And so, here we are. The final matchday of the English Premier League’s latest season. For some clubs, there is everything on the line. For others, the summer break may as well have already begun.
When last we did this, there was a tight-knit three horse race for the title.
Liverpool have long since fallen away, and will finish a solid third, come what may. Still, it will be a massive day at Anfield against Wolves as the club bid farewell to their legendary manager, Jürgen Klopp, after nearly 9 years at the helm during which he has helped them win every major trophy bar the UEFA Europa League.
Arsenal will hold out hope, however slim, for West Ham to do them a massive favor and get some sort of result away at the Etihad on what will be David Moyes’ last game as manager of the club. Will Mikel Arteta’s former manager oblige, and as a parting shot, ruin the party in the blue half of Manchester?
Manchester City, of course, hold all the cards, as well as Arsenal’s and their own destiny, in their own hands. Win at home, and they will record a historic fourth consecutive Premier League title. No club in England have ever been champions of the nation more than three times in a row in all of its 132 year old football history.
Aston Villa have perhaps nothing to play for when they visit Selhurst Park except pride, having already secured a fourth-place finish. Their opponents, Crystal Palace, could still finish 10th if other results go their way—and happen to be in a rich vein of form—and thus will delight in making life difficult for Unai Emery’s men.
Things get far more interesting for the clubs in the next four positions.
If Tottenham somehow contrive to lose away at bottom club Sheffield United, and Chelsea win at home to Bournemouth, then it is the Blues who will finish fifth, ahead of Spurs on better goal difference.
And if Chelsea lose their game, Newcastle could pip them for sixth—again on better goal difference—with a win away at Brentford. Or the Magpies might finish eighth if they fail to win, and Manchester United better their result away at Brighton.
While West Ham can do no better nor worse than 9th—other than having a massive say in who wins the title, of course—Bournemouth and Brighton both have incentive to do well against Chelsea and Manchester United respectively if they are to hold Crystal Palace at bay.
Elsewhere, Fulham might overtake Wolves in 13th with a win away at Luton, and Brentford could pip Everton to 15th place, even with a draw at home to Newcastle, if Everton lose away at the Emirates as they are expected to do.
Burnley and Sheffield United are already relegated, and even though there is a slight, nigh impossible mathematical chance for Luton to survive, so are they. They will need to win 7-0 at home to Fulham, and still require Nottingham to lose 6-0 away at Burnley if they are to avoid relegation!
All eyes on Sunday will be on Manchester City and Arsenal—who remain the last team to come from behind and steal the title on the final matchday, in 1989—but there are European qualification places up for grabs as well, and as ever, pride and professionalism to play for, if nothing else.