England Premier League

Chris Winterburn's Analysis

All eyes turn to the bottom of the Premier League table ahead of Matchday 38, with the final relegation spot the last significant detail yet to be clarified.

One of either West Ham United or Tottenham Hotspur will be relegated and the Hammers are hosting Leeds United in their game. The Irons were impressive in defeat against Arsenal but collapsed against Newcastle. They are facing an uphill battle to stay up, but they will be facing a Leeds United team with nothing to play for. Atmosphere has been hard to find at the Olympic Stadium, but the home fans will have to do their best to create some kind of noise. I think West Ham win this game, but their own fate doesn’t depend entirely on them, which is a concern.

Chris Winterburn's Analysis

Tottenham are also playing at home, although that is perhaps more of a disadvantage than not for the club.

Whilst West Ham have an opponent with nothing on the line, there is still the slightest possibility that Everton can qualify for Europe. David Moyes’ side require an awful lot of good fortune for that to be possible, but they at least have some motivation to upset the applecart in North London. Goals are of the utmost importance for the Toffees, which may actually play into Spurs’ hands. However, Roberto De Zerbi has seen first-hand the real lack of quality at his disposal right now. There has been a huge shift in organisation since the Italian arrived, but there is nowhere near the requisite quality to be decisive in the final third. I think this game has draw written all over it and Spurs will avoid the drop… by the barest of all margins.

Chris Winterburn's Analysis

Sunderland host Chelsea on Sunday with the Black Cats looking to end their impressive return to the top-flight with a shock qualification for European football next year.

In order to do that, the hosts need to bear Chelsea and hope Brentford don’t match their result. The Blues have been in woeful form of late, although not enough to put Xabi Alonso off agreeing to take the Head Coach position in the summer. Chelsea’s squad is too imbalanced and has been found out since Enzo Maresca left. I suspect both teams will score in this game, but I’m going to give Chelsea the winning tip due to their individual quality. Sunderland will run out of steam.

Chris Winterburn's Analysis

Bournemouth’s chances of Champions League qualification were dealt a blow by Erling Haaland’s late equaliser on Tuesday, although there is still hope for the Cherries if Liverpool win, Aston Villa lose and they can defeat Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

Nottingham Forest have managed to avoid relegation and appear to have built a platform to build from in 2026/27. Their main focus now is keeping Elliot Anderson and Morgan Gibbs-White beyond the summer and I don’t think they will put up much of a fight against Bournemouth. Andoni Iraola’s last game in charge will end in a victory.

Chris Winterburn's Analysis

Manchester City’s Premier League title hopes are over, and it appears as though the Pep Guardiola era is too. The Blues will host Aston Villa on the final day of the season with the Etihad Stadium poised to say an emotional goodbye to their most successful ever manager.

Aston Villa will be focusing on celebrating their Europa League triumph and I suspect Unai Emery will seriously rotate his starting XI. This will be a pre-season esque fixture with City winning comfortably.

Chris Winterburn's Analysis

Liverpool will secure their passage into the Champions League next season unless there is a miraculous turn of events.

Arne Slot remains an unpopular choice to carry on into a third season with the Merseyside club, but that appears to be the direction Liverpool’s hierarchy are going in. On the final day of the season they are hosting Brentford, with Mohamed Salah likely to play his final game for the club. It would be a huge choice for Slot to leave the Egyptian out of the team in order to continue their ongoing row. Brentford have come so far this season, but I think they will just fall short here and miss out on European football. Salah as an anytime scorer in a Liverpool win is my pick.

Chris Winterburn's Analysis

Fulham welcome Newcastle to Craven Cottage in a classic end-of-season encounter, with neither side really having much to play for.

It could be Marco Silva’s final game in charge at Fulham, whilst Newcastle have a seriously difficult summer ahead with players wanting to leave and uncertainty surrounding the continued financial backing from the Saudi state. It could be the last time we see Lewis Hall, Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali all play together. I think they will sign off in a draw with Fulham. There won’t be much in the way of excitement.

Chris Winterburn's Analysis

Crystal Palace will host Arsenal’s big party on Sunday afternoon. For the first time in 22 years, the Gunners are the Champions of England and Mikel Arteta’s charges will certainly enjoy the occasion.

Palace, of course, have an alternative focus of their own with the UEFA Europa Conference League final set to be played on Wednesday. Oliver Glasner has already confirmed he will rest players for this final league game… and I expect Arsenal will too ahead of their Champions League final with Paris Saint-Germain. Both teams will have untested players out at Selhurst Park on Sunday and I think it might end in a draw.

Chris Winterburn's Analysis

Burnley and Wolves have both been relegated for some time, but they face each other at Turf Moor to determine who will finish bottom of the Premier League.

If the match is a draw, then that honour will go to Wolverhampton, whilst any victor would finish in 19th position. This match doesn’t have much going for it in terms of quality, but there will certainly be on-pitch chaos. Neither team are particularly strong and this could be a classic Championship shootout. I think both teams will score and Wolves will take a shock win.

Chris Winterburn's Analysis

Brighton are well placed to qualify for European football once again this term, and could still make the Champions League if results go their way on Sunday.

Whilst the latter is unlikely, they do have a rather favourable fixture to close the campaign. Manchester United visit the South Coast knowing they can’t finish lower than third, they will also likely rest a lot of players. They want to put reserves in the shop window and give minutes to youth academy graduates. Casemiro won’t play and I suspect a number of other World Cup hopefuls will be rested too. I think Brighton win this game and secure a return to Europe, whilst United focus on their summer recruitment plans, with a Champions League return having arrived far earlier than anyone within the club anticipated.