Premier League preview & predictions: Gameweek 38

Liverpool are looking to secure a top four spot
Liverpool are looking to secure a top four spot / Clive Mason/Getty Images
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Well, the time has finally come. After months of seemingly endless football, the final day of the Premier League season is upon us.

And while the title and the relegation spots are all sewn up, there is still plenty left to resolve.

So before we kick back and let the hype for Euro 2020 consume us, let us take you on one last journey through the remaining Premier League games, and tell you all you need to know.


Sunday 23 May

Arsenal vs Brighton

Mikel Arteta, Alexandre Lacazette
Arsenal have found some form in recent games now that they have little to play for / Marc Atkins/Getty Images

What time is kick off? 4pm
Where is it the game played? Emirates Stadium
How to watch on TV? Sky Sports
Referee: Jonathan Moss
VAR: Simon Hooper

It hasn't been a particularly good season for either Arsenal or Brighton but both have shown signs that the future may be bright.

The Gunners' recent form has put them in with a chance of finishing above Tottenham and in a European place, while Brighton's win over Man City last weekend signalled that there is much more to come from them despite their lowly position in the league.

Prediction: Arsenal 3-2 Brighton


Aston Villa vs Chelsea

Ollie Watkins, Jack Grealish
Ollie Watkins has enjoyed a stellar debut season in the Premier League / Pool/Getty Images

What time is kick off? 4pm
Where is the game being played? Villa Park
How to watch on TV? Sky Sports
Referee: Stuart Atwell
VAR: Stephen Child

It looked as if Aston Villa were in for a fairytale season for a while, but despite the wheels falling off the cart somewhat, they have plenty to be optimistic about. They have massively improved on last season and their 11th-placed finish has firmly established them back in the top flight.

They sign off the season against a Chelsea team who won't want to leave anything to chance. They sit third going into the final day, but with just a point separating them from Liverpool and Leicester, they can still miss out on the top four.

Prediction: Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea


Fulham vs Newcastle

Joe Bryan, Bobby De Cordova-Reid
Joe Bryan equalised for Fulham at Old Trafford / Phil Noble - Pool/Getty Images

What time is kick off? 4pm
Where is it the game played? Craven Cottage
How to watch on TV? Sky Sports
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
VAR: Adrian Holmes

Scott Parker's Fulham have shown real spirit at times this season, but they have been far from good enough to preserve their top-flight status. Scoring goals was always going to be their problem and they've netted just 27 all season, with even the usually-reliable Aleksandar Mitrovic misfiring.

With fans back in Craven Cottage, it's all about signing off on a high for Parker and his team, but Newcastle look in decent shape as they look to finish their season with a flourish.

Prediction: Fulham 0-1 Newcastle


Leeds vs West Brom

Tyler Roberts
Leeds won at Southampton last time out / Robin Jones/Getty Images

What time is kick off? 4pm
Where is it the game played? Elland Road
How to watch on TV? BT Sport
Referee: David Coote
VAR: Graham Scott

The fortunes of Leeds and West Brom could hardly have been more different since earning promotion from the Championship. While Marcelo Bielsa's team have settled in with a strong mid-table finish, West Brom have struggled to the extent that even Big Sam has been unable to fish them out of the fire.

There's little more than pride on the line here, though both teams will be keen to end their contrasting seasons with a morale-boosting win.

Prediction: Leeds 3-1 West Brom


Leicester vs Tottenham

Ryan Mason
Ryan Mason's Spurs fell to defeat against Aston Villa / Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

What time is kick off? 4pm
Where is it the game played? King Power Stadium
How to watch on TV? Sky Sports
Referee: Anthony Taylor
VAR: Peter Banks

If you're heading into the final day as a neutral, then this is the game to watch. It's make or break time for both Leicester and Spurs.

The Foxes have held a top-four spot all season, but defeat to Chelsea last time out opened things up and let Liverpool take the initiative at the final hour. They're still in the hunt though: if they can beat Tottenham they just need one of their rivals to drop points.

But Spurs are fighting tooth and nail as they look to claw their way into the top six and avoid the embarrassment of a Conference League spot - or perhaps even worse. There is the lingering threat of finishing behind Arsenal if they fail to win and that simply cannot happen from a Tottenham perspective.

Prediction: Leicester 2-2 Tottenham


Liverpool vs Crystal Palace

FBL-ENG-PR-BURNLEY-LIVERPOOL
Liverpool celebrate their third goal against Burnley / ALEX LIVESEY/Getty Images

What time is kick off? 4pm
Where is it the game played? Anfield
How to watch on TV? Sky Sports
Referee: Andre Marriner
VAR: Paul Tierney

Fans will be back at Anfield on Sunday and they will be hoping to help Jurgen Klopp's team over the line in pursuit of a top-four spot. It's been a long, hard season for the Reds, but signing off by qualifying for the Champions League would be a huge win - especially considering how unlikely that looked just a couple of months ago.

Palace will be out to spoil the party and in Roy Hodgson's final match, they would love nothing more than to get another one over on his former team. Their recent form has been poor, though, and they may be in danger of a steamrolling if the Liverpool team who thrashed Burnley show up.

Prediction: Liverpool 3-0 Palace


Man City vs Everton

Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti
Guardiola and Ancelotti go head to head once more / Pool/Getty Images

What time is kick off? 4pm
Where is it the game played? Etihad Stadium
How to watch on TV? Sky Sports
Referee: Michael Oliver
VAR: Darren England

It's been clear for a while that City would win the Premier League, but with the Champions League final on the horizon, they can't afford to let their winning momentum slip.

Everton, meanwhile, kept their slim European hopes alive with a win over Wolves during the week. A victory over the champions could see them steal a Europa League spot at the final hour, but City are just so much better than everyone else, aren't they?

Prediction: Man City 2-0 Everton


Sheffield United vs Burnley

Sean Dyche
Dyche looking grumpy after Burnley's defeat to Liverpool / Alex Livesey/Getty Images

What time is kick off? 4pm
Where is it the game played? Bramall Lane
How to watch on TV? BT Sport
Referee: Kevin Friend
VAR: Lee Mason

Well, this is a game that's happening.

Prediction: Sheffield United 0-0 Burnley


West Ham vs Southampton

David Moyes, Pablo Fornals
West Ham beat West Brom to keep their European hopes alive / Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

What time is kick off? 4pm
Where is it the game played? London Stadium
How to watch on TV? Sky Sports
Referee: Martin Atkinson
VAR: Craig Pawson

West Ham's Champions League dream has been brought to a crushing halt in recent weeks but when the dust settles, we'll see just how impressive a season it has been for David Moyes and his team.

Some of us had tipped them for relegation before a ball was kicked but they've smashed those expectations to pieces and look almost certain to be playing European football next season.

They can make absolutely sure of that with a win over Southampton who will be looking to wash the bad taste out of their mouths following Tuesday's defeat to Leeds.

Prediction: West Ham 2-2 Southampton


Wolves vs Man Utd

Edinson Cavani, Mason Greenwood
Edinson Cavani scored an outrageous goal in midweek / Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

What time is kick off? 4pm
Where is it the game played? Molineux
How to watch on TV? BT Sport
Referee: Mike Dean
VAR: Andy Madley

Wolves have disappointed this season after a couple of seventh-placed finishes on the spin, but Molineux remains one of the stadiums you don't want to go to when you're in need of a win.

Fortunately for United, the pressure is off somewhat now their status as runners-up has been confirmed. But with the Europa League final lying in wait three days later, a victory would do nicely to get them back into the habit of winning games.

Prediction: Wolves 1-2 Man Utd