Manchester City will be crowned kings of English football for the third time in four years, while the heavyweights of English football will be going all out to secure their place in Europe as consolation for the pandemic-ridden year that was nothing short of a roller coaster ride.
The standings are interestingly poised with runaway leaders Manchester City steering 12 points clear between them and second-placed Manchester United with 71 points. Chelsea with 67 points is third. While the Red Devils would be buoyant of their return to top-flight English football under Ole Gunnar Solskjær, face Wolves on Sunday. Manchester United has lost their final league game in just one of their last 13 campaigns, going down 0-2 against Cardiff in 2018-19. The Red Devils have to up their ante at the Molineux as in their last three games were not a shade close to their indomitable legacy; a 1-1 draw against Fulham and two back to back losses against Liverpool 2-4 and Leicester 1-2.
Third-placed Chelsea is all set to travel to Aston Villa for their final game of the EPL. The blues can expect a tough time as Villans have the potential to upset the apple carts of their more fancied opponents. While Kante could miss this game due to a hamstring pull, Thomas Tuchel and his men will look to collect full points and keep their roster strong for their Champions League Final against Man City later this month. Even though the blues collected full points against Manchester City this month, Villa look sharp having won 15 Premier League matches this season, six more than they won in their 2020 campaign.
A resurgent Liverpool demolished Burley 3-0 and the defending champions are back in the top four – ahead of Leicester City only by a margin of a superior goal difference. In their final game, Jurgen Klopp’s team face Crystal Palace and a win should be enough to finish in the top four and book a berth for the Champions League next season.
Spurs were humbled by 11th placed Aston Villa to a 1-2 defeat and are looking shaky taking on Leicester City in their final game of the season. With the rumor mills in the Transfer Market ringing about a possible move for their star English captain, Harry Kane leaving for Man City would have seismic repercussions. Leicester, therefore, seems to have an upper hand in their season-ending fixture. The foxes meanwhile will need to pile up the goals if Chelsea and Liverpool win as it could come down to the goal difference between them and Liverpool for spot number 4.
2021’s biggest surprise in the Premier League is West Ham United. The Hammers only need a point at home to Southampton to secure sixth place and a spot in the Europa League-the team’s highest position in the league since 1999.
On the other hand, Everton has an uphill task as they have their final game against Manchester City. The Etihad stadium looks to open its gates to around 10,000 fans to celebrate the Premier League Crown and Title of England. It has been another year full of silverware for City fans, winning the League title almost on a trot and adding another Carabao Cup to their illustrious trophy cabinet.
The final fixtures of the 2021 EPL promise to be a bag of surprises for many hopefuls; the question is who will be more willing and hungry for the win. It’s all to play for as a dramatic end awaits, signaling new beginnings not just in English football but also in Europe as the final of the Champions League will be a high octane all-English Affair.