Premier League Preview Gameweek 38
The final game week of the 2020/21 Premier League takes place this weekend with a full fixture list on Sunday at 4 p.m. With the title in City’s hands and Sheffield United, West Brom and Fulham all heading to the Championship next season, focus is on the tight race for European qualification. Leicester, Liverpool, and Chelsea are still in contention for the top four, with City and United confirming their place in the Champions League next season. last weekend’s games thew up some surprising results, but all is still to play for.
Leicester host Spurs, Liverpool take on Crystal Palace and Chelsea play Aston Villa and all will be aware that anything less than a win could cost them a Champions League place for 2021/22. Currently, all three teams have qualified for the Europa League. West Ham secured their qualification for the new Europa Conference League, which will run alongside the Champions League and Europa League next season. Tottenham, Everton, Arsenal, and Leeds could also make the final place for Europe’s inaugural Conference League.
All odds are from bet365 and subject to change.
Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets
18+ New Players only. For free bet wagering requirements and minimum odds read T&C’s. www.begambleaware.org
Aston Villa v Chelsea
Aston Villa won for the first time in three matches on Wednesday, defeating Spurs 2-1 away. Dean Smith’s side came back from a goal down to record just their third victory in 13 Premier League matches. The win came after defeats to Man United, Crystal Palace, and a goalless draw against Everton at home. However, Villa have struggled at Villa Park in the second half of the season. The Midlands side have one win in their last eight and have conceded 12 goals during this run.
Chelsea took a big step towards Champions League qualification on Tuesday evening with a narrow 2-1 home win against Leicester. The Blues bounced back from two consecutive 1-0 defeats to Arsenal in the Premier League and Leicester in the FA Cup last weekend. Since Thomas Tuchel took over at Stamford Bridge in late January, Chelsea are unbeaten away from home. The Blues have won nine of their last 12 on the road, and drawn the other three matches.
Matty Cash (thigh), Morgan Samson (knee), Ross Barkley (unable to face parent club) and Trézéguet (knee) are all ruled out for Villa. N’Golo Kante (hamstring), Kai Havertz (knock), and Andreas Christensen (thigh) are doubtful for Chelsea.
Villa will take confidence from their win against Spurs in midweek and will give Chelsea a good game, but the Blues have been in solid away form and should win at Villa Park.
Leicester v Tottenham
Leicester were unable to build on their impressive FA Cup victory last weekend and fell to a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Chelsea on Tuesday. It was the Foxes’ second loss in eight matches following an impressive run of five wins from their last eight in all competitions. Brendan Rodgers’ side have also been in good form at the King Power, winning five of their last seven on home soil, but they did suffer a 4-2 home loss against Newcastle last time out.
Tottenham lost their third match in five on Wednesday evening as they were beaten 2-1 at home by Aston Villa. Spurs have won just three of their last nine matches in all competitions and are ending the season in patchy form. Most of their recent points have come at home and the North London side are winless in five of their last six on the road, including a disappointing 3-1 away defeat to Leeds last weekend.
Leicester will be without Harvey Barnes (knee), James Justin (knee), and Jonny Evans (ankle). Cengiz Under is also doubtful with a hip injury. Ben Davies (calf) and Japhet Tanganga (shin) are ruled out for Spurs.
Leicester are in good form and capped an impressive season with an FA Cup final win last weekend. They have been impressive at home recently, while Spurs have struggled away. The Foxes should win at the King Power on Sunday.
Liverpool v Crystal Palace
Liverpool won their fourth consecutive match on Wednesday with a 2-0 away win against Burnley. The result extended the Reds’ unbeaten run to eight in all competitions and they have lost just once in their last in their last 12. Jurgen Klopp’s side have also been hard to beat at Anfield recently. Following a mid-season run of six straight losses at home, Liverpool are unbeaten in their last five, winning three and drawing two.
Crystal Palace were unable to build on an impressive 3-2 home win against Aston Villa last weekend as they lost 3-1 at home against Arsenal on Wednesday. The Eagles have won just two of their last eight in the Premier League and have conceded a lot of goals in this run. Roy Hodgson’s side have shipped 14 goals in their last eight matches. The South London club are also winless in 10 of their last 13 away matches in all competitions.
Naby Keita and Diogo Jota are doubtful for Liverpool. Virgil van Dijk (knee), Ben Davies (muscular), Ozan Kabak (match fitness), Joe Gamez (knee), Joel Matip (ankle), and Jordan Henderson (groin) are all ruled out. Luka Milivojevic could return for Palace this weekend, but the Eagles will be without James McArthur (calf), Conor Wickham (knock), Nathan Ferguson (match fitness), Mamadou Sakho (thigh), and Eberechi Eze (achilles).
Liverpool have been in good form in the latter stages of the season, while Palace are in patchy form and have struggled for wins. A Liverpool win looks likely.
Man City v Everton
City lost for the second time in three Premier League matches on Tuesday as they fell to a 3-2 away defeat against Brighton. City led 2-0 but a late Brighton onslaught ended City’s 13 match unbeaten run away in the Premier League. The result followed a dramatic 4-3 win away at Newcastle and a narrow 2-1 defeat at home to Chelsea for Pep Guardiola’s side – the Citizen’s third home loss in their last four Premier League matches.
Everton’s 1-0 home win against Wolves in midweek gives them a slim chance of qualifying for Europe. The Toffees have lost just two of their last nine fixtures in the Premier League and they have taken points off European challengers West Ham, Arsenal, and Spurs in recent months. Carlo Ancelotti’s side have been hard to beat away this season, losing one and winning nine of their last 14 on the road.
Raheem Sterling, Kyle Walker, and Sergio Aguero could be in contention for City after recent injures. Ilkay Gundogan (knee) and Joao Cancelo (suspended) are ruled out. Everton’s James Rodriguez should return to the squad following a knock but Jean-Philippe Gbamin is out with a knee injury.
Everton have picked up some good results recently and they have one of the best away records in the Premier League. With one eye on the Champions League final, Guardiola could field a weakened side, which may give Everton a chance to win at the Etihad.
Relevant news
21-22 Premier League Preview Week 38
The stage is set for an enthralling finale to the 2021/22 Premier League season. Lead…
21-22 Premier League Preview Week 37
Man City are on course to secure another Premier League title this season. The Citizens…
21-22 Premier League Preview Week 35
The 2021/22 Premier League season is coming to a head. With just five matches left,…
21-22 Premier League Preview Week 33
Fresh off the back of a breath-taking weekend of Premier League action last weekend, more…
2022 FA Cup Quarter Finals
The 2021/22 FA Cup has reached the quarter-finals with just eight teams left fighting for…
21-22 Premier League Preview Week 29
The Premier League fixtures have been coming thick and fast recently. There was a full…