Premier League: Chelsea, Liverpool and Leicester look to secure top four finish

Leicester and Liverpool host Tottenham and Crystal Palace respectively whereas Chelsea will travel to Aston Villa in the final Premier League match day.

File image of the Premier League trophy. (Image: Twitter)
By Sreejith C R | May 22, 2021 | 3 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Chlesea, Liverpool and Leicester City go into the final Premier League match day on Sunday with the hopes of securing the final two Champions League spots. The three teams are separated by just one point. Third placed Chelsea has a one point lead over Liverpool and Leicester, who are separated by goal difference. Leicester and Liverpool host Tottenham and Crystal Palace in their respective games meanwhile, Chelsea travel to Aston Villa. Chelsea can seal the third spot with a victory against Dean Smith’s side whereas Liverpool or Leicester’s qualification scenario is a bit more complicated.

Aston villa vs Chelsea

Chelsea take on 11th placed Aston Villa at the Villa park on Sunday. Thomas Tuchel’s side are on 67 points. They will qualify for next season’s Champions League with a win at Villa park. The Blues have won four of their previous five League matches whereas Villa has won just two. Both teams come into the match on the back of victories. Aston Villa beat Tottenham 2-1 and Chelsea avenged the FA Cup final lose to Leicester with a 2-1 victory at home.

Dean Smith will be pleased with the return of Jack Grealish, who started in the previous game. The Englishman Ollie Watkins will be the main man up front for the home side. The 25-year old striker is Villa’s top scorer this season. He has scored 14 goals in the League so far including the winner in the previous game against Spurs.

Champions League finalist’s Chelsea might miss midfielder N’Golo Kante who limped off in the last game meanwhile, the return of Mateo Kovacic will be a boost for the away side.

Liverpool vs Crystal Palace

Liverpool are on 66 points as they host 12th placed Crystal Palace at Anfield. The Reds have won 13 points from their previous five Premier League games to move in to the top four after being out of the top four for most part of the season. A win on Sunday will most probably secure them the top four spot unless Leicester close down the four goal difference.

Jurgen Klopp’s side will rely on front three of Sadio Mane, Mohammed Salah and Roberto Firmino to take them through. Mohammed Salah has scored 22 goals in the League so far and is level with leader Harry Kane in the top scorer’s list. English defender Nathaniel Phillips who scored one goal and won the Man of the Math award  in the last match will have the task of stopping the Crystal Palace attack.

Crystal Palace Manager Roy Hodgson announced he will be calling it quits on his top flight managerial career spanning close to 45 years. The Eagles will be hoping to give him a perfect farewell as they have already ensured their survival in the Premier League for another season.

Leicester vs Tottenham

Leicester City, who were in the top four for most part of the season, suddenly find themselves outside it. Their top four hopes are not in their hands any more. The FA Cup winners will need to win against seventh placed Tottenham and hope either Chelsea or Liverpool falter in their respective games to finish in the top four. Otherwise, if Liverpool win 1-0 against the Eagles and Leicester win 5-0 against Spurs then they can qualify for Europe’s elite competition.

Brendan Rodgers will need their in-form striker Kelechi Iheanacho and veteran Jamie Vardy to fire on all cylinders to get the better of Tottenham. Youri Tielemans, who scored the lone goal in the FA Cup final win will have the task of supplying quality balls to the strikers.

Tottenham, who are marred by the transfer rumours of Harry Kane can still secure a European Conference League spot. Son Heung-min and Kane who have scored 39 goals between them in the League so far will be Tottenham’s most potent weapon.





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