Week 36 of the English Premier League commences on the weekend with Liverpool getting the action started fresh off their bid for Champions League glory.
With Manchester City wrapping up the title, the focus of the competition shifts to the opposite end of the table, with several teams battling to stay in the top flight next season.
The Reds shift their focus back to the Premier League this week as look to secure a top-four finish when Stoke comes to Anfield.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be a notable absentee for Jurgen Klopp’s side, with the young midfielder set to miss the remainder of the season after a collision with Roma’s Aleksandar Kolorav in the first leg of the Champions League. T
The Reds are also set to be without Emre Can and Adam Lallana, leaving Jurgen Klopp light on midfield options. Expect the Reds to rotate their midfield with James Milner, Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum all expected to get some game time this weekend.
Stoke are four points from relegation safety with three games remaining and could go down if they lose and Swansea manage to find a way to beat Chelsea.
The Potters will be looking to upset Liverpool’s top four hopes but will have to contend with the magic of Mo Salah.
The Egyptian is the hottest player in world football at the moment, having picked up the PFA trophy, the Red’s midfield maestro is good value to get on the scoresheet.
Newcastle are starting to rebuild their reputation at St James Park, having won their last four matches at home. West Brom are on the verge of a return to The Championship and have only been able to manage two victories from their last seventeen matches away from home.
The Baggies did manage to get a victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford this season, but relegation seems inevitable and Newcastle win this match quite comfortably.
Southampton are battling relegation and need a positive result against Bournemouth to stay in the top flight next season.
The Saints will be desperate to stay in the top flight and a good display last round against Leicester City will give Saints fans some hope.
The Cherries are coming off a run of two consecutive defeats and Southampton have had the wood on Bournemouth for the last couple of seasons.
Southampton are every chance of surviving this relegation dogfight and I’m backing them to rise to the challenge against the Cherries.
Burnley will be wanting to continue their outstanding form and will want to continue their push for a spot in next season’s Europa League. The Clarets were briefly in the top four this season and will be wanting to capitalise on their good after some disappointing results in their last two outings.
Brighton have lost four of their last five games and while Chris Hughton’s men haven’t reached a crisis point yet, they’ll be wanting to pick up some points in this clash to guarantee their place in the top flight for next season.
Expect Burnley to continue their outstanding form and represent some excellent value in the marketplace to beat Brighton.
Roy Hodgson’s men are six points above the relegation zone and win against Leicester City would secure another season in the Premier League next season.
While the Foxes won’t be adding another premiership trophy to their cabinet for some time they are safe from relegation and sit comfortably in ninth position.
Palace are unbeaten over their last three games and Leicester have struggled for form in recent times.
Palace could cause the Foxes some real headaches with Wilfred Zaha eager to prove his value in a World Cup year and I’m expecting them to secure another season in the Premier League with a scrappy victory.
Both of these sides have found some breathing space over the last week of the competition with Everton getting the win at home against Newcastle last round and extending their unbeaten run to three matches.
Everton will be happy with a stay in the top flight having underperformed for the majority of the season and will look to the offseason to regroup for next season.
Huddersfield have failed to set the world on fire this season and have fallen to 16th on the table and are six points about the relegation zone.
Manchester City are the only side to have emerged victorious against Everton over the last month and the Toffees will be good enough to pull off a close win.
Chelsea have endured a miserable season by their standards, having failed to defend their Premier League title and struggling for a top-four finish.
Antonio Conte’s men appear to have given up on the idea of Champions League football next season and face the stark reality of another manager taking the reins at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are mathematically still a chance for a top-four finish but will need Giroud to continue his hot form in front of goal.
The French striker has managed three goals in his last three appearances for the Blues, who will need a win of Manchester City proportions to keep the pressure on Spurs.
Chelsea have history on their side, having dominated the recent fixtures between these two sides but the Swans have been scoring at home.
The Blues have the talent on paper to get them record a big win and stay in the hunt for a top-four finish.
Manchester City were at their brilliant best last week putting five goals past Swansea and expect them to repeat the dose this week against West Ham. West Ham aren’t completely safe from relegation and will need to find something over the last few weeks of the competition to guarantee a place in the Premier League for next season.
West Ham have conceded 14 goals in their last four meetings with City and it’s difficult to imagine them shutting down the City attack.
Manchester City have embarked on their victory tour and should be winning this match with ease.
The Arsene Wenger farewell tour kicks off with the Arsenal managers final visit to Old Trafford.
The Gunners will need to put the disappointment of the draw against Atlético Madrid behind them to get a victory over a familiar foe.
The Red Devils are unbeaten in their last eleven fixtures against the Gunners and while Wenger will be wanting a fairy-tale finish, Jose Mourinho will relish the opportunity to get one final victory against an arch rival.
Mourinho and Wenger have enjoyed some terrific battles over the years and it’s difficult to imagine the French master finding the energy to get a win in what’s been a difficult final season.
Don’t be surprised to Alexis Sanchez op up for the winner as United get set to ruin Wenger’s party.
‘Harry’s team’ have an opportunity to keep Chelsea at bay on the ladder when they host Watford at Wembley.
Spurs will be feeling confident of picking up the points as the Hornets have struggled of late, picking up two points over their last month of football.
With no other trophies to focus on, Spurs should be able to do enough to grind out a 2-1 victory over some tricky opposition.