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This Sunday, the 2018/19 season in the Premier League draws to a close. And how. We still don’t have a clear winner yet. Manchester City and Liverpool are separated by only a point, and despite the odds, this could go any way.
A season widely touted to be one of the greatest in the league’s history, is set to culminate in a similarly spectacular fashion as all eyes will be tracking each and every moment in the games involving these sides.
But there’s more to the final matchday of the league than what meets the eye. And now, let’s look into our crystal balls and make a few predictions ahead of the last kick-off in the Premier League this season.
#5 Tottenham Hotspur versus Everton will be a cracker
The Lillywhites are flying high after securing a place in a Champions League final for the very time in the club’s history, whereas the Toffees have pulled off a series of big victories in the last few games.
Expect this fixture to produce fireworks.
Spurs have although achieved a top four finish - Arsenal would have to win by more than eight goals against Burnley and hope Tottenham lose to Everton to finish fourth - Mauricio Pochettino would be aiming to celebrate a Champions League final place with a win and end the Premier League season on a positive note. However, it’s easier said than done.
Everton have won five of their last seven games, including some big scalps such as Arsenal, Chelsea and the 4-0 battering of Manchester United along the way, and losing just once. This has propelled the Merseysiders from 11th upto 8th currently and would want to avoid slipping behind again.
No matter who takes the cake here, expect the match to produce at least five or six goals in a thrilling goalfest.
#4 Watford to finish 10th over West Ham
Going into the final match of the season, Watford are currently 10th in the table with 50 points whereas West Ham are lurking just a point and a position behind ahead of the Vicarage Road visit. Expect things to stands in the same way even after this clash.
The Hornets have an FA Cup final against Manchester City to look forward to just six days after this game, so Javi Garcia would have one eye on the Wembley showpiece. However, don’t expect that to be a distraction for the hosts, who are likely to use this opportunity to flex a muscle or two before the final.
Watford have been hard to predict this season, and despite losing the last two games, would be encouraged to finish on a high. The Hammers beat Tottenham at their new stadium before following that up with a 3-0 thumping of Southampton, but their defence remains shaky and have had consistency issues all season.
This can end with a win for the hosts, or both teams sharing the spoils. Either way, Watford are the beneficiaries.
#3 Manchester United to leapfrog Arsenal into fifth place
Neither sides have been particularly impressive in the Premier League lately. And after a series of horrendous results - Arsenal and Manchester United have both won only once in the last five league games - both sides saw their Champions League push hit the buffers (although the Gunners can still secure a passage by piping Chelsea in the Europa League).
However, in the final standings, the Red Devils are likely to leapfrog their London rivals into fifth position. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will face his former side Cardiff City at the Old Trafford, who are already relegated. So theoretically, this should be a duck soup for the hosts and secure all three points.
Unai Emery’s first full season in the Premier League will culminate at Turf Moor where a gritty Burnley side await. The Clarets have proven to be a tough nut to crack on various occasions this season, pillaging points off Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, whilst also limiting Manchester City to a narrow 1-0 win at home.
Sean Dyche’s men had albeit retained Premier League status long back, they would look to end the season on a high, by forcing Arsenal to drop points after a hard-fought stalemate. This will help United climb up to fifth.
#2 Mohamed Salah to retain Golden Boot
Latest reports coming from Liverpool suggest Salah would be back in the team for the final match of the season. The Egyptian sustained a head injury at Newcastle last weekend, but after a week’s rest (he didn’t play in the 4-0 defeat of Barcelona) is now ready to be back in the mix and help his side make one last push for the title.
Regardless of how where the Premier League trophy ends up, expect Salah to bag the Golden Boot once again. He currently leads Sergio Aguero, Sadio Mane and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with 22 goals from 37 appearances, although the rest aren’t much behind, accruing 20 each.
Yet, the Liverpool ace stands a great chance at retaining the prize having also laid a staggering 11 assists - at least four more than any of the triumvirate. So even if he doesn’t score on Sunday and any of the aforementioned likes indeed bag a brace to draw level, that wouldn’t help salvage the silverware.
#1 Manchester City to beat Brighton and retain Premier League title
The 2018/19 season in the Premier League will go down in history as one of the most edgy and spectacular seasons ever seen, courtesy Liverpool and Manchester City’s neck-to-neck contest. The sides are separated by just a single point going into the final matchday, and all eyes would be at Anfield and at the American Express Community Stadium on Sunday as the teams make one last effort.
The Reds can and in all likelihood, will beat Wolves at home, but so will the Skyblues against the Seagulls. At least, that’s what we’ve come to comprehend from their recent games.
Pep Guardiola’s swashbuckling side have been made to walk the extra mile for the result on several occasions lately, and yet have grinded out the results. That’s an important trait of a champions, and that’s exactly what’s going to crown them champions again.
Expect City to slog again, but also find a late winner in the match again. As much hard and frustrating it might be for the Kopites, but this is surely going to happen and City are going to retain the title. Brace yourselves.
