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EPL: Title race, top four, other major battles on final day

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The Premier League 2021/2022 title race will go down the wire today as title chasers, Manchester City and Liverpool, face Aston Villa and Wolves in the title decider.

Having survived a scare away to West Ham last time out, Pep Guardiola’s men sit uncomfortably atop the summit just one point ahead of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool who are gunning for a quadruple this season after winning the Carabao and FA Cup.

Victory for the Reds and a defeat for the Citizens will hand Liverpool an English record-equalling 20th EPL trophy and should they beat Real Madrid in the Champions League Final in Paris next Saturday, Klopp’s men would eclipse United’s 1999 Treble which they won under the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson.

Tottenham and Arsenal will face already relegated Norwich and relegation survivor, Everton, respectively for a chance to finish fourth and get the final ticket to next season’s Champions League.

The ticket is Antonio Conte’s side to lose but should they fall to Norwich and Arsenal beat Everton at the Emirates Stadium, Mikel Arteta’s side will pip their north London rivals to the fourth spot.

Another dram yet to unfold is the battle for Europa League and Conference League spots between sleeping giants, Manchester United, and 2021/22 EUL semifinalists, West Ham.

Sixth-placed United must beat Crystal Palace on interim manager, Ralf Ragnick’s final game in charge to avoid the humiliation of playing in the Europa Conference League alongside five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.

Anything other than a win for United would open the way for seventh-placed West Ham who must beat Brighton to move up ahead of United and hope to this time reach the finals of the EUL following their disappointing defeat to the eventual winner, Eintracht Frankfurt.

At the bottom of the table, Burnley and Leeds are locked in a tense fight for survival.

The Clarets who face Newcastle and The Whites who face Brentford are tied on 35 points apiece with 17th-placed Burnley ahead on goal difference.

Should Leeds defeat Brentford, they will stay up if Burnley drop points against Newcastle.

See the Final Day deciders at a glance below:

Champions: Title-chasing Man City and Liverpool will start the final day separated by a single point.

Third place: Chelsea still need a point to mathematically secure third place although it would require an unprecedented swing on goal difference for Tottenham to leapfrog Thomas Tuchel’s side.

Champions League qualification: Tottenham effectively just need a point at Norwich to be sure of finishing fourth. Barring another improbable swing on goal difference, Arsenal can only jump ahead if they beat Everton and Tottenham lose at Norwich.

Europa League: Either Arsenal or Tottenham will be joined in the Europa League by Manchester United or West Ham – Man Utd currently head the Hammers by two points but David Moyes’ side have a much better goal difference.

Europa League Conference: Were Manchester United to lose or draw at Palace and West Ham beat Brighton on the final day then Man Utd will play in the Europa League Conference next season.

Relegation: One of Burnley and Leeds will be relegated alongside Norwich and Watford. Although Burnley and Leeds will start the final day level on points, Leeds’ vastly inferior goal difference means they will have to better Burnley’s result to stay up. Burnley are sure of survival if they win or if Leeds lose.

Golden Boot: Mo Salah is currently top of the scoring charts (22) by a single goal from Heung-Min Son. Cristiano Ronaldo is four back from Salah.

Golden Glove: Alisson and Ederson are currently tied on 20 clean sheets apiece this term.

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