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Premier League comes to a culmination as relegation battle looms

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The Premier League concludes this season with all 10 fixtures slated for 6.30pm EAT as Everton, Leicester and Leeds look to avoid the drop while Aston Villa, Tottenham and Brentford are in the hunt for a Europa Conference League place. Manchester City prolific forward Erling Haaland on the other hand is on the verge of another top-flight record.

With just one round of fixtures remaining, Everton (17th – 33 points), Leicester (18th – 31 points) and Leeds (19th – 31 points) are all in danger of dropping into the Championship with already-relegated Southampton.

The Toffees will be certain of surviving if Leeds fail to beat Tottenham and Leicester don’t beat West Ham.

As it stands, Leeds need a win to have any hope of staying up and could still be relegated even if they beat Tottenham and Everton don’t defeat Bournemouth because Leicester sit above them in the table on goal difference.

Leicester have to beat West Ham to have any hope of avoiding relegation, and hope Bournemouth can take something from their final-day game at Everton, and that Leeds don’t manage the unthinkable and overturn their nine-goal superior goal difference.

In the event that Leicester don’t win on Sunday, goal difference could yet prove decisive in a head-to-head fight to avoid the drop between Everton and Leeds.

Were Everton to draw with Bournemouth and Leeds to beat Tottenham then they would both finish the season on 34 points.

At present, Leeds’ goal difference is -27 and Everton’s -24. If Leeds were to win by three clear goals and Everton were to draw, Leeds would then finish above Everton on account of goals scored.

The identity of the top six is now confirmed, however, three teams are still fighting to take seventh and the final place in Europe that can be earned through league position.

Aston Villa (58 points), Tottenham (57 points) and Brentford (56 points) all go into the final day of the season with a chance of playing in next season’s Europa Conference League.

The destination of the Premier League title may already be known as Man City wrapped a third successive title last weekend, but Erling Haaland is on course for yet another league record when Pep Guardiola’s side travel to Brentford.

The 22-year-old has scored a phenomenal 52 goals in 48 games in all competitions – including a record-breaking 36 in 35 Premier League appearances.

Arsenal are guaranteed to finish second, their best position since 2015/16. If they win, they will equal their club record of 26 wins in a Premier League season. 

kra