The last day of the 2019/20 season of the Premier League will be on Sunday, 26th of July 2020 with a lot to still play for – Premier League status, European places, the Golden Boot, an assists record, and some cold hard cash.
The widespread of the novel coronavirus pandemic prompted fears the campaign might not be completed, but after 92 games in 40 days, the top flight is set for a dramatic finale.
Leicester City will host Manchester United with both teams and Chelsea competing for the two remaining top-four spots.
Two of Aston Villa, Watford, and Bournemouth will be relegated.
Europa League qualification is also up for grabs, with Wolves and Tottenham battling for sixth place, which guarantees a European place next season.
Jamie Vardy is favourite to win the Golden Boot unless drama ensues, while the Golden Glove is also up for grabs.
Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne will be hoping to match – or break – an assists landmark only previously achieved by Thierry Henry, plus the Premier League will bid farewell to a legend as De Bruyne’s City team-mate David Silva plays his final match in the competition.
The relegation contest
Norwich City who are bottom of the Premier League with 21 points after 37 games have already been confirmed to move down to the Championship next season but what other teams that would join them has not been settled ahead of the final round of Premier League fixtures.
Fans of Bournemouth, Watford and Aston Villa are preparing for a nerve-racking day as their clubs look to avoid joining Norwich in the Championship.
After a long slog of a season, three teams separated by three points and with almost identical goal differences, are left to battle for one Premier League place.
Villa, who start the day outside of the bottom three on goal difference, visit a West Ham side who are now safe, 18th-placed Watford will face FA Cup finalists Arsenal, while 19th-placed Bournemouth are at mid-table Everton.
Who is going to Europe?
Standings — English Premier League
| Pos. | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 37 | 31 | 3 | 3 | 50 | 96 |
| 2 | Man City | 37 | 25 | 3 | 9 | 62 | 78 |
| 3 | Man Utd | 37 | 17 | 12 | 8 | 28 | 63 |
| 4 | Chelsea | 37 | 19 | 6 | 12 | 13 | 63 |
| 5 | Leicester | 37 | 18 | 8 | 11 | 28 | 62 |
| 6 | Wolves | 37 | 15 | 14 | 8 | 13 | 59 |
| 7 | Tottenham | 37 | 16 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 58 |
| 8 | Sheff Utd | 37 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 2 | 54 |
| 9 | Burnley | 37 | 15 | 9 | 13 | -6 | 54 |
| 10 | Arsenal | 37 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 53 |
Champions, Liverpool, and Manchester City have already settled their score and earned a spot in next seasons Champions League but Manchester United, Chelsea, and Leicester City. still have to battle it out on the final day for the last two spots.
Manchester United only require a draw with Leicester on the final day to finish in the top four, and Chelsea needs just one more Premier League point to secure a top-four place against Wolves at home.
Leicester, on the other hand, must beat United on the final day to finish in the Champions League spot, which seemed they have secured just months ago.
If they fail to do so, they will still qualify for the Europa League group stage, with Wolves’ goal difference effectively meaning the Foxes cannot be caught by Nuno’s side.
Wolves currently lie in sixth place, a point ahead of Tottenham in seventh, and with a goal difference not too dissimilar (Wolves: +13, Spurs: +14)
Both Wolves and Tottenham can’t finish below seventh, but there is still a mini-battle among them.
Here’s why: fifth (which will be occupied by one of Man Utd, Leicester or Chelsea) and sixth place are guaranteed a Europa League spot, however, the key here is to avoid the seventh spot if possible.
That’s because if Arsenal win the FA Cup against Chelsea at Wembley on August 1, they will take the Europa League spot off seventh place. It could be north London rivals Spurs.
On the final day of the season, Wolves are at Chelsea, while Spurs go to Crystal Palace.
The Golden boot
The chance to win the golden boot this season is as tough as it was last season as we saw a joint award for Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang who were all tied on 22 goals each.
Similarly, we could have a repeat of that again this season as it looks to go down until the final day.
Jamie Vardy is clearly ahead of others in the race after scoring 23 goals, two ahead of Southampton’s Danny Ings, his nearest rival for the award.
While Vardy goes into the Foxes’ final game at home to Manchester United without a goal in his past two appearances, Ings has scored six times in eight matches since the restart for Southampton, who entertain Sheffield United.
Aubameyang (20), Mo Salah (19), and Raheem Sterling (19) are also in the running for the golden boot.
The long-standing assists record
Thierry Henry holds the title for the most assists in a single season (20) in 2002/03 – but Kevin De Bruyne is just one away from equalling the record which has stood for 17 years heading into Man City’s final Premier League game of the season. Their opponents? Relegated bottom side Norwich.
Many have tried and failed to get near Henry’s record in recent years; Mesut Ozil registered 19 in 2015/16, while Cesc Fabregas (2014/15) and Frank Lampard (2004/05) both claimed 18.
However, Pep Guardiola’s famed squad rotation may come into play on Sunday, with the second leg of their Champions League last 16 with Real Madrid to play on 7 August. Will De Bruyne get his chance?
The Golden glove
For those between the sticks, the battle for the Golden Glove – most clean sheets in a season – is fierce. Nick Pope (15) and Ederson (15) currently lead the way, and for either, it would be their first Premier League Golden Glove award.
Pope’s Burnley are at home to Brighton, while Ederson’s City are at home to Norwich.
The Golden Glove is shared by goalkeepers with an equal number of clean sheets, regardless of the number of games they played.
Final day’s full fixture list in the Premier League
All games on Sunday, 26th of July 2020 will kick off at the same time as is the tradition. There’s still plenty of action and drama to expect as the 2019/20 season reaches a climax.
Arsenal vs Watford – Emirates Stadium
Burnley vs Brighton – Turf Moor
Chelsea vs Wolves – Stamford Bridge
Crystal Palace vs Tottenham – Selhurst Park
Everton vs Bournemouth – Goodison Park
Leicester vs Man Utd – King Power Stadium
Man City vs Norwich – Etihad Stadium
Newcastle vs Liverpool – St. James Park
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