2023-24 Matchday 38: What to Expect
It’s almost here. This Sunday, all 10 games of the final matchday of the Premier League season will be played at 4 PM, UK time. As usual, EPLNews will be providing full coverage, with previews and reports for all matches.
Here is the full docket:
So what can we expect to see during the last 90 minutes of Premier League action of the season? Who can still achieve their goals, who will have to admit coming short? And what does this all mean for next season?
Read on to find out.
Title Race
In terms of the title, Arsenal and Manchester City can almost reach out and touch it. Though City are certainly closer to that iconic trophy, as they hold a 2-point advantage over the Gunners.
However, it’s not all done and dusted. While Mikel Arteta’s men play Everton at home, they are ready to pounce on any slip-up City might experience against West Ham at the Etihad.
Both the Toffees and the Hammers have little else but pride to play for, as they are both without worries, but also without hopes of improving their respective positions. The only possible permutation sees Everton dropping from 15th to 16th place, but that means little in the grand scheme of things.
Do we expect West Ham to pull off a surprise result and deliver the title to their London rivals? It’s hard to see it happening, as City are in their (usual) relentless run-in form, having not lost in the league since early December. They have also won their last 8 games in a row in the EPL.
The last game to bring Guardiola’s men less than 3 Premier League points was at the beginning of March, a 0-0 home draw against Arsenal. We can only imagine how much Arteta is now wishing that his team had won that game.
Relegation Battle
As opposed to the title race, this one is pretty much done.
At the end of a season of struggle, all 3 teams who achieved promotion last summer will (most likely) be going straight back down to the Championship. This has only happened 1 time before in EPL history, when Barnsley, Bolton and Crystal Palace were sent packing at the end of the 1997-98 season.
You can find further interesting stats about newly-promoted teams here.
This season, Sheffield United (having conceded the most goals in Premier League history already – 101) will finish rock-bottom. They came up by ending the 2022-23 Championship season in 2nd place.
Burnley, after winning the second league title last season, are going down as well, either from the 18th or 19th position. Not a good showing from Vincent Kompany’s men in the EPL.
Which brings us to Luton Town. After winning promotion thanks to their triumph in last term’s play-offs, they endured a Jekyll-and-Hyde season in the Premier League, with a fair few highs, but even more lows. Mathematically, they still have a chance to stay up, but they need a proper miracle, as there are 3 points between them and Forest (17th), as well as a goal difference of 12 to make up.
We just can not see this happening.
European Places
Things are getting interesting again.
The Champions League spots are decided: Arsenal and Manchester City will occupy 1st and 2nd in some order, while Liverpool and Aston Villa will finish 3rd and 4th respectively.
However, the UEFA Europa League (UEL) and UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) spots are bound to provide some drama on the final day and beyond.
As things stand, 5th place goes to the UEL, along with the winners of the FA Cup, while 6th place brings UECL football next season.
The final of the FA Cup will take place on May 25, 2024, between Manchester City and Manchester United. If United win the trophy, they go into the UEL, regardless of their league position. However, if City lift it, then the team in 6th place in the EPL table qualifies for the Europa League, and the UECL receives the occupant of 7th place.
In terms of points right now, it could hardly be tighter in this battle. Tottenham are 5th on 63 points, Chelsea sit 6th with 60, while Newcastle and Manchester United are level on points (57), with the Magpies having a much better goal difference.
On the final matchday, Spurs will be taking on Sheffield United away, Chelsea face Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge, Newcastle travel to Brentford and Manchester United go to the south coast to play against Brighton.
This part of the table is certainly one to keep a keen eye on during Sunday’s games.
Klopp’s Farewell
The game at Anfield between Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers is one of only 2 matchday 38 games with no title race , European qualification or relegation stakes attached to it (the other is Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa).
But the occasion will certainly be a special one on Merseyside, as the Reds bid farewell to their best coach since Kenny Dalglish’s glory days: Jürgen Norbert Klopp.
Having arrived as ‘the normal one’ in October 2015, he made good on his promise to turn ‘doubters into believers’ and delivered the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup, among other trophies.
Despite talks of a quadruple even at the beginning of March, this season only brought the League Cup. However, Klopp’s legacy will stand the test of time among Liverpool supporters and will surely make for an emotional afternoon at Anfield, as the Kop will be serenading their departing hero.
The Premier League will certainly miss his presence after Sunday.