EPL: Battle For European Places Enters The Final Weekend

EPL: Battle For European Places Enters The Final Weekend By Admin Leicester must beat Tottenham and realistically hope Liverpool fail to beat Crystal Palace to qualify for the Champions League, BSNSports.com.ng reports. A disappointing state of affairs after allowing Jürgen Klopp’s side to sneak ahead and, when compared to a first FA Cup finally sitting in the trophy cabinet, ending up in the Europa League will not sting at all. Spurs, meanwhile, will be desperate for a win of their own to avoid a classic St Totteringham’s Day if Arsenal beat Brighton. To slip below the Gunners would be particularly painful after leading them for the whole season and, indeed, the entire league for a minute earlier on. The 10,000 Liverpool fans who will be present at Anfield could not have envisaged the prize at stake when the ticket ballot opened just over two weeks ago. Nor could Jürgen Klopp, for that matter, but after collecting 23 points from the last 27 available, his team will be in the Champions League next season with three more against an opponent they beat 7-0 five months ago. Klopp has won more Premier League games against Crystal Palace than any other team (9) and an Anfield crowd would take more satisfaction than most in ruining Roy Hodgson’s farewell to top-flight management. Jack Grealish’s return precipitated a fine win over Tottenham and now the Aston Villa faithful have a chance to see their man in action for the first time this year, but will it be the last? The talisman will surely have suitors this summer and, if he upstages Chelsea’s creative forces, interest could kick into a higher gear. Thomas Tuchel’s side cannot afford this to happen to avoid missing out on Champions League football next season. Win and they are in the hat again, lose and they face the possible ignominy of falling out of the top four and failing to qualify as potential beaten finalists in this year’s edition. West Ham need only a draw against Southampton to end a remarkable season by finishing sixth and sealing qualification for the Europa League. David Moyes has done an outstanding job and will hope his side put on a show for the returning crowd at the London Stadium. However West Ham have a concern over Lukasz Fabianski. The goalkeeper is a doubt after suffering a knee injury before the midweek victory at West Brom. Brighton have taken four points from their last two visits to the Emirates so, given they are also buzzing from their comeback win over Manchester City, may not be ideal opponents for Arsenal’s bid to secure Europa Conference League football. Time will tell whether that is any kind of prize to cherish: for now Mikel Arteta must do without Hector Bellerín, who may have played his last game for the club, and waits on the definitely-departing David Luiz. The in-form Nicolas Pépé, with six goals in his past 10 matches, will hope to inflict further