Premier League Final Day Predictions: Key Matchups and Squad Changes

On a Premier League final day loaded with farewells, auditions and frayed nerves, Ben Bloom has sketched out how each club might look when the curtain finally comes down.

This is how the last act could line up.

Brighton v Man Utd

Brighton chasing Europe, United weighing the future

Brighton have one more push in them. The return of Diego Gomez from the bench last weekend has changed the mood and the options. The Paraguayan is now in line to start as Brighton go after a European place, a tweak that would likely send Ferdi Kadioglu back into defence.

That shuffle has consequences. Joel Veltman or Maxim De Cuyper would be the obvious fall guys unless Mats Wieffer’s ankle has healed enough for him to come straight back in. In midfield, James Milner remains on the outside looking in, with the Pascal Gross–Carlos Baleba partnership holding firm and trusted when it matters most.

On the other side, Michael Carrick has promised to “respect this last game”, but he also knows he must look ahead. Expect youth. Tyler Fletcher and Shea Lacey are among those who could be handed valuable minutes, while Ayden Heaven may get his chance at the back.

Casemiro’s departure strips experience from midfield, opening the door for Manuel Ugarte or Mason Mount to step in. Benjamin Sesko, absent for the last two matches, is still a serious doubt. Amad may find his starting place under threat from Patrick Dorgu or Mount as United blend sentiment with experimentation.

Burnley v Wolves

Two clubs desperate for the finish line

This is a battle to avoid finishing bottom, but it feels more like a race to the exit door.

Mike Jackson has already hinted at rotation for Burnley, promising to “give people some minutes” and “manipulate the squad a little bit”. That makes prediction a guessing game. The side that lost to Arsenal performed with credit, so an unchanged XI would normally be on the table. Jackson, though, seems ready to freshen things up.

Bashir Humphreys, Josh Laurent, Zeki Amdouni, Marcus Edwards, Quilindschy Hartman and Jacob Bruun Larsen are all pushing to come in, with several likely to be rewarded as Burnley try to end a grim season with some flicker of optimism.

Wolves, improbably, are chasing the “dizzy heights” of 19th. Rob Edwards moved to a back four in the draw with Fulham and that set-up suited his players. The same personnel can flip between a 4-2-3-1 and a 3-4-2-1, so continuity makes sense.

If Edwards keeps last week’s shape, Rodrigo Gomes is the man most under pressure on the right, with Jackson Tchatchoua or Pedro Lima ready to pounce. Hugo Bueno could also reclaim the left-back slot as Wolves search for one last positive result.

Crystal Palace v Arsenal

Glasner juggling a final; champions managing a final

Crystal Palace are stuck between two worlds. Wednesday’s UEFA Conference League final looms large, and Oliver Glasner has admitted his mind keeps changing “from full rotation, to no rotation, to half rotation”.

One decision is clear: Chris Richards is out after damaging ankle ligaments and is a major doubt for Wednesday as well. That likely locks in the defensive core, unless Jefferson Lerma is dragged back into the back line. Higher up the pitch, everything is more fluid. Glasner cannot afford fresh injuries days before a European final, so expect careful, perhaps conservative, calls in attack.

Arsenal, already crowned Premier League champions, are playing a different balancing act. This is a chance to reward the squad and fine-tune for next week’s UEFA Champions League final.

Plenty of changes are on the cards. William Saliba, Bukayo Saka and David Raya all trained individually on Thursday and stand out as prime candidates for a rest. That opens the door for youngsters Marli Salmon and Max Dowman to start, while several squad players should get the stage they have waited for all season.

Fulham v Newcastle

Fulham searching for spark, Newcastle weighing risk and rhythm

Fulham turned in a flat display at Wolves, and Marco Silva is unlikely to let that slide. Ryan Sessegnon is back in training but remains an unlikely starter even if cleared. The bigger question lies in attack.

Harry Wilson, benched last time out, could be restored. Josh King, Samuel Chukwueze and Kevin are all in the frame as Silva looks for more bite and invention in the final third.

Newcastle’s dilemma is in defence and midfield rather than up front. Kieran Trippier started last weekend, so Eddie Howe must decide whether to keep the same back four or move Lewis Hall over to right-back and push Dan Burn to the opposite flank.

Sandro Tonali is “potentially” available after a hamstring tweak that Howe insists is not “too serious”. If he is not risked, Joe Willock or Jacob Ramsey are lined up to step in. The front four clicked against West Ham, leaving little reason to tinker, though Jacob Murphy and Anthony Elanga remain viable options. Anthony Gordon, absent for five matches amid talk of a possible departure, lingers in the background of every selection call.

Liverpool v Brentford

Anfield braced for possible farewells

Anfield could be a theatre of goodbyes. Arne Slot has refused to say whether Mohamed Salah will make a final appearance, keeping one of the biggest questions of the day hanging in the air.

Alisson Becker and Alexander Isak have returned to training, but their availability is still up in the air, and Jeremie Frimpong is another doubt. Andrew Robertson may be granted one last start before his expected summer exit, a nod to service and sentiment. At right-back, Curtis Jones or Joe Gomez are the leading candidates.

Salah’s involvement will shape the frontline. If he sits out, Rio Ngumoha is in line to start a third straight match, a notable show of trust on such a charged afternoon.

For Brentford, this is about Europe. With qualification on the line, Keith Andrews is expected to field his strongest side. Kristoffer Ajer has started the last two in place of Sepp van den Berg, setting up a straight duel for the shirt.

Kevin Schade, rested after a barren spell, could be recalled, while Vitaly Janelt returned from injury last weekend and looks settled again. An unchanged XI feels the likeliest route, but Schade’s return and Jordan Henderson’s presence “in the wings” give Andrews options if he wants a final twist.

Man City v Aston Villa

Guardiola’s farewell chaos, Villa’s Europa hangover

Predicting a Pep Guardiola XI is usually a fool’s errand. Doing it for his final match in charge is something else entirely.

Guardiola is expected to make sweeping changes. John Stones and Bernardo Silva are both strong candidates to start what would be their last games before leaving the club. Phil Foden, Savinho and Rayan Cherki will all be desperate to be involved in the manager’s send-off.

Up front, Omar Marmoush has a decent chance of replacing Erling Haaland, but Guardiola may yet decide he wants his star striker leading the line one last time. Sentiment versus freshness: it will be pure Guardiola theatre.

Aston Villa arrive as freshly crowned UEFA Europa League winners, and that complicates Unai Emery’s thinking. He has vowed to “try to be serious” with his selection, while accepting it is “not easy” to refocus so soon after a trophy.

Emiliano Martinez is unlikely to feature after breaking a finger before kick-off in that final. Around him, a wave of squad players are expected to get their opportunity from the start as Villa manage both fatigue and celebration.

Nottingham Forest v Bournemouth

Forest can breathe, Bournemouth refuse to blink

For once, Nottingham Forest can relax. Vitor Pereira has said his side can “relax a bit” now that safety is secured, and he has no intention of risking half-fit players.

Murillo and Ola Aina remain sidelined. Dan Ndoye could feature at some stage, while Ibrahim Sangare, who came off the bench last time out, is pushing to start. Jair Cunha is an option in defence, and Taiwo Awoniyi may be preferred up front ahead of either Igor Jesus or Chris Wood as Pereira experiments without fear.

Bournemouth, in contrast, have no reason to change anything. Unbeaten in 17 and fresh from an excellent draw against Man City, they have found a groove that Andoni Iraola will be reluctant to disturb.

Ryan Christie is still suspended. Justin Kluivert and Lewis Cook both returned from the bench on Tuesday night, but asking them to start now would be a big jump. Stability has carried Bournemouth this far; it is likely to be the order of the day again.

Sunderland v Chelsea

Sunderland steady, Chelsea sense opportunity

Regis Le Bris has little incentive to tinker with a winning Sunderland side. The victory over Everton has earned this group another go, though a “late decision” will be needed on Omar Aldarete after he limped off in that match. If he fails to make it, Luke O’Nien is the obvious replacement.

Chemsdine Talbi is ruled out after picking up an injury off the bench last weekend. Habib Diarra and Chris Rigg look set for substitute roles once more as Le Bris leans on the players who delivered last time.

Chelsea, by contrast, have a series of big names edging back to fitness. Calum McFarlane has confirmed that Levi Colwill, Joao Pedro and Reece James have all been in training since the win over Spurs, and all three could start if the medical team give the green light.

James’ role will shape the rest of the side. If he plays in defence, Malo Gusto’s minutes are under threat; if he steps into midfield, Andrey Santos’ place comes into question. Trevoh Chalobah may replace Wesley Fofana, and there is scope for both centre-backs to change as Chelsea look to end the campaign with a bolder, more assertive look.

Spurs v Everton

De Zerbi weighs risk, Moyes clings to continuity

Spurs have stability, but Roberto De Zerbi suddenly has options. He kept the same XI last time out, yet now has Dominic Solanke fully available again and James Maddison building towards full fitness with increasing minutes.

Djed Spence is also fit despite suffering a jaw injury against Chelsea. The big calls are about risk and rhythm: how long can Solanke and Maddison realistically last, and how much does De Zerbi want to disrupt the current structure?

Randal Kolo Muani could be the one to make way if the head coach opts to change shape or personnel, with Spence, Lucas Bergvall or another option stepping in as De Zerbi looks for the right final-day blend.

Everton arrive after David Moyes stuck with an unchanged XI and lost to Sunderland. Idrissa Gueye, who had yet to train with the team before Friday’s press conference, has a “50/50 chance” of involvement, according to Moyes.

The same starting side is entirely plausible again, not least because Merlin Rohl scored Everton’s only goal last weekend. If Moyes does alter things, Dwight McNeil, Tyrique George or Thierno Barry are the likeliest to be drafted in as he searches for a sharper edge.

West Ham v Leeds

Must-win tension at the London Stadium

Nuno Espirito Santo tried a back three against Newcastle. Within half an hour, he tore it up and went back to a four-man defence. That reaction told its own story, and a back four is expected again for this must-win game.

The main questions are specific rather than structural. At right-back, it is Kyle Walker-Peters versus Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Further forward, Nuno must decide whether Pablo or Callum Wilson provides the better support for Valentin Castellanos in attack.

Leeds limp towards the line with a stretched squad but a stubborn spirit. They beat Brighton last weekend despite a growing injury list, and that list has not eased.

Ilia Gruev, Noah Okafor and Gabriel Gudmundsson are still out, and they have now been joined by Anton Stach and Sean Longstaff. There is at least some good news: Pascal Struijk and Jayden Bogle are back in training, though their availability remains unclear.

Brenden Aaronson should be fine after a dead leg and is in direct competition with Wilfried Gnonto for what looks like the final attacking slot. Daniel Farke has few options, but he does have one more big decision to make.

On a final day thick with farewells and first chances, those calls will shape not just 90 minutes, but the stories each club carries into the summer.