Premier League final day preview: European places and relegation still to be decided

One of the most entertaining days of the footballing calendar is upon as the Premier League season draws to a close on Sunday. 

With all 20 teams in action at the same time and plenty still to be decided, it promises to be a fantastic ending to what’s been a memorable season.

Leicester and Man United face crunch decider 

Fifth faces third as Manchester United travel to the King Power to face Leicester in a match that will decide who will play Champions League football next season. The visitors know that a draw is all they need to guarantee a place at Europe’s top table next season, while Brendan Rodgers’ side must win to make it.

It wasn’t that long ago that Leicester were being talked up as title contenders, but results, particularly recently, haven’t gone their way. They’ve won just two of their past eight league matches and were humbled by Spurs in their most recent outing, but despite those setbacks, they still have a legitimate chance of finishing in the Champions League places.

If they were to it would cap off a fantastic season for the Foxes, who are 11/5 for victory here. Jamie Vardy, the Premier League’s top marksman this season with 23 goals, has scored four in 10 league appearances against the Red Devils and he’s 10/3 to open the scoring on Sunday.

United, meanwhile, will be kicking themselves that they didn’t see off West Ham on Wednesday – a win that would have all but guaranteed their place in the Champions League next season. They are unbeaten in 13 games in the league, though, and have impressed many with their attacking prowess in recent matches. They are 5/4 for the win, while the draw is priced at 12/5.

United are 1/6 to secure a top-four spot, with Leicester priced at 6/4. Chelsea, who face Wolves on Sunday, are the 1/12 favourites to clinch Champions League football out of the trio.

Aston Villa and Watford fighting for their lives

There’s also much to play for at the bottom end of the table, with Bournemouth, Watford and Aston Villa all still in danger.

Villa travel to West Ham on the final day off the back of two wins and a draw from their past three fixtures, which have seen Dean Smith’s side go from strong relegation favourites to survival candidates. They were brilliant against Arsenal on Tuesday and a precious 1-0 victory took them out of the relegation zone on goal difference. They now know they must equal Watford’s result against Arsenal to survive. The Villains are 5/4 for a win here, while their hosts, West Ham, are 21/10.

Managerless Watford visit the Emirates knowing they must get a result to have any chance of surviving in the Premier League this season. Back-to-back victories against Norwich and Newcastle looked to have saved them from the drop, but damaging defeats to West Ham and Manchester City in their last two matches have plunged the Hornets back into the mire. They are the 27/10 outsiders here.

Arsenal (19/20) are very much a work in progress under Mikel Arteta, but there have been plenty of positive signs since the Spaniard took over, notably their run to the final of the FA Cup. They are pretty inconsistent, though, as shown by victories at home to champions Liverpool in the league and against Manchester City in the FA Cup followed by that loss to Villa on Tuesday night.

Watford will take great heart from Arsenal’s defeat to Villa and will be hoping their inspirational leader Troy Deeney can continue his good goalscoring form. The Watford skipper has scored three goals in his last two matches and is 9/2 to open the scoring at the Emirates and 13/10 to score at any time.

Villa are the 2/7 favourites to stay up, with Watford 9/4 and Bournemouth, who face Everton on Sunday, priced at 10/1 to beat the drop.

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