Today is the final day of the 2021/22 Premier League season and there’s a lot left to be played for. Everton’s heroics against Crystal Palace confirmed their participation for next season, leaving Burnley and Leeds United to battle it out. A whole host of teams are still in with a chance to finish in the top half. Man United and West Ham are locked in a battle to secure Europa League football, while Spurs and Arsenal are vying for the final Champions League spot.
But the headline act is of course the title race. This is the eighth season where the destination of the trophy is undecided going into the final day. Unfortunately for Liverpool, history doesn’t favour the second placed team. In all of the seven previous final day deciders, the team starting the day on top has gone on to secure the title. Liverpool themselves have twice been victim to that, finishing second to Man City on both occasions.
Separated by just a point, both City and Liverpool have home games. Jurgen Klopp needs a win against Wolves, and also a favour from Liverpool legend and now Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard. The Liverpool icon takes his Villa side to the Etihad, determined to ruin City’s party.
Spurs with the advantage in top four race
Arsenal were in pole position ahead of their North London derby, but that’s where things started to unravel for them. They imploded at Spurs, and then relinquished their game-in-hand advantage in the next game against Newcastle. That opened the door for Spurs to grab hold of fourth, and are now one positive result away.
Antonio Conte’s men are away at bottom-placed Norwich, and virtually need just a point to get over the line. They are two points above Arsenal, who are at home to Everton, with a vastly superior goal difference. Spurs should be favourites, although in the 2015/16 season, they lost 5-1 to relegated Newcastle, a result that allowed Arsenal to overtake them on the final day. Will history repeat itself, or can Spurs do what’s expected of them?
Who gets the Europa League spot?
Like Spurs, Man Utd are also two points above their rivals for sixth. But unlike Spurs, Ralf Rangnick’s men don’t have a goal difference advantage. United need to match West Ham’s result in order to secure sixth spot. The Red Devils have had a difficult campaign and away form has been particularly poor recently. Now they are at Palace, who have had a great season and can still finish in the top half.
Even though West Ham have failed to live to last season’s heights, it’s been a fine campaign for David Moyes and co. European football is guaranteed, and it could be Europa League if things go their way. However, the Hammers have never beaten Brighton in the Premier League era. This season it would be even more difficult, as Brighton have recorded their best ever stats in the competition and can still finish as high as eighth.
Burnley and Leeds’s fight for survival enters the final chapter
After the chaos, it has come down to Burnley and Leeds United. Both are level on points, but Burnley’s better goal difference is almost like a point. Both have tricky tests, and both require a win worst case. Burnley are at home to Newcastle, who were once in the relegation scrap themselves. But a massive up-turn in form in 2022 has steered them well clear of troubles long back. Burnley need to match Leeds’s result in order to ensure safety.
Even a victory won’t be enough for Leeds, if Burnley win their game. Leeds are away to high-flying Brentford, who like Leeds last season have impressed everyone with their football. Though briefly in trouble, the Bees pulled off a fine run of form which has propelled them into top-half contention. It’s a tall order for Leeds especially considering their miserable defensive and disciplinary record, both of which are the worst in the league.
With so much to play for, the Premier League promises one last dose of drama and excitement, before signing off.