Premier League Week 38 Fixtures: EPL Picks and Predictions for Matchday 38
The 2014-15 Premier League season is nearing its conclusion, with just one full round of fixtures left to be played on Matchday 38, this Sunday.
Arsenal and Sunderland will meet on Wednesday. If the Gunners grab a win at home, they will secure a third-place finish and keep the pressure on Manchester City for a top-two spot, while Sunderland need a point at the Emirates Stadium to avoid becoming embroiled in the relegation fight in their final match at champions Chelsea on Sunday.
Let's have a look at the full schedule for Matchday 38, complete with picks:
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| Sunday, May 24 | 3 p.m. | Aston Villa | Burnley | Villa |
| Sunday, May 24 | 3 p.m. | Chelsea | Sunderland | Draw |
| Sunday, May 24 | 3 p.m. | Crystal Palace | Swansea | Draw |
| Sunday, May 24 | 3 p.m. | Everton | Spurs | Spurs |
| Sunday, May 24 | 3 p.m. | Hull | Man Utd | Man Utd |
| Sunday, May 24 | 3 p.m. | Leicester | QPR | Leicester |
| Sunday, May 24 | 3 p.m. | Man City | Southampton | Man City |
| Sunday, May 24 | 3 p.m. | Newcastle | West Ham | Draw |
| Sunday, May 24 | 3 p.m. | Stoke | Liverpool | Draw |
| Sunday, May 24 | 3 p.m. | Arsenal | WBA | Arsenal |
The current Premier League standings:
| 1 | Chelsea | 37 | 25 | 9 | 3 | 70 | 31 | 39 | 84 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 37 | 23 | 7 | 7 | 81 | 38 | 43 | 76 |
| 3 | Arsenal | 36 | 21 | 8 | 7 | 67 | 35 | 32 | 71 |
| 4 | Manchester United | 37 | 20 | 9 | 8 | 62 | 37 | 25 | 69 |
| 5 | Liverpool | 37 | 18 | 8 | 11 | 51 | 42 | 9 | 62 |
| 6 | Spurs | 37 | 18 | 7 | 12 | 57 | 53 | 4 | 61 |
| 7 | Southampton | 37 | 18 | 6 | 13 | 54 | 31 | 23 | 60 |
| 8 | Swansea | 37 | 16 | 8 | 13 | 46 | 48 | -2 | 56 |
| 9 | Stoke | 37 | 14 | 9 | 14 | 42 | 44 | -2 | 51 |
| 10 | Everton | 37 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 48 | 49 | -1 | 47 |
| 11 | West Ham | 37 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 44 | 45 | -1 | 47 |
| 12 | Crystal Palace | 37 | 12 | 9 | 16 | 46 | 51 | -5 | 45 |
| 13 | WBA | 37 | 11 | 11 | 15 | 37 | 47 | -10 | 44 |
| 14 | Leicester | 37 | 10 | 8 | 19 | 41 | 54 | -13 | 38 |
| 15 | Aston Villa | 37 | 10 | 8 | 19 | 31 | 56 | -25 | 38 |
| 16 | Sunderland | 36 | 7 | 16 | 13 | 30 | 50 | -20 | 37 |
| 17 | Newcastle | 37 | 9 | 9 | 19 | 38 | 63 | -25 | 36 |
| 18 | Hull City | 37 | 8 | 10 | 19 | 33 | 51 | -18 | 34 |
| 19 | Burnley | 37 | 6 | 12 | 19 | 27 | 53 | -26 | 30 |
| 20 | QPR | 37 | 8 | 6 | 23 | 41 | 68 | -27 | 30 |
The Race For Europe
Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United have already been confirmed as the four Premier League clubs heading for the UEFA Champions League―or the play-off round―but not a single club has already qualified for the Europa League.
Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton could all play in Europe next year, providing Arsenal beat Aston Villa in the FA Cup final, but the uncertainty of that result means all three will have everything to play for on Matchday 38, per ESPN FC's Dale Johnson:
Contrary to what fans might expect, not everyone is keen on actually securing Europa League football. As shared by Sky Sports' Guillem Balague, Ashley Williams even admitted he felt relieved when Swansea were officially eliminated from Europa League contention:
As shared by Hotspur Related, manager Mauricio Pochettino has a different opinion, however:
Starting this year, the Europa League winners will enter the Champions League the next season, which should serve as proper motivation for the likes of Liverpool, Spurs and Southampton—great clubs who may challenge for a top-four spot in the Premier League but not the title.
All three face strong opposition on the final matchday. Spurs take on Everton, Liverpool travel to Stoke City and Saints will go up against in-form Manchester City.
The Reds have the upper hand in the standings and should take care of business against Stoke, but the Potters have been in fine form and always play well in front of their own fans.
Southampton face the daunting prospect of beating City, but if they do, they will have a big advantage in goal differential.
Prediction: Liverpool and Tottenham nab the first two tickets to the Europa League, while Southampton will have to wait until the FA Cup final to find out if they'll join them.
The Relegation Zone
Queens Park Rangers and Burnley will go down to the Championship after Sunday's slate of fixtures, but one more club still has to join the duo.
Unless Sunderland claim a point at Arsenal on Wednesday, the candidates will be the Black Cats, Newcastle United and Hull City, per Fox Soccer:
Of the three, Newcastle have the easiest path to the end of the season, as they play host to West Ham United. The Magpies' form has been horrendous of late, but at least they won't be going up against Premier League champions Chelsea or Manchester United, who will play Sunderland and Hull, respectively.
The Blues lost their Week 37 match against West Bromwich Albion and might face Sunderland with the same intensity, while United could have nothing left to play for if Arsenal beat the Black Cats on Wednesday.
Prediction: Hull can't get the job done against Manchester United and drop down to the Championship.
