The 2021/2022 Premier League season is going to the wire with the title, European qualification and relegation to be decided on the final day.
Also, the highest goal scorer, the player with the highest number of assists and the highest number of clean sheets may be decided on the final day.
- CBN: No plan to withdraw naira notes from circulation
- FACT CHECK: Did CBN actually say naira will be out of circulation soon?
At the top of the league, defending champions, Manchester City go into the last round of matches one point ahead of Liverpool.
Chelsea are guaranteed a top-four place and Tottenham and Arsenal can still qualify for the UEFA Champions League. There are also the Europa League and Europa Conference League spots to be decided.
At the bottom of the table, Norwich City and Watford are already relegated and they will be joined in the drop zone by either Leeds United or Burnley.
It’s all set up to be one of the most intriguing ever final days of the Premier League.
Title race
This season’s final-day title battle will have an air of familiarity as Manchester City look to pip Liverpool to the post for the third time in the last decade.
Steven Gerrard will be in the opposition dugout at the stadium where the most incredible finale of all played out 10 years ago.
Manchester City (90 points) are in the driving seat and will retain their crown with a victory over Aston Villa at the Etihad.
If Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool (89 points) are to finish top then they must win against Wolves at Anfield and hope Villa can stop Manchester City from winning today.
The genuine Premier League trophy will be at the Etihad today with Manchester City in the driver’s seat. However, there will be an identical presentation team and replica at Anfield in case Liverpool come from behind to win.
Europe spots at stake
The final Champions League spot is between the rival clubs from north London, Arsenal and Tottenham.
Because of their superior goal difference, Tottenham will secure a spot in the Champions League with a draw at Norwich.
However, if Spurs were to lose at Carrow Road, Arsenal (66 points) would qualify with victory over Everton at the Emirates.
While Arsenal appeared to have blown away any hope of edging Spurs in the race for fourth place with back-to-back losses, they go into the final day clinging to the hope that Tottenham will somehow behave like Tottenham at Norwich, costing Antonio Conte’s side the point they need.
Also, Arsenal’s inherent inconsistency could stop them from taking advantage by failing to beat an Everton side that secured safety on Thursday.
The qualification to the Europa League and Europa Conference League is between Manchester United (58 points) and West Ham (56 points).
If West Ham don’t beat Brighton & Hove Albion, then Manchester United will be assured of finishing sixth.
Relegation battle
Everton secured Premier League safety with a 3-2 victory against Crystal Palace while Burnley moved out of the drop zone after a 1-1 draw at Villa.
Going into the final day, it will be between Leeds and Burnley to join Norwich and Watford in the Championship next season.
Both clubs have 35 points after 37 games, but because of their far superior goal difference, Burnley know they will survive if they match Leeds’s result on Sunday.
Leeds travel to Brentford while Burnley host Newcastle United.
Leeds almost certainly need to beat Brentford in west London while hoping Newcastle can do them a favour by taking points off Burnley.
Battle for Golden Glove
Manchester City and Liverpool are contesting a close race for the Premier League title and it’s no surprise that their goalkeepers are leading the way for clean sheets.
Ederson, last term, recorded 19 clean sheets to earn him the Golden Glove award and helped Manchester City on their way to the Premier League trophy.
The Manchester City’s goalkeeper once again leads the way for clean sheets this season, keeping 20 in 35 Premier League games. He is level with compatriot, Alisson.
Behind the Brazilians are Hugo Lloris and Edouard Mendy (although, he saw his game time cut due to his part in Senegal winning the Africa Cup of Nations).
Arsenal’s shot-stopper, Aaron Ramsdale and Wolves’ Jose Sa have continued their excellent seasons in keeping 12 and 11 clean sheets respectively.
Race for Playmaker Award
The 2021/22 Premier League season’s race for the Playmaker Award is set to go to the wire as well.
The Playmaker Award is given to the player with the most assists across the Premier League campaign.
The first was awarded in the 2017/18 season and won by Kevin De Bruyne with 16 assists.
De Bruyne won again in 2019/20 with 20 assists, becoming the only player to win it twice, but not before fellow Belgian Eden Hazard scooped it up in 2018/19 (15 assists).
Tottenham striker, Harry Kane, is the current holder of the Playmaker Award after recording 14 assists last season.
Although hampered by his break to represent Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, top scorer Mohamed Salah leads the way with 13 assists – one more than Liverpool team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Andrew Robertson is one of three other players to hit double figures for the season, along with Mason Mount and Jarrod Bowen (all 10).
The final day of the season may decide who eventually gets the Playmaker Award as Liverpool take on Wolves.
Top scorer
The battle for the Golden Boot will probably be decided today as the world’s best strikers battle to finish first in the Premier League’s top scorers’ list.
Harry Kane won the Golden Boot last season with 23 goals in 35 appearances for Tottenham. Liverpool star Mohamed Salah finished a close second on 22 goals. Bruno Fernandes completed the top three, having found the back of the net 18 times for Manchester United.
Fast forward to today, however, the race is beginning to heat up. Salah holds a one-goal lead in the charts.
Tottenham star, Heung-Min Son, is just one behind ahead of the final round of games. Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo completes the top three with 18 goals.
