Premier League Final Day: Key Matches and Predictions
On a Premier League final day that feels more like a maze than a fixture list, managers are juggling farewell tours, European hangovers and kids desperate for a glimpse of the big stage. Ben Bloom’s predicted line-ups sketch out a day heavy on sentiment, risk and one last roll of the dice.
Brighton v Man Utd: Europe on the line, auditions at Old Trafford
Brighton still have something tangible to chase. A European spot sharpens the edges of Roberto De Zerbi’s selection, and the return of Diego Gomez off the bench last weekend may now push him into the starting XI. If the Paraguayan steps in, Ferdi Kadioglu is likely to be shunted back into defence, leaving Joel Veltman or Maxim De Cuyper vulnerable to the chop.
Mats Wieffer’s ankle remains the key unknown. If he’s deemed ready to start, that reshuffles the pack again. What hasn’t moved is the core: Pascal Gross and Carlos Baleba continue to hold the middle with a stubborn authority that has left James Milner watching on since his own injury lay-off.
Across from them, Manchester United are in a different phase. Michael Carrick insists he will “respect this last game”, but his comments point clearly towards opportunity for the club’s next wave. Tyler Fletcher and Shea Lacey are among those who could be handed minutes, with Ayden Heaven a candidate to step into the back line.
Casemiro’s farewell happens off the pitch; he will not be involved. Manuel Ugarte or Mason Mount are the obvious names to step into that vacancy, and Amad’s place is far from safe with Patrick Dorgu or Mount also options to start. Up front, Benjamin Sesko remains a serious doubt after missing the last two games, leaving Carrick to balance sentiment with structure.
Burnley v Wolves: Avoiding the wooden spoon
The battle to dodge bottom place is a strange kind of motivation. Burnley and Wolves both want the season over; neither wants to finish looking up at everyone else.
Mike Jackson has already warned that his Burnley line-up could be a lottery. He wants to “give people some minutes” and “manipulate the squad a little bit”, and that usually spells changes everywhere. The team that lost to Arsenal performed with credit, so under normal circumstances it might have been retained. Not here. Bashir Humphreys, Josh Laurent, Zeki Amdouni, Marcus Edwards, Quilindschy Hartman and Jacob Bruun Larsen are all queuing up for a start.
Wolves, somehow, are chasing the “dizzy heights” of 19th. Rob Edwards switched to a back four in the draw with Fulham and liked what he saw. The same personnel can flip between 4-2-3-1 and 3-4-2-1, which gives him flexibility without wholesale change.
If there is a tweak, Rodrigo Gomes’ spot on the right looks the most fragile. Jackson Tchatchoua or Pedro Lima stand ready to take that role, while Hugo Bueno is in contention to return at left-back. It’s a low-table scrap, but the decisions still carry weight.
Crystal Palace v Arsenal: One eye on Europe, one on Wembley-sized nights
Crystal Palace have a final of their own to worry about. With Wednesday’s UEFA Conference League showpiece looming, Oliver Glasner is openly wrestling with his options, admitting he swings “from full rotation, to no rotation, to half rotation” multiple times a day.
Chris Richards is out with damaged ankle ligaments and is a major doubt for Wednesday as well. That likely locks in the defensive core, unless Jefferson Lerma drops back to plug a gap. Higher up the pitch, nothing feels settled. Glasner will not want to risk key attacking players with a European final around the corner, and that uncertainty will echo through his line-up.
Arsenal arrive as Premier League champions, already looking towards next week’s UEFA Champions League final. This is the classic tune-up fixture. It should be full of changes, full of reward for squad players who have carried the load in the shadows.
William Saliba, Bukayo Saka and David Raya all trained individually on Thursday and stand out as prime candidates for a rest. That opens the door for youngsters like Marli Salmon and Max Dowman to potentially start, while fringe squad members finally get a chance to show they can handle the rhythm from minute one.
Fulham v Newcastle: Flat Fulham, focused Newcastle
Fulham’s last outing at Wolves underwhelmed, and Marco Silva may not forgive that performance when he picks his side. Ryan Sessegnon is back in training but still looks an unlikely starter even if he makes the squad. Changes further forward feel more probable.
Harry Wilson, benched last time, could be restored, with Josh King, Samuel Chukwueze and Kevin all in the conversation for attacking roles. It’s a game that might decide who carries favour into pre-season.
Newcastle, by contrast, look relatively settled. Kieran Trippier’s start last weekend gives Eddie Howe a choice: stick with the same back four or slide Lewis Hall over to right-back and deploy Dan Burn on the left. Sandro Tonali is “potentially” available after a hamstring tweak, with Howe downplaying the severity. If he doesn’t make it, Joe Willock or Jacob Ramsey can step in.
The front four clicked against West Ham and there’s no pressing need to tinker, though Jacob Murphy and Anthony Elanga are viable alternatives. Anthony Gordon, absent for five games and linked with a move, lingers in the background as a possible farewell note.
Liverpool v Brentford: Anfield’s lingering questions
Anfield could be braced for goodbyes, but Arne Slot is keeping his cards close. He has refused to confirm whether Mohamed Salah will make a final appearance, leaving the stadium and the dressing room to read the mood themselves.
Alisson Becker and Alexander Isak have both returned to training, yet their availability is still unclear, and Jeremie Frimpong is another doubt. One move seems likely: Andrew Robertson may be handed a last start before his expected summer departure. On the opposite flank, Curtis Jones or Joe Gomez are the leading candidates to cover at right-back.
Salah’s involvement will shape the forward line. If he sits out, Rio Ngumoha’s chances of starting a third straight game rise sharply; if he plays, the youngster might have to wait his turn again.
Brentford have no time for sentiment. European qualification is on the table, and Keith Andrews will go as strong as he can. Kristoffer Ajer has started the last two in place of Sepp van den Berg, setting up an intriguing call at centre-back.
Kevin Schade was rested after a barren run, with Vitaly Janelt back from injury to start. An unchanged side looks the most logical outcome, though Schade’s return is a live option and Jordan Henderson lurks as another experienced alternative.
Man City v Aston Villa: Guardiola’s farewell chaos
At the Etihad, nothing will feel normal. It’s Pep Guardiola’s final match in charge of Manchester City, and his team sheet could veer anywhere between ruthless and romantic.
Changes are almost guaranteed. John Stones and Bernardo Silva are both in line to start what would be their last games before leaving the club. Phil Foden, Savinho and Rayan Cherki all have reason to believe they’ll feature in some capacity.
Up front, the key question is whether Erling Haaland leads the line one last time or makes way for Omar Marmoush. Sentiment might suggest a farewell start for Haaland; Guardiola’s taste for tactical curveballs means nobody can be certain. Predicting his XI remains a thankless task.
Aston Villa arrive with a Europa League trophy in their luggage and the inevitable mental comedown that follows. Unai Emery has promised to “try to be serious” with his selection but admitted it is “not easy” to refocus so quickly.
Emiliano Martinez is unlikely to feature after breaking a finger before the Europa League final. Beyond that, Emery looks ready to give squad players a chance from the start, rewarding those who have watched the glory from the bench.
Nottingham Forest v Bournemouth: Safety vs momentum
Nottingham Forest can finally breathe. Vitor Pereira has confirmed his side can “relax a bit” with Premier League survival secured and no need to gamble on half-fit players.
Murillo and Ola Aina remain out, yet there is scope for rotation elsewhere. Dan Ndoye could get minutes, Ibrahim Sangare is pushing to return to the starting XI after coming off the bench last time, and Jair Cunha is an option in defence. Up front, Taiwo Awoniyi may be handed a start, potentially displacing either Igor Jesus or Chris Wood.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, have no incentive to change what clearly works. Unbeaten in 17 matches and fresh from an impressive draw with Man City, they have built a rhythm that Andoni Iraola will be reluctant to disturb.
Ryan Christie stays suspended. Justin Kluivert and Lewis Cook returned from the bench on Tuesday, but throwing them straight into the XI would be a leap. Continuity, for the Cherries, feels like the obvious play.
Sunderland v Chelsea: Wearside settled, Chelsea weighing returns
Sunderland’s win over Everton has given Regis Le Bris little reason to tinker. Stability is his friend here. A “late decision” will be taken on Omar Aldarete after he limped off in that victory; if he doesn’t make it, Luke O’Nien is the natural deputy.
Chemsdine Talbi is out after picking up an injury from the bench last weekend, while Habib Diarra and Chris Rigg look set for substitute roles again. It’s a side that has earned the right to start together once more.
Chelsea’s picture is more complex, but also more encouraging. Calum McFarlane has confirmed that Levi Colwill, Joao Pedro and Reece James have all trained since the win over Spurs, and all three could be thrust straight back into the XI if their fitness checks out.
James is the tactical hinge. He can play in defence or midfield, and that decision will dictate whether Malo Gusto or Andrey Santos get the nod. At centre-back, Trevoh Chalobah is a strong candidate to replace Wesley Fofana, and there is even scope for both central defenders to change if McFarlane wants a different balance.
Spurs v Everton: De Zerbi’s dilemmas, Moyes’ stubborn streak
Spurs went unchanged last time out, but Roberto De Zerbi’s options are suddenly richer. Dominic Solanke is available again, and James Maddison’s steadily increasing minutes point towards a likely start.
Djed Spence, jaw injury and all, is also fit. The real question for De Zerbi is how far he wants to push Solanke and Maddison in terms of minutes, and whether he chooses to shake up the front line by dropping Randal Kolo Muani. Spence, Lucas Bergvall or another option could come in if he does.
Everton arrive off the back of a defeat to Sunderland, yet David Moyes might still stick with the same XI. Idrissa Gueye, who hadn’t trained with the group before Friday’s press conference, has been given a “50/50 chance” of involvement.
Merlin Rohl scored Everton’s only goal last weekend, strengthening his claim to keep his place. Any alterations are likely to revolve around Dwight McNeil, Tyrique George or Thierno Barry, but Moyes has rarely been one to rip things up without cause.
West Ham v Leeds: Must-win tension in east London
West Ham’s approach changed mid-game at Newcastle and may have changed their season. Nuno Espirito Santo abandoned a back three inside half an hour and reverted to a four-man defence, and that shape is expected to remain for this must-win clash with Leeds.
The decisions now are more specific. At right-back, it’s Kyle Walker-Peters or Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Further forward, Pablo and Callum Wilson are competing to support Valentin Castellanos, whose place through the middle looks secure.
Leeds limp towards the finish line with bodies missing but belief intact after beating Brighton. Ilia Gruev, Noah Okafor and Gabriel Gudmundsson are still out, and they have now been joined by Anton Stach and Sean Longstaff.
There is some relief: Pascal Struijk and Jayden Bogle are back in training, though their readiness remains uncertain. Brenden Aaronson should be available after suffering a dead leg and is in direct competition with Wilfried Gnonto for what looks like the final attacking berth. Daniel Farke has few options, but he does have one last big call to make.
On a day of farewells, auditions and fine margins, those calls will echo well beyond the final whistle.
