Dan’s EPL Predictions: Top Five Race is on for Premier League Final Day

Just Arsenal News

·24 Mei 2025

Dan’s EPL Predictions: Top Five Race is on for Premier League Final Day

In the race for the top five, Newcastle, Man City and Chelsea have their destiny in their own hands.

While Arsenal are not mathematically guaranteed second place, they would have to lose to Southampton, Man City win, and there be a swing in goal difference of eight goals for second place to change.

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Due to goal difference, Man City only need a point at Craven Cottage. If they lose, they need two out of Newcastle, Chelsea and Villa not to win.

Newcastle are practically guaranteed a place in the top five if they win because their goal difference is superior to Aston Villa. If they do not, they either need Villa not to better their result at Old Trafford or for there not to be a winner at the City Ground.

Chelsea’s fate is also in their own hands. They just need to at least match or better Villa’s result.

Villa need to get a better result than one of the three clubs above them.

Forest need to beat Chelsea and hope either Villa or Newcastle do not win.

Chelsea need to finish outside of the top five for there to be a chance that eighth in the table could be enough for a place in Europe. Brighton only need a point. Brentford need to win and hope the Seagulls lose. If that happens, eighth would then need Chelsea to win the UEFA Conference Final.

Matchday Drama: Final Fixtures Overview

Cherries 3-1 LeicesterJust when Leicester thought their season could not get any worse, the Premier League has referred them to an independent panel for alleged breaches of FFP. If you were a Foxes fan, you just wanted to get to the summer and regroup. Now you face a points deduction in the Championship.The mood of these two clubs could not be more contrasting. The test for the Cherries now will be to hang on to their manager and key talent. That is a compliment to how well they have done. Worst case, at least they can demand decent money for their players. They are getting 50 million for Huijsen.

Fulham 1-2 Man CityBecause of their goal difference, Man City only need a point to secure Champions League football. If they had to play under the pressure of needing a win, this might have been a banana skin. The jeopardy might reduce as the afternoon progresses and they hear scores from around the grounds. Either way, you sense Pep Guardiola’s side will look different come August. Their owners have standards and will not tolerate falling under them. Compare what they did in January to the Kroenke family.

Ipswich 2-0 West HamThe fact that Ipswich are relegated, yet there will likely be more spirit and togetherness from the home side, tells you where West Ham are at. I really thought Potter would be a great appointment for them but they remain a club without an identity. It is only because the five below them have been so poor that more has not been mentioned. Some might say, given how David Moyes was treated, certain Hammers do not deserve anything less.

Liverpool 2-1 PalaceThere are fixtures this weekend that do not have a lot of jeopardy. Some teams will already be on holiday. Very rarely though do you get a game where both sides’ fans are turning up for a party and, no matter the result, they will be celebrating long into the summer. Liverpool are about to lift the Premiership, Palace won their first ever trophy last Saturday. This will be the Community Shield.

Man United 1-3 Aston VillaCould there be a better time to go to Old Trafford? You are 16th in the table, do not even have 40 points and have just lost a final of a secondary European competition to a Spurs team who did not even play well. Credit to any home fans who attend this Sunday. Of course, it all depends on how the visitors react to hearing goal updates from elsewhere, but the points are theirs to throw away. They would kick themselves if any of the three above them slip up and they have not taken advantage.

Newcastle 2-0 EvertonIf you offered any Geordie the chance to qualify for the Champions League with a home win on the final day (with a trophy in the cabinet), they would have bitten your hand off. The biggest compliment I can give Eddie Howe is that you now trust the Magpies to handle the pressure of occasions like this. Especially with a packed St James’ Park.

Notts Forest 1-1 ChelseaOne of the hardest games this weekend to predict because a lot depends on what happens elsewhere. Forest have to win to have any chance of breaking into the top five, which means they have to be on the front foot, something that is outside their comfort level. So if it is a draw with 15 minutes to go, is that enough for Chelsea or do they also have to chase the winner?

Saints 0-4 ArsenalAfter coming out with some strange statements after the PSG and Liverpool fixtures, I am relieved that it appears Mikel Arteta just needed a week to take a breath. What is crucial is that our manager goes on holiday and has the ability to self-evaluate and learn from his mistakes. With zero consequences on this fixture, Arsenal should win comfortably at a club relegated with just 12 points. The Gunners playing well when the pressure is off? Some might say that happens too often.

Spurs 1-2 BrightonI am not sure what state Spurs players and fans will be in come Sunday. This game means more to the visitors, especially if they hear Chelsea are falling out of the top five, which could mean eighth is enough for Europe. It would be kind of fitting if the home side did not care about the Premier League, as that has been the case for months. What would the odds have been at the start of the season that Tottenham would finish 16th or 17th in the League? Then imagine the odds of them finishing 16th or 17th yet being so happy.

Wolves 3-2 BrentfordHome to Fulham was a real missed opportunity for Brentford to keep the race for eighth place alive. If they start to hear Chelsea or Brighton are winning, there becomes less significance on this game as the minutes tick by. There was a point this season where it looked like Wolves would be doing well to get to the final day and still have hope of surviving. I know he was not impressed with the defending in midweek but credit must go to Vitor Pereira for the turnaround.

If anyone wants to tactical vote, email admin to email me your scores

Adeski 230NT Gunnerz 230Terrah 227Akeem 220Sagie 219J Gunner 215Okobino 215GB 214Gunnerstew 212Stephanie 211QB 209Ackshay 208Antivirus 207Ayan 206JRA 206Wale A 205Ejs 204Drayton 194Baron 192Sue P 192Kenya 186Gunsmoke 186Achizzy 185Matthew 183Solwills 179Me 176JS7RG 170O Achiel 165I 161MTG 161Buchi 158Prince 155NOAS 134J Gunz 131Zeeksedso 127Lereng Jacob 117

Top 36 Qualify for Champions League

Tom 111IGL 102Dendrite 98Yayo 94Edu 87Famochi 82Amir 77Splendid 69Admin 69Bang bang 65J Bauer 65J legend 63Dragon 62Big slim 58Babalosa 54Illiterate 53Taiwo 52Teteu 52Williamrick 48Ba Thea 46Lupilu 45Olushorlar 39Oluseyi 20-36Rich Royal 35Bertie 33Dan kit 30Labass 27K Ohis 25Gabriel 24SWS 18Kobin 18Lovely 17Elvis 16Ralph 15Twig 14Oslogunner 65-12Barry 11Isaac 11Alex 9Mulu Fidel 9Gunner 4 life 8Kutoiam 8Dotash 7E Augustus 7Terry 5Dunchirado 5Alwattan 3

Good luck peeps

Dan Smith

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