The final weekend of the Barclays Premier League features all 20 teams, but a few games are crucial for the bottom of the table.
Newcastle United and Hull City are fighting for Premier League survival, while champions Chelsea will lift the trophy at Stamford Bridge and Steven Gerrard will play his final game for Liverpool on Sunday
Here are five matches to keep close tabs on.
Chelsea vs. Sunderland
Chelsea wrapped up the title with a win over Crystal Palace on May 3, and now the Blues will get to raise the trophy in front of their fans after they play Sunderland.
The Black Cats secured Premier League safety after drawing Arsenal on Wednesday, so this match means very little to them now. However, earning a result away to the champions would be a nice way to end the season.
Sunderland is without injured quartet Ricky Alvarez, Liam Bridcutt, Jordi Gomez, and Wes Brown. Seb Larson is doubtful after suffering a knock vs. Arsenal.
Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas is suspended after he was sent off against West Brom on Monday. He’ll only miss this match, so he won’t be banned to start next season. Oscar, Ramires, and Kurt Zouma are also ruled out through injury.
Chelsea is still the only undefeated Premier League at home, while Sunderland has failed to win nine of its previous 10 matches on the road.
Sunday programming alert: Watch Chelsea vs. Sunderland on all four main Sportsnet channels at 9:30 am ET, Stoke City vs. Liverpool on Sportsnet 360 at 9:30 am ET and Newcastle United vs. West Ham United on Sportsnet World at 9:30 am ET. || At 10:00 am ET watch these games online at Sportsnet World NOW: Everton vs. Tottenham and Aston Villa vs. Burnley.
Stoke City vs. Liverpool
Liverpool will bid farewell to Steven Gerrard as it faces Stoke City in the captain’s final match with the club.
Plenty of goodbyes were said last week when Gerrard saluted the fans in his Anfield swan song. However, now that this is his final match, it will finally sink in that it’s the end of an era at Liverpool.
Raheem Sterling’s ongoing contract situation isn’t easing the stress of Liverpool supporters, as the youngster seems to be edging closer to a move away from the club. Manager Brendan Rodgers will have a busy, strenuous summer, but he has a chance to examine his squad, see who he wants to keep and who should depart.
Rodgers’ only absentees are Daniel Sturridge and Jon Flanagan, who signed a contract extension on Thursday. Mamadou Sakho is doubtful as he recovers from injury.
Bojan and Victor Moses will be the only Stoke City players who won’t be available for manager Mark Hughes.
Stoke is riding high, having lost just one of its previous six matches entering the weekend. Liverpool, on the other hand, has only won once since April 13.
Newcastle United vs. West Ham United
Despite Newcastle’s abysmal 2015, the club could still avoid relegation. The Magpies are two points above 18th-placed Hull City, so even if the Toon Army loses to West Ham on Sunday, it could still be safe if the Tigers fail to pick up three points at home against Manchester United.
Both teams have several injured players coming into this game. Newcastle has five players ruled out, but Mike Williamson is back from suspension and Adam Armstrong is listed as questionable.
Four West Ham players, including Diafra Sakho and James Tomkins, are unavailable this weekend. James Collins may not be fit either after he was forced off against Everton.
The positive for Newcastle is that West Ham has struggled away from home recently. The Hammers haven’t scored in six of their previous eight away matches, and a scoreless draw might be enough to confirm the hosts’ Premier League status for next season.
Hull City vs. Manchester United
Manchester United will likely stay in fourth place, even if it defeats Hull City. Manager Louis van Gaal may rotate his lineup, which gives Hull an opportunity at claiming a result.
Man United has four players ruled out, but will may have to cope without David De Gea, who came off injured vs. Arsenal last weekend. With Real Madrid rumours swirling, he may have played his final match with the Red Devils.
Hull is also dealing with a weakened squad. Robert Snodgrass, Curtis Davies, Mohamed Diame, and Gaston Ramirez are hurt, and Jake Livermore is suspended after failing a drug test.
The Tigers have lost three consecutive matches, but like Newcastle, Hull has a great chance of picking up a much-needed win. A win could see Hull stay up, depending on what Newcastle does. A loss or draw to United would see the Tigers relegated.
Manchester City vs. Southampton
Thanks to Arsenal’s scoreless draw on Wednesday, Manchester City has secured second place. However, Southampton is still in the hunt for a Europa League spot.
Southampton manager Ronald Koeman is without four players in Jay Rodriguez, Emmanuel Mayuka, Fraser Forster, and Morgan Schneiderlin. However, Koeman doesn’t have any fresh injuries to deal with, so he should name an unchanged starting XI.
Manchester City’s only injured player is Samir Nasri, so manager Manuel Pellegrini has plenty of options to choose from on Sunday.
City is on a six-match home winning streak in the Premier League and has earned five clean sheets in that span. Meanwhile, the Saints have lost four consecutive games on the road.
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