It all comes down to this. Unlikely escapes, dynasties’ crumbling, messiahs and SAS, this season has been one for the ages. Another league title going down to the final day, there’s not much more one can ask for. Liverpool may have done their best to butcher their title chances, but it ain’t over ’til it’s over. Ten matches, 90 minutes. History beckons. There’s no room for sentiments here, no ifs, no buts, this is the final day of the English Premier League season, so expect everything to be left on the field. There will be tears, of joy and despair, there will be drama, and at the end of it all one team will be crowned champions and another will drop into obscurity. So for one last time, let’s get into it.
Cardiff 68/10 draw 7/2 Chelsea 4/10
We start at an altogether less interesting tie, with Cardiff bidding farewell to the league at home to Chelsea. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hasn’t proved to be the saviour that some may have hoped, with Cardiff rooted to the bottom of the league heading into the final day. Chelsea proved once again just why they didn’t deserve to be in the running for the league title, failing to overcome Norwich at home last weekend. Mourinho can point to the lack of strikers, but it was his choice and no one else’s to send Lukaku out on loan. No sympathy here Mou. Don’t expect much from this one, with goals hard to come by. Back The Blues for the win.
Fulham 29/20 draw 5/2 Crystal Palace 17/10
Fulham are another team that have already fallen through the trap door. The late season miracle never materialised, and the team that has had three managers over the course of the season is heading down. Their opponents on Sunday did get their miracle, and it came in the form of a middle aged man sporting spectacles and a tracksuit bought from the club shop. Tony Pulis has transformed Palace in his time in charge, and they head into this one with only one loss from their previous 7 matches. They scuppered Liverpool’s title hopes on Monday and now they’re looking to end the season on a high. Back them at 17/10.
Hull City 5/2 draw 5/2 Everton 1/1
Everton saw the final embers of Champions League dreams stomped out by Man City last weekend and will now head into their final game with Hull with very little to play for. The Tigers have enjoyed a successful season back in the top flight, and have an FA Cup final to look forward to against Arsenal. As such, Steve Bruce might be tempted to rest some of his key players, but the cup-tied Nikica Jelavic and Shane Long should still be amongst the starters. Hull are sitting near the bottom of the form table, and Everton have been good to me all season long. Back the Toffees once again at 1/1.
Liverpool 2/11 draw 57/10 Newcastle 11/1
Across Merseyside, Liverpool will be absolutely shattered after tossing away a three-goal lead and possibly the league title against Crystal Palace. Suarez was inconsolable, Gerrard left blank-faced, and Brendan Rodgers conceded that the chase was over. Newcastle at home should be a formality, but will it be enough? Loic Remy made a goal-scoring return for the Magpies at the weekend and they look a completely different side with him spearheading their attack. Expect goals, especially if Liverpool defend like they did for the final 10 minutes at Selhurst Park. I’m still backing the Reds, but I fear it won’t be enough.
Man City 1/8 draw 72/10 West Ham 17/1
Manchester City should wrap up the league title at the Etihad against West Ham on Sunday, but in this league, nothing is a given. “Big Sam” strutting on the touchline in his best fat lady attire, as his side look to throw the game into disrepute by claiming a victory over the title-shoo-ins. Liverpool supporters will be hoping that a West Ham side made up of Liverpool outcasts can rustle up a performance that will gift them the league title. Irony would take no greater form should Andy Carroll rise to finish a Stuart Downing cross and give Liverpool the title. These are all fantasies though. Manchester City will take this one, and it should be rather comfortable too.
Norwich 31/10 draw 27/10 Arsenal 8/10
Further down the table Norwich City will be looking to make a final day escape against Arsenal at Carrow Road. The Canaries know that nothing short of a win will do, and even that might not be enough. As for Arsenal it was another season of “what might’ve been”. Arsene Wenger’s refusal to sign a world-class striker cost them once again, and in the end they got exactly what they deserved, maybe even a bit more. Gunners supporters can look forward to a summer of speculation, and the signature of an 18-year old or two that impressed at the World Cup. Times change, but Arsene Wenger will stay the same. Back the Gunners to win though, at 8/10.
Southampton 18/10 draw 24/10 Man United 14/10
It’s been a season of turmoil at Old Trafford, with the fallout from Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure having widespread ramifications for the defending champions. They were never at the races, and if Chelsea were a little horse, United were a malnourished donkey. Too much underperformance from overrated players and they will finish the season in seventh place. On Sunday they travel to Southampton who will finish just a place below their illustrious opponents after a season to savour. Pochettino will look to push on over the summer, but come Sunday they will revel in this season’s achievements. Throw down on the Saints to end on a high at 18/10.
Sunderland 19/20 draw 24/10 Swansea 28/10
Sunderland could very well be safe come Sunday, a miraculous achievement given that they found themselves bottom just three weeks ago. Wins over Chelsea, Cardiff and Manchester United have put them on the brink and Gus Poyet deserves massive credit for the job he has done at the Stadium of Light. Their win over Cardiff ended a run of 9 home games without a win, and they will close out the season against the other Welsh team, Swansea. The Swans went down last weekend at home to Southampton, and have nothing much to play for here. The Black Cats are tipped to put their Premier League safety beyond doubt with a win here.
Tottenham 11/20 draw 3/1 Aston Villa 49/10
Spurs have had a strange old season. They sold their star player, wasted the money on a flurry of flops, sacked their manager, replaced him with a former-player and spent the remainder looking for a successor. I guess nothing much changes in North London. They’re the ting to Arsenal’s yang, mortal enemies with differing philosophies, both of which are terribly flawed. Forget all that philosophical bollocks though, we have some money to make. Aston Villa at home in what will probably be Sherwood’s last game. Having scored 8 and conceded none in the last three meetings, it’s hard to look past another home victory.
West Brom 11/10 draw 5/2 Stoke 24/10
West Brom live to fight another day, while have shaken off the shackles of the Pulis era and are actually looking like a football side. The Baggies will need to do some serious soul-searching over the summer or they run the risk of doing all this again next-term. Mark Hughes may have once again enhanced his reputation, but things will soon turn sour in the Potteries, and Hughes ever the shrewd tactician knows that. Give him one more season before he jumps ship when a bigger club comes calling. He will then duly fail, get sacked, and do this all over again. Back to the game at hand, Stoke are playing some decent ball at the moment and West Brom, well they’re not. Take the Potters to close out the Premier League season with a win.
And that, as they say, is that. Enjoy the final day complete with “no Hollywood scriptwriter could write this” commentary. I have a feeling we may cross paths again over the summer, especially if you’re interested in profiting from the goings-on in Brazil. I have a sneaky suspicion that Argentina are planning on crashing the party. But what do I know. In the end, no matter how much you know about this game, it will still always surprise you. That is why we love this game, this beautiful game. One day though, I just hope that it will love me back. Sala Kahle.
Written by Commodore Vegas
Commodore’s Weekend Picks
Chelsea WIN 4/10
Crystal Palace WIN 17/10
Everton WIN 1/1
Liverpool WIN 2/11
Man City WIN 1/8
Arsenal WIN 8/10
Southampton WIN 18/10
Sunderland WIN 19/20
Tottenham WIN 11/20
Stoke WIN 24/10
