With the curtain coming down on this season’s Premier League on Sunday, there are still European and relegation places at stake. A Premier League place for next season is also up for grabs in the Championship play-off final on Saturday.
Grosvenor Sport ambassador Jamie O’Hara previews three of this weekend key Premier League fixtures in Everton v Bournemouth, Leeds v Tottenham, and Leicester v West Ham, as well as the Championship play-off final between Coventry and Luton.
Everton v Bournemouth – Sunday 16:30
Score prediction: Everton 3 – 1 Bournemouth 11/1
Anytime goalscorer: Dwight McNeil 13/4
This is a massive game for Everton, probably one of the biggest in their history because a club like that cannot get relegated to the Championship, they have to be in the Premier League. Even with everything going on at the football club, and it’s been a disaster, I still think they’ve put themselves in a position to win this game, I just think they’re going to find a way. It’s at home, they’re playing a Bournemouth side that might have taken their foot off the gas a bit, and I just think Everton are going to do something special.
We’ve seen them do it this season, they’ve got results in them, the performance they put in against Brighton was unbelievable and they’ve shown they can get results. I just feel that Sean Dyche will find a way to get this over the line, it’s what he does, he did it with Burnley for years and I just think he will find a way to win the game. The fans will be unbelievable and make it feel like a Champions League night. They just need to get their noses in front, be solid, they’ve got a top keeper in Jordan Pickford, and regardless of what anyone else does I think Everton will win.
I think Everton will win 3-1. I think it will probably at 2-1 for a while and then Everton will score a third and it’s going to be absolute pandemonium inside Goodison Park. Obviously Dominic Calvert-Lewin is injured which is a big loss but I think Dwight McNeil has been a good player for them and he’ll score one, he’s the kind of player you need on the last day of the season because his energy will be so important.
Leeds v Tottenham – Sunday 16:30
Score prediction: Leeds 2 – 2 Tottenham 21/2
Anytime goalscorer: Harry Kane 19/20
You just don’t know what Tottenham side will turn up, but Leeds are going to be fighting for their lives and they’ll be at it. I think it’s going to be a battle and we know how Sam Allardyce is going to go about the game. I think Spurs will control the tempo and have more possession, but Leeds will see a weak and vulnerable team in Spurs and go for the jugular and they could win the game.
On the other hand, it could well be Harry Kane’s last game in a Tottenham shirt and he would want to put on a show, and I think he’ll probably score. I think it will and up being 2-2 and Leeds will go down, and I hate to say it because one of my good friends Robbie Keane is there and he’s a great person and a great coach. I think they brought in Allardyce just too late and there aren’t enough games left to get what he can out of the group, so I think they’ll draw this game and go down.
Leicester v West Ham – Sunday 16:30
Score prediction: Leicester 2 – 1 West Ham 8/1
Anytime goalscorer: Jamie Vardy 7/5
Leicester got a massive result against Newcastle on Monday, but they rode their luck and parked the bus to nick a draw, and it’s given the opportunity to put the pressure on Everton to have to win. I was expecting them to throw the kitchen sink at it in the final 10 minutes against Newcastle but they didn’t, so they’ve left their chances of survival in another team’s hands, which I found strange.
It’s crazy to think that Leicester could potentially go down. I think they’ll win but still go down because Everton are going to get a result and they’ll kick themselves for not going for it against Newcastle, and it will be mental to see Leicester relegated with the squad of players they have. It’s been a disaster for them all season and the players just haven’t been good enough which is going to cost them. I think they’ll win 2-1 and Jamie Vardy will score, but Leicester will still go down.
Premier League teams coming back up
Not every team is able to come straight back up. I think Southampton could bounce back, you’d expect Leeds and Leicester to, but I don’t know if Leeds will because there is a bit of turmoil going on at the club and I don’t know if I can see them bouncing straight back. I’d like to think Leicester will bounce back but they’re going to lose players. It’s crazy but I actually think Southampton who, finished bottom, are going to come back up first because they’ve dealt with the fact that they’re down already and they’ll regroup and come back next season, I don’t know if Leicester and Leeds will.
Coventry v Luton – Saturday 16:45
Score prediction: Coventry 1 – 2 Luton 19/2
Anytime goalscorer: Carlton Morris 2/1
This is an unbelievable game for both clubs and both fanbases, they should be proud of themselves considering where they’ve been in the last decade. The pair of them have been in turmoil and to find themselves fighting it out to get into the Premier League, to think that one of Luton or Coventry will be in the Premier League next season, is a remarkable feat.
I think it will be a fantastic game and watching Luton this season, they’ve been relentless. Rob Edwards has come in and found another gear and in the play-offs they’ve been brilliant and I think they’ll have the upper hand. Mark Robins at Coventry has the magic touch, he’s been there for a while and he knows the group, and the fans love him. It’s so hard to pick a winner.
I just think Luton, with their fitness and the way they play, will nick it. I think they’ll win it 2-1. Luton Town in the Premier League – it’s unbelievable. Carlton Morris has been on fire for them this season and I think he’ll make the difference and score the goal to send them to the Premier League.