Shed a tear, soccer followers.
The Premier League is sort of over for an additional season, however earlier than the ultimate whistles blow throughout the nation on the thirty eighth sport of the season, there’s nonetheless loads of drama left.
The high 4 isn’t set it stone simply but.
There’s a three-way tussle for the only real Europa Conference League spot.
Oh, and there’s the small matter of the relegation scrap as Everton, Leicester City and Leeds combat to protect their Premier League standing for an additional season.
Foxsports.com.au breaks down all of the situations forward of the ultimate day as supporters gear up for an low season stuffed with pleasure, frustration, dread or absolutely anything in-between.
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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
4th: Manchester United (69 pts, +11 GD)
fifth: Liverpool (66 pts, +28 GD)
Given the playing cards Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag has been dealt in his first season as a Premier League supervisor, a Champions League berth can be an impressive achievement.
From two losses within the first two video games of the season to the Cristiano Ronaldo circus that threatened to derail the marketing campaign, the Dutchman has steadied the ship.
He’s additionally overseen Marcus Rashford’s gorgeous return to kind, with the English ahead bagging 16 targets up to now this season.
As for Liverpool, it’s largely been a season to neglect for the Reds.
Jurgen Klopp’s aspect dropped to tenth as just lately as February this season as discuss of the German boss’ ‘seventh season syndrome’ kicked into overdrive.
However, Liverpool have been on a tear since February 13 with 11 wins from 17 video games.
That run included a 7-0 thrashing of bitter rivals Manchester United in addition to a 6-1 battering of relegation-threatened Leeds, plus tidy wins over the likes of Newcastle and Spurs.
Unfortunately for Liverpool, they could have timed their run a hair too late.
Manchester United are inside a whisker of returning to the Champions League. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
How United qualifies for CL
Thankfully for the Red Devils they’ve two residence video games left to play this season, starting with a conflict towards Chelsea earlier than a last day fixture towards Fulham.
They solely want one level from the 2 video games to lock in a spot within the high 4.
Given United haven’t misplaced at residence within the Premier League because the opening day of the season, it’s onerous to see Ten Hag’s aspect slipping up.
How Liverpool qualifies for CL
The deck is actually not in Liverpool’s favour.
The Reds have maybe the simplest fixture of anybody on the ultimate day as a visit to last-placed Southampton awaits they usually should take three factors from that contest.
However, they need to depend on United dropping to each Chelsea and Fulham at Old Trafford to actually have a probability of qualifying.
Liverpool’s surge might have come too late. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE
seventh: Aston Villa (58 pts, +4 GD)
eighth: Tottenham Hotspur (57 pts, +4 GD)
ninth: Brentford (56 pts, +11 GD)
Who would have thought Aston Villa and Brentford can be competing for Europe this season?
As for Tottenham Hotspur, a spot within the Europa Conference League is the most recent signal within the membership’s unhappy demise in a season that started with such excessive hopes.
Villa are in pole place for the one ECL spot on provide within the Premier League and play Brighton, who’ve already certified for the Europa League, at Villa Park on the ultimate day.
Qualification for the ECL can be a exceptional achievement given Villa’s unimaginable turnaround overseen by Unai Emery because the Spaniard took over from Steven Gerrard in November.
Spurs had been within the Champions League or Europa League positions all season lengthy however a run of only one win of their final seven has the London outfit on the point of no European soccer in any respect subsequent season.
The shock choose within the bunch is Brentford, who’ve picked up 12 factors from a attainable 15 of their final 5 — together with a 3-1 win towards Spurs — to be inside a shout of qualifying for Europe in simply their second Premier League season.
However, the Bees must do it with out star striker Ivan Toney who was hit with an eight-month suspension for breaching the FA’s betting guidelines.
Harry Kane might be taking part in within the Europa Conference League subsequent season. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
How Aston Villa qualifies for ECL
An ECL look is in Villa’s arms given they at the moment maintain seventh spot and a win towards Brighton will seal the Midlands aspect’s first style of European soccer since 2010.
Emery’s aspect may also qualify in the event that they draw towards Brighton and Spurs both lose or draw towards Leeds in addition to Brentford dropping or drawing towards Manchester City.
How Tottenham qualifies for ECL
Tottenham journey to face a Leeds aspect scrapping tooth and nail for his or her spot within the Premier League and primarily based on the London outfit’s latest kind, it doesn’t look good.
However, Ryan Mason’s aspect are nonetheless inside a shout of taking part in European soccer subsequent season.
First, a loss to Leeds eliminates all hope for a ECL spot.
A Spurs draw towards Leeds plus an Aston Villa loss to Brighton together with a Brentford draw or loss towards Manchester City can be sufficient given Villa’s objective distinction would drop beneath Tottenham’s.
A win and a Villa draw or loss would additionally propel Spurs into seventh and safe a spot within the ECL too.
How Brentford qualifies for ECL
It’s unlikely, however with the shape Brentford are in, an opportunity of taking part in within the ECL can’t be counted out simply but.
Quite a bit must go within the Bees’ favour for them to dream of European nights subsequent season.
They should beat Manchester City on the Brentford Community Stadium to actually have a probability which is not any straightforward process, though Brentford have already overwhelmed the champions this season.
With Brentford’s superior objective distinction, a win can be sufficient as long as Villa and Spurs each draw at a minimal, though the latter two dropping their video games makes the image lots clearer within the Bees’ favour.
Unai Emery may steer Aston Villa into Europe for the primary time since 2010. (Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
RELEGATION
seventeenth: Everton (33 pts, -24 GD)
18th: Leicester City (31 pts, -18 GD)
nineteenth: Leeds United (31 pts, -27 GD)
It doesn’t appear proper that both a workforce that’s by no means been relegated from the Premier League or a membership that had been champions of England solely seven years in the past may discover themselves within the second tier subsequent season.
But for Everton and Leicester City, it’s a frighteningly practical state of affairs.
And, in a possible nightmare, each of these golf equipment may go down in the event that they lose their video games and Leeds United carry out a last-day miracle and beat Tottenham Hotspur.
The Toffees had Yerry Mina to thank for a last-gasp equaliser towards Wolves final weekend to provide them a slight benefit within the combat for survival.
Leicester additionally held on for a 0-0 draw towards high-flying Newcastle and what a useful level that might change into.
As for Leeds, a shiny begin towards West Ham led to diaster with a 3-1 loss that has actually darkened the temper at Elland Road.
It’s all led to a last-day shootout for all three groups who’re every scheduled to spherical out their season in entrance of their residence followers.
It’s benefit Everton within the combat for survival. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
How Everton survives relegation
Everton are in pole place relating to surviving relegation given they’re already out of the underside three.
A match towards Bournemouth at Goodison Park is pretty much as good because it might be for Sean Dyche’s aspect given the Cherries have misplaced their final three since guaranteeing their survival.
If Everton beat Bournemouth, they’ll keep up no matter Leicester and Leeds’ outcomes.
Even if Dyche’s aspect lose or draw, they will additionally keep up if each Leicester and Leeds draw or lose their video games.
How Leicester City survives relegation
Put merely, something aside from win for Leicester towards West Ham United will condemn the Foxes to the Championship.
One consider Leicester’s favour is their objective distinction, which is the most effective of the bunch.
Dean Smith’s aspect should beat West Ham and hope Everton both lose or draw towards Bournemouth with a purpose to keep up.
How Leeds survives relegation
It’s by no means an excellent signal when you needn’t one, however two groups to do you a favour on the ultimate day.
But that’s precisely what Leeds want if they’re to remain within the Premier League for a fourth consecutive season.
Firstly, Leeds should trigger an upset and beat Tottenham at Elland Road.
The Yorkshire outfit will then want Everton to lose, as a draw gained’t be sufficient because of the Toffees’ superior objective distinction.
Leicester should additionally lose or draw to ensure that Leeds to leap out of the underside three.
