1) Defining afternoon awaits Toffees
For the third time in 29 years, Everton’s Premier League standing is on the road on the ultimate day at Goodison Park though, in contrast to towards Wimbledon in 1994 or Coventry in 1998, survival is in their very own palms. The duty sounds easy sufficient: beat a Bournemouth group with nothing to play for and a seventieth consecutive season within the prime flight is assured. Everton, although, have an aversion to the easy. Sean Dyche doesn’t have an honest striker out there with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has been integral to the group’s latest enchancment, hamstrung once more. Until Vitaliy Mykolenko recovers from a thigh damage, he won’t have a recognised full-back (left or proper) out there both. Everton haven’t received at dwelling since 11 March and had been soundly overwhelmed twice in 5 days by Gary O’Neil’s group simply earlier than the World Cup break, 4-1 in the Carabao Cup and 3-0 within the Premier League. A defining afternoon, laden with consequence on and off the pitch, awaits. Andy Hunter
2) Final roll of cube for Smith and Foxes
Leicester might scarcely have requested for kinder opposition than West Ham in a match they have to win to have even a puncher’s likelihood of avoiding relegation on the ultimate day. David Moyes’s aspect have the distraction of a looming Europa Convention League closing and are prone to subject a weakened aspect. Within the closing sport earlier than his contract expires, Dean Smith should determine whether or not to stay with the belt-and-braces again 5 that saved a uncommon clear sheet at Newcastle or recall one or each of James Maddison or Harvey Barnes, his most artistic sparks who began that sport on the bench. It appears inconceivable {that a} participant as gifted as Maddison received’t line up for what could be his closing sport for the membership, and his choice would imply Harry Souttar or Wout Faes dropping out. Smith has some massive and doubtlessly unpopular selections to make, albeit ones that will likely be rendered moot if the consequence at Goodison Park doesn’t go his aspect’s means. Barry Glendenning
3) Rutter to emerge from obscurity?
Whereas Harry Kane appears to be like effectively positioned to finish his Tottenham profession with at the very least one aim at Elland Street – if certainly the England striker actually is leaving Spurs this summer time – Leeds lack a match pure goalscorer. With Patrick Bamford hamstrung and Rodrigo nursing a hard foot damage – though there’s a likelihood the latter might characteristic sooner or later – what does Sam Allardyce do? Like his predecessor, Javi Gracia, it’s clear the most recent Leeds interim supervisor doesn’t consider that Georginio Rutter, the France Beneath-21 ahead signed from Hoffenheim in January, is remotely prepared for Premier League fight. But in a match the place even a win for Leeds might not avert relegation whereas Spurs intention to safe a Europa Convention League place by leapfrogging Aston Villa, Allardyce might don’t have any choice however to hurl Rutter in on the deep finish. Proper right here, proper now, luck absolutely issues greater than tactical ingenuity. Deploying Robin Koch as an out-of-position midfield enforcer is all very effectively however on what seems poised to be a day of farewells, Large Sam can realistically do little greater than hope for the perfect. Louise Taylor
4) A European dilemma for Villa followers
Aston Villa can end no greater than seventh and Brighton in no extra exalted a place than sixth regardless of the consequence at Villa Park on Sunday. The house aspect do have one thing greater than pleasure to play for, as something lower than a win for Unai Emery’s aspect might price them qualification for the Europa Convention League. A four-times Europa League winner with Villarreal (one) and Sevilla (three), Emery is aware of what it takes to triumph in Europe and the prospect of seeing their group play in continental competitors for the primary time since 2010 may have many followers excited. However given the transformation in Villa’s fortunes because the Spaniard’s appointment, some would possibly fortunately forego the prospect of the Thursday-Sunday grind in favour of a far much less hectic schedule that might conceivably finish with them knocking on the top-four door subsequent season. BG
5) Can United launch title bid subsequent time period?
With Champions League soccer secured there might be one thing of a celebration environment inside Previous Trafford towards Fulham however the identical Groundhog Day of a query nags at Manchester United: will subsequent season lastly be the one when England’s file title-winners change into true challengers once more? The good cash needs to be on “no” as United stay a membership in flux, an operation which will or will not be partly or totally taken over this summer time, relying on the deal the Glazers comply with. Consider Manchester Metropolis, who’ve simply accomplished a three-peat championship triumph and are gunning for a treble, and the dimensions of Erik ten Hag’s problem appears near insurmountable. However that is sport, so who is aware of … Jamie Jackson
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Manchester United v Fulham
6) Bees nonetheless in hunt for European place
Manchester Metropolis’s victory parade strikes on from one lower-budget success story to a different. Brighton gave them an incredible sport on Wednesday night time and now it’s the flip of Brentford, who can nonetheless qualify for the Convention League. Thomas Frank’s aspect want so much to go their means, together with the small matter of a primary defeat for the champions since 5 February, however they’ve confounded sufficient predictions to make sure no person ought to dismiss them out of hand. Few groups combine issues up extra successfully and among the many keys to that has been David Raya, their goalkeeper, whose lengthy and quick distribution are up there with the perfect. He’ll most likely go away this summer time, with Brentford asking for £40m, and Spurs are amongst these with a long-term curiosity. It might communicate volumes for the strides made by participant and membership if the Spaniard says farewell by serving to Brentford leapfrog his potential new employers into the European spots. Nick Ames
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Brentford v Manchester Metropolis
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7) Ward-Prowse to wave goodbye?
There’ll most likely be a muted environment at St Mary’s on Sunday as relegated Southampton tackle a Liverpool aspect who’ve seen Champions League qualification slip away. Saints are at the very least exhibiting indicators of planning early for subsequent season, with the well-regarded Russell Martin set to take over as supervisor. How a lot of the present squad he’ll get to work with is more durable to gauge, and this might effectively be James Ward-Prowse’s closing look in a Southampton shirt after 342 Premier League appearances and 48 – continuously gorgeous – objectives for the membership. The midfielder provided little readability about his future this week, with Spurs and West Ham amongst his potential suitors. Liverpool too will likely be saying goodbye to a clutch of stalwarts however are effectively positioned to at the very least finish a season of underachievement on a excessive, having misplaced solely to Manchester Metropolis up to now 11 weeks. Tom Davies
8) Xhaka departs with repute restored
If anyone had instructed Granit Xhaka on 27 October 2019 that he would at some point be given a hero’s send-off from the Emirates, he would have wanted a very good sense of humour. Again then his spell on the membership appeared to have handed the purpose of no return amid ugly scenes when he was substituted towards Crystal Palace, however the image on Sunday will likely be immeasurably completely different. Xhaka is prone to be a part of Bayer Leverkusen quickly and can virtually definitely play his closing sport for Arsenal once they host Wolves. Now that everybody has had a few weeks to reconcile themselves with second place, the environment must be celebratory. Mikel Arteta’s aspect have, no matter their latest kind, had an outstanding season. It’s to Xhaka’s immense credit score that he has performed a key half however, at 30 and with Arteta needing to cut back his midfield’s age, it feels a very good time to depart on a excessive. Xhaka won’t be round for the subsequent stage of Arsenal’s journey however his contribution has been vital and the ovation on Sunday will likely be heartfelt. Nick Ames
9) A merciful finish to season for Chelsea
Having been enjoying with the air of males hoping to place this season behind them as rapidly as potential for nearly two months now, Chelsea will lastly get their want on Sunday however might need to endure additional embarrassment earlier than the curtain comes down on a calamitous marketing campaign. Like a speedboat given away on the finish of Bullseye, Newcastle will roar into Stamford Bridge wanting the modern embodiment of what Chelsea might have received if their new homeowners had operated a recruitment coverage even half as shrewd as their extra rich however comparatively spendthrift counterparts at St James’ Park. No matter dutiful, disingenuous nonsense Frank Lampard and Eddie Howe would possibly come out with of their pre-match press conferences, the results of this sport doesn’t matter. For all that, one final humbling on their very own patch to spherical off this bin fireplace of a season would, for neutrals if not Lampard, be undeniably humorous. BG
10) Palace followers say goodbye, however to who?
Selhurst Park would be the scene of some fond farewells following Crystal Palace’s match towards Nottingham Forest, however precisely what number of stays a thriller. Having devoted the thick finish of fifty years’ service between them to the south London membership, Wilfried Zaha, Luka Milivojevic, Joel Ward, Nathaniel Clyne, James Tomkins and James McArthur are all approaching the top of their contracts, however solely Milivojevic and McArthur have confirmed their departures. Marc Guéhi can be prone to be offered, with Tottenham and different, extra elite golf equipment . The way forward for Roy Hodgson additionally stays up within the air, though the 74-year-old could also be requested to increase his newest stint on the membership for one more yr. Few know what the close to future holds for Palace but it surely appears to be like significantly brighter than when Patrick Vieira was bid adieu. BG
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Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest
