Things to watch out for in a CRAZY football week ahead, including Champions League fight

The final week of the Premier League and Championship seasons are set to be dramatic with lots still to play for, including the race for the top four, promotion and the battle to avoid relegation. 

Only two of Chelsea, Leicester and Manchester United will qualify for the Champions League while Aston Villa are hoping they can overtake Watford in the race for Premier League survival. 

The Championship has lived up to its reputation of being one of the most competitive divisions in world football with three clubs fighting for the final automatic promotion spot while all three relegation spaces are still to be confirmed.

The final play-off spot is also up for grabs with Swansea looking to overtake arch-rivals Cardiff.

As another thrilling season of football comes to an end, Sportsmail outlines what to look out for during the final week of the campaign.

The final week of the Premier League season is set to be dramatic with lots to play for

PREMIER LEAGUE  

THE RACE FOR THE TOP FOUR 

Leicester’s defeat by Tottenham on Sunday made it advantage Chelsea and Manchester United in the battle to secure a top-four finish. 

After beginning the restart 14 points clear of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, Leicester are now level with United having played a game more and they could drop out of the Champions League places if United beat West Ham on Wednesday. 

The Foxes are hanging on to fourth place by four goals, partly thanks to that 9-0 victory over Southampton back in October. 

Chelsea can secure their place in the top four if they beat Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday

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Meanwhile, Chelsea can secure their place in the top four if they beat champions Liverpool. However, Jurgen Klopp’s side have not lost a league game at Anfield since April 2017 and should they beat or draw with the Blues, United would have the chance to move up to third.

But Leicester still have their fate in their own hands because of a final day showdown with United at the King Power Stadium. 

Should the Red Devils lose to West Ham, Brendan Rodgers’ side will need just a point to qualify for the Champions League.  

A point would also be enough if Chelsea lose to Liverpool and Wolves in their final fixtures. 

But positive results for their rivals in their penultimate games would require the Foxes to take all three points. 

DON’T FORGET…

Five clubs are still in contention for the three Europa League places. Spurs, Wolves, Sheffield United, Burnley and Arsenal can all still finish sixth and seventh.

Manchester United play Leicester on the final day in what will be a showdown fixture

BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL  

While five clubs can still be relegated mathematically, it looks as if Aston Villa and Watford will battle it out to avoid taking up the third space in the bottom three. 

Bournemouth’s defeat by Southampton on Sunday means Eddie Howe’s side will have to beat Everton on the final day and hope Watford and Villa lose their remaining fixtures.  

West Ham and Brighton, who are both six points clear with two to play, look to be safe regardless of what they do in their final fixtures because of a superior goal difference. 

Watford, who staggeringly sacked Nigel Pearson on Sunday after he had a row with owner Gino Pozzo, play Manchester City and Arsenal in their last two games while Villa take on Arsenal before facing West Ham on the final day.

The Hornets are on 34 points, three ahead of Villa and Bournemouth on 31 with already relegated Norwich 10 points behind on 21.

Villa and the Cherries are four goals worse off than Watford and goal difference could still come into play if teams finish the season on the same points.

Watford caretaker manager Hayden Mullins will be hoping his side can avoid a repeat of their 8-0 defeat by Manchester City back in September. 

Watford finish the season with difficult fixtures against Arsenal and Manchester City

Aston Villa have a chance of avoiding relegation but must take points from their final games

CHAMPIONSHIP

AUTOMATIC PROMOTION RACE 

Leeds were confirmed as champions over the weekend after West Bromwich Albion and Brentford succumbed to the end-of-season jitters with defeats by struggling Huddersfield and Stoke. 

Those results handed Fulham an opportunity to make it a three-horse race for the second automatic promotion slot and Scott Parker’s side gladly accepted with a 5-3 victory over Sheffield Wednesday.

West Brom remain in the driving seat on 82 points, one ahead of Brentford and two clear of Fulham.

West Brom’s fate is in their own hands but they have failed to win any of their last three games

Brentford need to beat Barnsley and hope West Brom slip up against Queens Park Rangers

Slaven Bilic’s side will be promoted if they beat Queens Park Rangers at home but a draw or defeat could see them fall into the play-offs. 

Brentford and Fulham have tougher final-day opponents with both sides taking on clubs who need to win to avoid relegation.

Thomas Frank’s side host Barnsley, who earned an impressive victory over Nottingham Forest on Sunday, while Fulham play a Wigan side facing a 12-point deduction which could see them drop down to League One.

If the Baggies were to lose to QPR, Brentford could be promoted with a point against Barnsley because of their superior goal difference, but only if Fulham fail to beat Wigan. 

The Cottagers would need West Brom to lose and Barnsley to take points off Brentford to claim an unlikely automatic promotion spot.

Fulham still have an outside chance of automatic promotion but need results to go their way

WELSH PLAY-OFF BATTLE

It’s the battle of Wales for the final play-off place with Swansea hoping they can overtake rivals Cardiff.

To do so they will have to beat Reading and hope Cardiff are beaten by struggling Hull.

The Bluebirds have won their last two and look favourites to confirm their play-off status with Neil Harris’ side three points and one goal ahead of the Swans.

But Hull need to win in order to have any chance of staying in the Championship and three points for the Tigers would give Steve Cooper’s team the chance to leapfrog their rivals. 

Nottingham Forest’s defeat by Barnsley means their place in the play-offs is not mathematically confirmed. However, they are three points and five goals ahead of Swansea meaning it is unlikely they will drop out of the top six. 

Cardiff and Swansea will fight for the final play-off place but the Bluebirds have the upper hand

RELEGATION UNCERTAINTY  

It’s not often the Championship season enters the final day without any team being condemned to relegation but Wigan’s pending points deduction means there are five clubs fighting to stay in the division.

The bottom three currently has Hull at the foot of the table on 45 points, Barnsley on 46 and Luton on 48. Charlton are currently outside the drop zone on goal difference.

Wigan have 58 points and are currently 13th in the table but are facing a 12-point deduction after entering administration.

Wigan are facing a 12-point deduction which would put them into the relegation places

The club are appealing the decision but no decision is imminent. If it stands they would have 46 points, which would put them in the bottom three. 

To make matters even more complicated, Sheffield Wednesday, who are 16th on 56 points, are also facing a deduction after being charged last year with financial misconduct by the EFL over the sale of their stadium to their owner Dejphon Chansiri. 

The penalty could be anywhere between nine and 21 points which would throw them right into the relegation battle. 

For bottom-placed Hull to avoid relegation they need to beat Cardiff and hope for Barnsley and Luton defeats. They would also need Fulham to take points off Wigan.

Barnsley can stay up if they beat Brentford but also need Fulham to prevent Wigan from winning and require Luton to be beaten by Blackburn. However, they could also catch Charlton if they lose to Leeds.

But with Wigan and Sheffield Wednesday’s points deduction still up in the air, clubs are set to finish the season in confusion.  

Hull need a miracle to survive while Luton have given themselves hope after beating the Tigers

Barnsley but must beat Brentford and hope other results go their way to avoid the drop