The Premier League season comes to an end on Sunday as another year of twists and turns concludes on a day where all 20 sides are in action.
The top of the table and the relegation has already been sorted out. The only thing left to be decided on Sunday are the final Champions League place and the minor European places with it being a battle of Manchester for fourth place while West Ham and Southampton fight for the last certain Europa League spot. We have three televised games on Sunday and seven away from live action.
TV matches
Man Utd vs Bournemouth, Swansea vs Man City and Stoke vs West Ham have drawn the attention of the TV producers on this final day but I have to say they haven’t really got my focus in terms of a betting point of view.
As is so always the case at this stage of the season sides who need to win are a lot shorter than they would be if this was the first month or two of the campaign rather than the final week but none of the three have sides I could possibly take them on with.
I guess the exception could be Swansea at home to City. Swansea have won their last four at the Liberty Stadium and City have only won one of their last four matches so there could be a genuine case for Swansea but I expect City to get something from the game with the likes of Aguero fighting for the Golden Boot and players like de Bruyne and Sterling who could run amok.
Man Utd and West Ham look to have found nice opponents. Bournemouth have already achieved their aims and unless Old Trafford inspires them into one last performance this year the Cherries could be cannon fodder while Stoke have fallen in a heap since the Butland injury. I can’t take either favourite on there.
With that in mind I’ll leave those matches alone and focus my attention on the rest of the last day action.
Other matches
Aston Villa, Newcastle and Norwich all say farewell to the Premier League on Sunday. Villa go to Arsenal, who are being asked to cover a 2.5 goal handicap, Newcastle welcome Spurs and Norwich head to Goodison Park. It is hard to fancy any of the relegated sides to do anything but big handicaps with nothing to play for is not for me.
Crystal Palace head to Southampton on Sunday and I would be interested to see their team with the cup final just six days away. This is the second former club in succession that Pardew has been to at the end of the season. The first one, Newcastle, took the points from Palace and I expect Southampton to as well but you get no price.
I’m tempted by the champions Leicester at Chelsea but I’m sure the celebrations and media attention and things will have taken their toll as the week has gone on so it might be pushing the boat out to back them here. The same can be said for Sunderland so I’ll leave them alone too.
I am going to take one bet though and it comes at The Hawthorns where Liverpool surely won’t be using a first teamer in any position with such a huge cup final to come on Wednesday night. West Brom have nothing to play for but I’ve not yet known a Tony Pulis side to relax before the season ends.
Indeed in previous seasons West Brom have gone right to the end whether that has been with Pulis or before he arrived. I remember they drew 5-5 with Man Utd in Sir Alex Ferguson’s final game and I’m sure they’ll want to go out with a bang here.
Liverpool’s motivation and attention is going to be elsewhere here so the fact we can get a draw no bet line on the Baggies is too much for me to refuse. I’ll take the home side here.
Tips
PUSH – Back West Brom (0AH) to beat Liverpool for a 4/10 stake at 2.03 with 188bet
Back them here:
