The Battle for Europe takes centre stage on the last day of the Season
- Premier League 2019/20 calendar ends on Sunday afternoon
- Season was crippled for close to three months by the coronavirus pandemic
- Battle for next season’s European competition dominates last day
- Mental Health and Psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 pandemic
Battle for next season’s European competition set for Sunday afternoon.
As the curtains draw on what has been a tumultuous season, the battle for next season’s European football.
While Liverpool and Manchester City are assured of being in the coveted competition next season, the battle for the remaining two spots will be in headlines on Sunday afternoon.
Players and coaching staff alike will have hoped that such a fate-defining showdown could have been avoided, but the league’s tendency to drag down teams kicking and screaming has once again set up a series of clashes that are certain to live long in the memory.
Manchester United, Chelsea and Leicester City are all in contention of sealing the remaining two spots for Champions League football.
Wolves and Tottenham will aim to finish in sixth and secure a Europa League place.
Race for Champions League football
It has never been a secret of how much Champions League football is both prestigious and coveted.
Alongside the huge financial revenue that comes with it, is a sense of pride and accomplishment. Playing in the grandest of them all is what is at stake.
There are two places up for grabs, with three teams tussling it out.
Chelsea host Wolves, while Manchester United travel to Leicester City.
An impressive domestic unbeaten streak has seen Manchester United back in contention for Champions League football.
They travel to King Power Stadium knowing that just a point will see them back in the top competition.
The Foxes will have to rally and beat United to guarantee a spot at the top table.
However, the Old Trafford outfit do have a fallback option in the event they were to fall short in the league. They could return to Europe’s elite competition by winning the Europa League.
Chelsea will have to overcome their inconsistency and find a way to beat Wolves, who are chasing a spot in Europa League.
Europa League
Nuno Espirito Santo’s team currently sit in sixth, just a single point ahead of the North London contenders. Both sides also hold a similar goal difference (Wolves: +13, Tottenham: +14), rendering the final round of games a straight shootout between them.
Jose Mourinho and Santo will certainly have also stressed the importance of avoiding seventh to their teams. Should Arsenal win the FA Cup against Chelsea on August 1, they will take the Europa League spot from the unlucky competitor.
With Spurs at serious risk of missing out, Mourinho’s ranks will look to seal a crucial result at struggling Crystal Palace. Wolves, meanwhile, travel to Stamford Bridge in the hope of denting the Blues’ own ambitions and rounding off a superb past 11 months.
