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Agence France-Presse

The Premier League’s longest season is set for a dramatic finish on Sunday as Chelsea, Manchester United and Leicester compete for Champions League places, while Aston Villa, Watford and Bournemouth fight to avoid relegation.
At a time of year when Premier League clubs are usually jetting off for lucrative preseason tours, the 2019-20 top-flight campaign will finally come to an end after the three-month coronavirus delay.
Liverpool have been presented with the Premier League trophy, second placed Manchester City are guaranteed a Champions League spot and Norwich have been relegated, but there are several key issues still to be resolved.
In a thrilling conclusion, top four places, Europa League berths, relegation spots and the Golden Boot have to be settled in the last round of matches.
Is the English Premier League facing being blown off course by its own NBA-style China row?
The spotlight will be firmly on the King Power Stadium, where fifth placed Leicester host third placed Manchester United.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team will return to the Champions League after a one-year absence if they avoid defeat, but a Leicester win would take them back into Europe’s elite club competition for the first time since 2016-17.

United looked jaded in the past week, but Solskjaer urged his team to finish the job after they climbed into the top four for the first time since September.
“We’re looking forward to the game, we’ve given ourselves a good chance of being in the Champions League next year,” he said.
Liverpool players receive long-awaited Premier League trophy on Kop
“We want to go there and dominate. We’re not going to change our approach.”
United have a fallback plan as they would also qualify for the Champions League if they win this season’s Europa League, which resumes in August.
Despite holding a top four spot for most of the season, Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers insisted it would not be a failure if his spluttering side miss out.
“It wasn’t really something we spoke about at the beginning of the season because naturally, where the club had been these last few seasons, we wanted to try step-by-step to arrive there,” Rodgers said.
Fourth placed Chelsea need a point at home to Wolves to seal a top four finish, but should Frank Lampard’s men lose, then a draw between Leicester and United would see those two qualify for the Champions League at the expense of the west Londoners.
It could be a nervous afternoon for Lampard, but he is staying positive: “We’re aware of the situation, but we try and win. I don’t think there’s any other way to approach the game.”
Whoever misses out on the Champions League between United, Chelsea and Leicester will have to settle for fifth place and Europa League qualification next season.
Sixth placed Wolves would be certain of the other Europa League berth if they beat Chelsea.
However, a slip from Nuno Espirito Santo’s men would give Tottenham the chance to move above them if they win at Crystal Palace, who have lost their last seven games.

At the bottom, fourth bottom Villa go to West Ham knowing they should be safe if they match third bottom Watford’s result at Arsenal.
However, Villa are only just ahead of Watford on goal difference, with Dean Smith’s men on -26 and the Hornets -27.
Even if both teams win, Watford, without a permanent manager after Nigel Pearson’s sacking, could still survive if their margin of victory is two better than Villa’s.
“The most important thing is to be above that dotted line on Sunday and we know we have to win to guarantee that,” Smith said.
If Villa and Watford lose, then second bottom Bournemouth, currently three points adrift, could stay up on goal difference if they win at Everton.
“The next game is the biggest game of all our careers,” Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe said.
In the race to finish as the league’s top scorer, Leicester’s Jamie Vardy leads the way with 23 goals, two ahead of Southampton’s Danny Ings.


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English Premier League

Premier League: high drama in store on final day of longest campaign

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United will be looking to avoid a second season without Champions League football on the final day of the Premier League season. Photo: EPA

epa08555174 Jamie Vardy of Leicester reacts after the English Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City in London, Britain, 19 July 2020. EPA-EFE/Michael Regan/NMC/Pool EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.

Chelsea's English head coach Frank Lampard reacts on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on July 22, 2020. (Photo by PHIL NOBLE / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /

Liverpool players receive long-awaited Premier League trophy on Kop

Liverpool players celebrate with the Premier League trophy after it was presented following the win over Chelsea at Anfield. Photo: AP

Crowds gather outside The Kop at Liverpool's Anfield stadium in Britain during the presentation of the English Premier League trophy to winners Liverpool in this picture obtained from social media dated July 22, 2020. MATTY JOHNSON /via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. MUST ON SCREEN COURTESY MATTY JOHNSON

Liverpool players celebrate with the English Premier League trophy after it was presented following the Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, July 22, 2020. (Paul Ellis, Pool via AP)

Liverpool's manager Jurgen Klopp, center, reacts following the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, July 22, 2020. Liverpool are champions of the EPL for the season 2019-2020. The trophy is presented at the teams last home game of the season. Liverpool won the match against Chelsea 5-3. (Laurence Griffiths, Pool via AP)

Premier League: Chelsea must get used to pressure in home stretch, says Frank Lampard

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard gestures during the English Premier League match against Watford. Photo: AP

epa08527860 Olivier Giroud of Chelsea (C) reacts after missing a chance to score during the English Premier League match between Chelsea and Watford in London Britain, 04 July 2020. EPA-EFE/Glyn Kirk/NMC/Pool EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.

Liverpool clinch Premier League title as Manchester City relinquish their crown at Chelsea

Liverpool supporters celebrate as they gather outside of Anfield following the Premier League title win. Photo: AP

epa08509609 Ecstatic Liverpool FC supporters celebrate outside Anfield stadium in Liverpool, Britain, 25 June 2020. Liverpool have been crowned champions of the Premier League for the first time in three decades after Chelsea FC beat Manchester City FC 2-1. Man City's failure to win this crucial duel mathematically handed the English top league title to the Liverpudlian club led by German manager Juergen Klopp. EPA-EFE/PETER POWELL

epa08509730 Ecstatic Liverpool FC celebrate outside Anfield stadium in Liverpool, Britain, 25 June 2020. Liverpool have been crowned champions of the Premier League for the first time in three decades after Chelsea FC beat Manchester City FC 2-1. Man City's failure to win this crucial duel mathematically handed the English top league title to the Liverpudlian club led by German manager Juergen Klopp. EPA-EFE/LYNNE CAMERON

Sport

Football


Liverpool have been presented with the Premier League trophy, Manchester City are guaranteed a Champions League spot and Norwich have been relegated
There are several key issues still to be resolved on the final day of the season



Liverpool have been presented with the Premier League trophy, Manchester City are guaranteed a Champions League spot and Norwich have been relegated, but there are several key issues still to be resolved.
