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Premier League's Matchday 38 to decide Champions League Contenders


Nepalnews
2021 May 23, 11:27, Kathmandu
Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold holds up the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Burnley and Liverpool at Turf Moor in Burnley, England, Wednesday May 19, 2021 Photo: AP

The race to see who will qualify for Europe takes center stage in the Premier League last round as Liverpool, Chelsea and Leicester City compete for the last two places in next season's UEFA Champions League.

Meanwhile, West Ham, Tottenham and Everton are fighting for a place in next season's Europa League and Arsenal have an outside chance of finishing seventh and reaching the new Conference League.

The drama will take place with a limited number of fans allowed into the grounds as COVID-19 restrictions are slowly relaxed in the UK.

Chelsea's win at home to Leicester City on Tuesday put them in the driving season to finish in the top four and a win away to Aston Villa will assure their place in the Champions League no matter what happens in next weekend's final against Premier League champions Manchester City.

Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel has to decide whether to risk N'Golo Kante, who has a slight hamstring problem, in Villa Park, or rest him for next weekend's final. Chelsea will need to keep Villa's Jack Grealish quiet, which could mean Tuchel puts Kante in his side.

Liverpool's 3-0 win away to Burnley took them above Leicester into fourth place on goal average and means they have taken 23 points from the last 27. There will be 10,000 fans in Anfield to see them entertain Crystal Palace (who they beat 7-0 five months ago) and another win would almost certainly guarantee fourth place.

The game will be the last game in charge for Crystal Palace's former Liverpool boss, Roy Hodgson before he takes his well-earned retirement.

Chelsea's Jorginho celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's second goal from penalty during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Stamford Bridge Stadium in London, Tuesday, May 18, 2021.

Photo: AP
Chelsea's Jorginho celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's second goal from penalty during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Stamford Bridge Stadium in London, Tuesday, May 18, 2021. Photo: AP


In theory, Leicester could claim fourth even if Liverpool win, but the reality is they would need to beat Sunday's rivals Tottenham, by four more goals than Liverpool beat Palace to overturn an inferior goal difference.
Tottenham also have plenty at stake and they have to win away to Leicester and hope sixth-place West Ham lose their home game to Southampton in order to secure a place in next season's Europa League.
Leicester's Kelechi Iheanacho controls the ball during the English FA Cup semifinal soccer match between Leicester City and Southampton at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, April 18, 2021.

Photo: AP
Leicester's Kelechi Iheanacho controls the ball during the English FA Cup semifinal soccer match between Leicester City and Southampton at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, April 18, 2021. Photo: AP

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football competiton Premier League Top 4 Race LIVERPOOL Chelsea Leicester City Champions League
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