Good day everyone,

I hope you are all well and had an excellent weekend, welcome to CryptoGod-1's blog on all things sports. The final round of fixtures was one of immense tension and drama in terms of the title race, as a superb City comeback broke Liverpool hearts to secure their sixth Premier League title. At the other end of the table Burnley were relegated while the race for fourth saw Spurs secure the final Champions League spot and Manchester United take the Europa League spot, leaving West Ham into the Europa Conference League. If you would like to check out the preview on this round of games it can be found here: https://www.publish0x.com/cryptogod-1-sports/english-premier-league-match-day-38-preview-xwygeyg

Weekend Predictions & Final Results

So in terms of the predicted scores, I got 1/10 correct this weekend. In terms of match-winner/loser, I managed to predict 6/10 correctly in this round of games.

Predicted: Arsenal 2-1 Everton

Result: Arsenal 5-1 Everton

Martinelli, Nketiah, Soares, Gabriel, Odegaard - van de Beek

Arsenal put Everton to the sword in this one but it wasn't enough to get them Champions League football for next season. They dominated from the start here, pinning Everton back and creating a series of early chances. Begovic was a match for them all until on 27 minutes when a penalty was awarded after Iwobi blocked Martinelli's shot with his arm. Martinelli made no mistake from the spot by sending Begovic the wrong way. Four minutes later and Saka's corner was flicked on by Xhaka for Nketiah to score. Van de Beek, a substitute after Doucoure got injured, tapped in from Calvert-Lewin's low cross just before the break. Eleven minutes into the second half and after some good Everton play, Arsenal regained their two goal lead as Cedric scored from another Saka corner. The fourth arrived just before the hour mark as Cedric attempted shot fell to Gabriel to score. Eight minutes from time and Odegaard go the best goal of the lot as he got away from Everton youngster Isaac Price before slotting a side-footed finish into the bottom corner.

Predicted: Brentford 2-0 Leeds

Result: Brentford 1-2 Leeds

Canos - Raphina, Harrison

A tense match which had so much riding on it for Leeds saw the away side snatch a late winner to secure their Premier league survival. Leeds were nervy from the outset and it showed with their play, but Brentford were lacking sharpness and clearly content with their achievements of the season. Gelhardt believed he had opened the scoring but a VAR review to denied them the goal. Mbeumo had good chances for the Bees but wasted them, but Leeds struggled to create in open play all game. A Raya howler saw him scuff his pass straight to Rodrigo who he then bundled over in the box for a penalty in the 56th minute, which Raphinha put away. On 78th minutes Canos managed to head home a Dasilva cross to level the score after Brentford had been down to ten men with Ajer taken off injured and Brentford having used all their subs. Canos soon got a second yellow for a challenge on Raphinha on the halfway line with ten minutes to go. The winner arrived as Dasilva's clearance from a late corner landed at Harrison, who struck a 25-yard effort which took a slight deflection and ended up inside the near post to secure Leeds another year in the top flight.

Predicted: Brighton 2-2 West Ham

Result: Brighton 3-1 West Ham

Veltman, Gross, Welbeck - Antonio

The Hammers needed to win and for United to draw or loose for them to get into the Europa League next season. Brighton had 69% of the ball in the opening fifteen minutes but before the break Antonio got the better of Dunk on the edge of the area and gave West Ham the lead when he struck a wonderful shot into the top corner after West Ham had slowly worked their way into the game. Five minutes into the second half and Brighton hit back, as March teed up Veltman in the West Ham box to level the scores. Welbeck then sent an effort wide when he should have done better, but Gross swivelled on the edge of the area and fired a superb strike into the top corner late on. Noble had been introduced for West Ham but they failed to threaten again, and Welbeck got his goal with an injury-time header to give Brighton their best ever Premier League finish. West Ham will have to settle for the Europa Conference League next season.

Predicted: Burnley 1-0 Newcastle

Result: Burnley 1-2 Newcastle

Cornet - Wilson x2

Burnley were relegated to Championship after their final-day defeat at home to Newcastle. They headed into this game knowing a win would secure their top flight status but a terrible start left them with too much to do. Collins handballed in the 20th minute to gift Wilson the chance to score from the spot which he gladly did. An ankle injury to Joelinton had soured things before that but Newcastle controlled the game from there with Burnley only having a single shot on target in the first half. Burnley went for it in the second half but on the hour mark Wilson got free at the back post after Saint-Maximin broke down the left and set up the striker for his second of the game. Cornet gave Burnley hope nine minutes later when he rifled in a volley at the second attempt but it wasnt enough and left Burnley in the relegation zone after Leeds had beaten Brentford late on. Newcastle managed to get 38 points in the Premier League in the calendar year 2022 meaning they were the fourth best side in the league since the turn of the year, a very positive sign of things to come.

Predicted: Chelsea 2-1 Watford

Result: Chelsea 2-1 Watford

Havertz, Barkley - Gosling

There was little to play for with both these sides secured of their season status, Chelsea with Champions League qualification and Watford relegated. Both sides made a raft of changes to their line-ups for this one, giving fringe players a chance on the final day. Chelsea started brighter of the two sides, and Kenedy, making his first start in the league for five years, impressed. It was the Brazilian wing-back who claimed an assist for the opening goal, when his low cross from the left found the unmarked Havertz who applied the finish. Chelsea lost their way a bit from there and it was Watford who threatened the most, with Gosling scoring the equaliser on 87 minutes when he got in at the far post to nod home a left-wing cross from Masina. That wasn't the end of it though, as Barkley managed to head home from a James cross to steal the three points for the home side.

Predicted: Crystal Palace 1-1 Manchester United

Result: Crystal Palace 1-0 Manchester United

Zaha

A must win game for United ended in another defeat in Rangnick's final game as manager, but United still managed to get 6th place and Europa League for next season. United were tepid in the first half as new manager Ten Haag watched on, struggling to create and it was no surprise when Palace went ahead on 37 minutes. Zaha and Schlupp had already seen efforts saved by Dea Gea as Palace threatened on the counter, and when Fernandes lost possession in his own half Zaha cut across Dalot and Lindelof on the edge of the box before putting his low effort into the bottom corner. United improved in the second half but it was not nearly enough. United never really troubled Palace and produced another sub-par performance in a disastrous season for the club, with the only real highlight from the final game being the opportunity for a host of academy graduates to make an appearance for the club.

Predicted: Leicester 2-1 Southampton

Result: Leicester 4-1 Southampton

Maddison, Vardy, Perez x2 - Ward-Prowse

The Foxes made the most of their final fixture to secure 8th place in the table, a big improvement from their terrible form earlier in the campaign. The first half was one to forget, with no shots on target and plenty of mistakes, but this game came to life in the second half. Vardy had wasted some of the best chances but he was on hand to help open the scoring after Lyanco first headed a long ball from Schmeichel into the air and then tried to head it back to his keeper only for it to land at Vardy's feet. His effort was saved but Maddison got the rebound. The second came as Barnes broke down the left and his ball inside made it to Vardy who smashed it low into the net. Five minutes later Ward-Prowse coolly scored a penalty, but a minute later Maddison sent a ball in from the left and Perez scored with a scissor kick. Pereira then found the Spaniard in exactly the same position and he finished with as much style as his first. 

Predicted: Liverpool 3-0 Wolves

Result: Liverpool 3-1 Wolves

Mané, Salah, Robertson - Neto

This game was a tense and nervous affair throughout, especially as news filtered through regarding the Man City game. Three minutes in and the script was torn up as Konate misjudge a long ball, allowing Jimenez  to run in behind and cross for Neto to open the scoring. Liverpool were intense from there with Matip heading wide and Diaz seeing a penalty shout turned down. Dendoncker could have made it 2-0 but Liverpool held firm, while on 20 minutes Wolves lost Neto to injury. Moments later Liverpool were level thanks to a wonderful flick from Thiago which sent Mané through one on one for him to slot in his 16th of the season. Liverpool pushed on for a second and news of Villa's opener sent waves through the crowd. Thiago went off injured at half time to dampen Liverpool's spirits, with Sa also going off for Wolves. Mané scored within five minutes of the second half but was ruled out for offside. Liverpool pressed on and on, while being somewhat exposed and fortunate to Alisson for keeping the score level. Finally on 84 minutes Salah scored after a Matip header was cleared on the line and his rebound header fell for Salah to poke home. Robertson sealed the win five minutes later after sine good interplay with Diaz down the left but it wasn't to be as City had won their game. Liverpool went on a 19 game unbeaten run along with remaining unbeaten at Anfield in what was truly a remarkable campaign, and regardless of what happens in Paris I expect they will be full throttle again next season to wrestle the title from City.

Predicted: Manchester City 3-1 Aston Villa

Result: Manchester City 3-2 Aston Villa

Gundogan x2, Rodri - Cash, Coutinho

Against the odds Villa managed to go two goals up in this game in what seemed like a favour from Gerrard towards his old club, but City hit back with three goals in five minutes to secure the title. City only managed one shot on target in the first half, as the nerves seemed to overtake their team. The anxiety in the stands was palpable after Cash had managed to get on the end of Digne's cross and head home the opening goal of the game. Villa pressed on and both Watkins and Coutinho had wonderful opportunities to double the lead but passed them up. Zinchenko was brought on to help Man City be more fluid  in the second half but still they wasted their chances with both De Bruyne and Jesus missing great opportunities to level the scores. With the tension rising it was a long ball and magic from Coutinho as he dragged ball one way and then reversed his shot beyond Ederson to double Villa's lead. Gundogan was brought on and had the desired impact. His first was headed in and totally changed the atmosphere, and it showed as soon after Villa conceded again when Rodri took a long range effort from the edge of the area to level the scores. Unbelievably De Bruyne then found space in the right channel and his low cross found who else but Gundogan at the far post to score the winner and send the supporters at the Etihad Stadium wild. City played down the clock and secured their fourth Premier League titles in five seasons under Pep.

Predicted: Norwich 1-3 Tottenham

Result: Norwich 0-5 Tottenham

Kulusevski x2, Kane, Son x2

Spurs knew a point was enough for Champions League football next season but they made no mistakes here as they thrashed Norwich. Sixteen minutes in and any nerves for Spurs were gone as Kulusevski was there to finish Bentancur's squared ball from close range. The second arrived in the 32nd minute as Krul hit a pass straight to Bentancur, who this time crossed for Kane to head into an empty net. On 64 minutes Kulusevski scored his second with a stunning strike after Kane had played him in. In the 70th minute Son got in on the act as he struck a low finish past Krul after Moura played a wonderful first time pass. An excellent finish from outside the box five minutes later from Son sealed an excellent end to Conte's first season as Spurs manager and got his side back into the Champions League.

Table After Final Match Day

A look at the top half of the table and Manchester City are champions. It was a hectic day which saw them finish one point ahead of Liverpool, leaving Chelsea in third and Tottenham in fourth. Arsenal and Manchester United got the Europa League places and West Ham took the Europa Conference League. Leicester, Wolves and Brighton made up the top half of the standings.

As for the bottom half, Leeds managed to pull of the miracle escape and avoid the drop meaning Burnley will join Norwich and Watford in the Championship next season. Everton and Leeds avoided the drop, with Newcastle, Crystal Palace, and Brentford recording excellent finishes to their seasons to finish just outside the top half. Both Villa and Southampton will look ahead to rebuilding their squads and pushing for a higher finish next year.

Top Goal scorers After Final Match Day

1 - M. Salah - Liverpool - 23 Goals
2 - Son - Tottenham - 23 Goals
3 - Ronaldo - Manchester United - 18 Goals
4 - H Kane - Tottenham - 17 Goals
5 - S. Mané - Liverpool - 16 Goals   
6 - D. Jota - Liverpool - 15 Goals
7 - De Bruyne - Manchester City - 15 Goals
8 - J. Vardy - Leicester - 15 Goals

I hope you enjoyed the final round of games over the weekend. It has been a thrilling and exciting season of ups and downs, with Liverpool clawing back 14 points to bring the title race to the final day. The Reds have a Champions League final next weekend and may add that to their Carabao & FA Cups to win a treble. All in all it was very exciting and I hope those of you who followed my posts throughout the season enjoyed my previews and analysis on the games. Have a great summer and I'll be back with the 2022/23 season in August.

Peace. CryptoGod-1.

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