Three teams left, three points required for safety, two still to be relegated after finishing in the bottom three.
Sunday’s day of reckoning will be a tense, nerve-jangling, adrenaline-fuelled and potentially haunting experience for fans of Everton, Leicester City and Leeds United.
On the flip side of the coin it will be a dream for neutrals as every shot, poor pass or wild challenge and every bounce of the ball in the penalty area could have immense consequences. This is why we love Premier League football.
There hasn’t been such a dramatic scramble for safety on the final day since Fulham’s great escape 15 years ago when they beat Portsmouth, who won the FA Cup a week later, thanks to a Danny Murphy header.
The Cottagers survived on goal difference, condemning Birmingham City and Reading to the Championship along with Derby, who were long since doomed.
Three years earlier four teams were battling to avoid going down and Pompey fans celebrated as their team lost 2-0 at West Brom, but were reprieved at the expense of their south coast neighbours Southampton.
Crystal Palace and Norwich also sank like a stone on a stomach-churning day of rollercoaster emotions.
This weekend Everton entertain Bournemouth in a match between hosts who have scored just 15 goals at Goodison Park and visitors who have netted just 17 on the road.
Under 2.5 goals looks nailed on at 6/5 with Ladbrokes and the draw is 19/5 with BetUK.
While the drama is unfolding on Merseyside Leicester host Europa Conference League finalist West Ham.
The Foxes grabbed a superb point at Newcastle on Monday but they can’t sit back and defend this time, leaving the Hammers – who put Leeds to the sword last week – to grab victory at 27/10 with Coral and Bet Victor.
Jarrod Bowen is always dangerous and appeals at 4/1 with Sky Bet to score at any time.
Up the M1, there will be goals galore as Leeds face Tottenham who still have Europa Conference League football to play for.
The hosts will hope a raucous Elland Road crowd will see them through in what could be a real shoot-out between two teams who can’t defend for toffee.
Harry Kane is 4/1 to open the scoring with Ladbrokes and Coral and Heung-Min Son is 5/2 with William Hill to score at any time against a terrible Leeds defence.
Over 4.5 goals is 31/10 with Bet Victor and an away win is 7/5 with Betfred but don’t go putting the milk money on a Tottenham win.
If their players are thinking about the beach they could just as easily fold like a deckchair.
• 6/4 Luton to gain promotion to the Premier League by beating Coventry in normal time in the Championship play-off final at Wembley (bet365)
• 6/5 Sheffield Wednesday to climb into the Championship by winning the League One play-off final with Barnsley in 90 minutes (Ladbrokes)
MORE : Relegation trapdoor widens as Everton, Leicester and Leeds learn a name will only get you so far
MORE : What do Everton, Leicester and Leeds need to avoid Premier League relegation on the final day?
No comments:
Post a Comment