Week 38 preview

37 games down, one more to go, while most teams have nothing to play for, other teams are fighting for the remaining European spots and safety from relegation. As the season comes to an end here is your reminder about what each team has to play for on Sunday:

1. Manchester City - 89 pts

(Image via Vanguard News)

Game: vs. Brentford: 11:30 a.m. EDT

Why it matters: It doesn’t, City have the title wrapped up so Sunday’s game gives Pep Guardiola a chance to play his younger players and rest his starting players with the F.A. Cup and Champions League finals coming up in June.

Player to watch: Erling Haaland - If he starts, Haaland is a good player to watch because this match gives him an opportunity to add to his single-season record total and score even more goals. A young player to watch is Julien Alvarez because he always wants to score and if he starts he is liable to score one to two goals.

2. Arsenal - 81 pts

Game: vs. Wolves: 11:30 a.m. EDT

Why it matters: It doesn’t. Arsenal can’t win the league and they already secured a Champions League spot for next season so they should enjoy Sunday.

Player to watch: Granit Xhaka - rumors are swirling that this season will be his last for Arsenal. With Sunday being possibly his last game at the Emirates, he will want to stand out with a good final performance.

3. Manchester United - 72 pts

Game: vs. Fulham: 11:30 a.m. EDT

Why it matters: United secured Champions League football for next season after beating Chelsea 4-1 on Thursday. A win vs. Fulham will earn them third place rather than fourth place in the table. Besides that, there is nothing to play for.

Player to watch: Anthony Martial - similar to Xhaka, there are rumors suggesting this could be Martial’s last season at United and Sunday will be his last game at Old Trafford. He will want to score one last goal before he leaves.

4. Newcastle - 70 pts

Game: at Chelsea: 11:30 a.m. EDT

Why it matters: A win for Newcastle will help them finish third if Manchester United lose or draw to Fulham. The Magpies would earn third place ahead of United because of goal differential.

Player to watch: Callum Wilson - he is scoring for fun this season and considering how dreadful Chelsea have been this season, he knows there are likely goals in it for him.

5. Liverpool - 66 pts

Game: at Southampton: 11:30 a.m. EDT

Why it matters: It doesn’t. They will end the season in fifth spot no matter the score. The Reds will play in the Europa League for the first time since the 2015/16 season.

Player to watch: Roberto Firmino - it’s his last game for Liverpool and if Jurgen Klopp plays him, he’ll definitely want to end his Liverpool career with a goal on his last game for the club.

6. Brighton - 62 pts

Game: at Aston Villa: 11:30 a.m. EDT

Why it matters: Again, it doesn’t. They will end in sixth place and play in the Europa League next season for the first time in the club’s history.

Player to watch: Alexis Mac Allister - there have been rumors claiming he is on his way out of Brighton and will sign for Liverpool next season. He will want to play well in his last game for the Seagulls.

7. Aston Villa - 58 pts

Game: vs. Brighton: 11:30 a.m. EDT

Why it matters: Finally a game that matters. Aston Villa have to win (unless Tottenham and Brentford lose their games) if they want to confirm their place in next season’s Europa Conference League. A draw will not be enough if Tottenham win.

Player to watch: Ollie Watkins - The Villa striker has found his scoring form this year with 14 goals this season. Aston Villa need a win tomorrow and Watkins will want to be the hero.

(Image via TEAMtalk)

8. Tottenham - 57 pts

Game: against Leeds: 11:30 a.m. EDT

Why it matters: If Aston Villa lose and Spurs beat Leeds, Tottenham will beat Villa and confirm their spot in the Europa Conference League next season.

Player to watch: Harry Kane - who else? He has 28 goals this season and with Tottenham desperately needing a win, Kane is the best bet to come up with the much-needed goal.

9. Brentford - 56 pts

Game: at Manchester City: 11:30 a.m. EDT

Why it matters: If Tottenham and Aston Villa lose, and Brentford manage to beat City at the Etihad, Brentford will achieve Europa Conference League football for next season which would be the first time in club history.

Player to watch: Yoane Wissa - with Ivan Toney suspended, Wissa will be needed to break down City’s defense. Wissa loves to score whenever he is given a chance to play. A notable Wissa performance from earlier this season came against Liverpool where he scored a hat-trick…two of which got disallowed by VAR, but he was alive that game and a constant threat.

10. Fulham - 52 pts

Game: at Manchester United: 11:30 a.m. EDT

Why it matters: Fulham sit in 10th place and that’s where they will end the season regardless of the score on Sunday.

Player to watch: Joao Palhinha, if he is looking for a big-money move this summer, a solid performance at Old Trafford will help him get the attention he needs to achieve a move.

(Image via Premier League)

11. Crystal Palace - 44 pts

Game: vs. Nottingham Forest: 11:30 a.m. EDT

Why it matters: If they win they will finish above Chelsea in 11th but besides that there is nothing to play for.

Player to watch: Eberechi Eze- he has been consistently good for Palace this season and will want to end the season on a high note, especially if other top clubs are looking for a solid attacking midfielder this summer…

12. Chelsea - 43 pts

Game: vs. Newcastle: 11:30 a.m. EDT

Why it matters: All that matters for Chelsea right now is to end the season and forget it ever happened.

Player to watch: None of them- sorry Chelsea fans but can you really argue with this answer?

13. Wolves - 41 pts

Game: at Arsenal: 11:30 a.m. EDT

Why it matters: Wolves are safe from relegation so this game has no real meaning except that a y win could push Chelsea farther down the table into 13th while Wolves would finish 12th

Player to watch: Ruben Neves - will be desperate to leave the club and achieve his dream of playing Champions League football, a good performance on Sunday will definitely help.

14. West Ham - 40 pts

Game: against Leicester City: 11:30 a.m. EDT

Why it matters: It doesn’t, West Ham will end the season above the relegation zone. A loss and a Bournemouth win would see West Ham end the season in 15th, but besides that it’s a meaningless game.

Player to watch: Jarrod Bowen- a good winger who will want to play for a big club and compete to win trophies rather than fight to stay in the division. Play well and Bowen might attract big attention.

15. Bournemouth - 39 pts

Game: at Everton: 11:30 a.m. EDT

Why it matters: A win coupled with a West Ham loss will see Bournemouth finish 14th, besides that, there is nothing to play for. Perhaps a chance to relegate Everton…

Player to watch: Philip Billing- he has been a standout star for Bournemouth this season and he will want to finish his season with a good performance to please himself and the fans.

16. Nottingham Forest - 37 pts

Game: at Crystal Palace: 11:30 a.m. EDT

Why it matters: Forest avoided relegation this season after beating Arsenal 1-0 at home last Saturday. Sunday’s game has no significance except for the desire to end the season with a win.

Player to watch: Morgan Gibbs-White- he proved a lot of people wrong this season and will want to end the season with a good performance. Another player is Taiwo Awoniyi who has come up with big goals for Forest all season

17. Everton - 33 pts

Game: vs. Bournemouth: 11:30 a.m. EDT

Why it matters: Everton have to win if they want to stay in the Premier League next season, unless Leicester lose. Everton will obviously want to win to control its own destiny rather than worry about Leicester’s result.

Player to watch: Abdoulaye Doucouré- he is a passionate player and he has already experienced relegation with Watford. He will not want another relegation on his career CV.

(Image via The Independent)

18. Leicester - 31 pts

Game: vs. West Ham: 11:30 a.m. EDT

Why it matters: Leicester have to win and hope Everton lose if they want to stay in the Premier League for next season. Six years ago this team won the Premier League and reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League, a relegation would dampen the achievement and begin writing a new chapter that would remove the shine of the recent fairytale stories.

Player to watch: It has to be Jamie Vardy, what a story this would be: signed at 27 years old, saved the team from relegation in the 2014/15 season, won the Premier League the following season, reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League in the 2016/17 season, and finally would save Leicester from relegation on the final day of the 2022/23 season at 36 years old.

19. Leeds - 31 pts

Game: vs. Tottenham: 11:30 a.m. EDT

Why it matters: If Everton and Leicester lose, Leeds have to beat Tottenham and achieve safety on the final day for the second-consecutive season. Leeds have waited 16 years to return to the Premier League, they will not want their return to only last three years.

Player to watch: Patrick Bamford - he has endured a lot of criticism this season due to his lack of goals, he will want to win back the fans by scoring the winning goal to keep them in the Premier League.

20. Southampton - 24 pts

(Image via Forbes)

Game: vs. Liverpool: 11:30 a.m. EDT

Why it matters: It doesn’t. Southampton are already relegated after a terrible season. Sunday’s game should be a time for the team to enjoy their last 90 minutes as a Premier League team.

Player to watch: James Ward-Prowse - does not want to play in the Championship next season and will be looking for a move back to the Premier League for next season -swap for repetition. As Southampton captain however, he will want to put in one last good performance before leaving.

Check back for end of season coverage including season recaps, awards, and more!