the Manchester clubs have managed more in that spell.

Mourinho ends his first season at Selhurst Park for another London derby, where Tottenham could secure four consecutive league wins for the first time since February 2019. Opponents Crystal Palace reached the heralded 40-point mark in their first game back after the restart, and it’s fair to say that they considered it a job well done. Roy Hodgson’s side have lost all seven of their games since, and have failed to score in six of those. A Tottenham win would put them sixth should Wolves fail to beat Chelsea, and suddenly Mourinho’s impact may not seem so negative.

Silva’s goodbye

A decade on from his arrival in 2010, David Silva has become one of the finest players in England’s football history. The Spanish midfielder has provided the key creative spark for a Manchester City side that have been the country’s finest in the last decade and departs not just a club legend, but a Premier League one too, with four winners’ medals around his neck. On Sunday Silva will make his 309th, and probably final, appearance in the competition as City host already relegated Norwich. In his ten-year stay he has registered 152 goals and assists in England’s top-flight, and would fancy his chances of adding to that tally against the Canaries. He is likely to start, not least because he was rested for his side’s midweek win over Watford. Furthermore, his side are already assured a place in the Premier League top four; there is room for sentiment.

Of course, Pep Guardiola’s then reigning champions lost to Norwich in September which, while foreshadowing his side’s difficult season ahead, was merely a false dawn for Norwich. Daniel Farke’s team have not come close to matching that result since, and could be in for a long afternoon at the Etihad. The hosts have won all five of their games there since the restart, scoring 19 times and conceding only once. Should they win a penalty, it will be interesting to see who steps up. Regular taker Kevin De Bruyne handed the duty to Raheem Sterling on Tuesday as the England winger chased the Golden Boot. However, in this instance it would be criminal not to allow Silva a shot at a farewell goal. Then again, allowing Sterling the opportunity to score instead would be typically selfless of the Spanish magician.