The focus is on the European spots on the final matchday of the 2024-25 Premier League campaign, with five teams bidding to join Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
Champions Liverpool and runners-up Arsenal have already confirmed themselves at the top European table for next term, but third-placed Manchester City, fourth-placed Newcastle United, fifth-placed Chelsea, sixth-placed Aston Villa and seventh-placed Nottingham Forest all have work to do.
Easily the biggest match of Sunday will come at the City Ground, as Forest welcome Chelsea, and there is only one point between the two teams in the Premier League table ahead of their vital battle this weekend.
Man City are away at Fulham, Villa will travel to Manchester United, while Newcastle will host Everton in what is shaping up to be a fascinating battle for the top five.
The champions Liverpool will finish their season at home to FA Cup winners Crystal Palace, while Arsenal will be bidding to end their campaign with a victory, as the Gunners head to relegated Southampton.
Europa League winners Tottenham will conclude their campaign with a home fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Another Premier League gameweek means another Sports Mole prediction competition, and this week, we are facing off against Max Rowat of electronic music duo Koven.
Read on to discover Max’s and our predictions for gameweek 38, as well as finding out the results of our head-to-head with singer-songwriter Harry Lyon from gameweek 37.
Sunday, 4pm
Max: Bournemouth 2-0 Leicester
Sports Mole: Bournemouth vs. Leicester – to follow
Sunday, 4pm
Max: Fulham 1-2 Man City
Sports Mole: Fulham 1-3 Man City
The fact that Fulham are not pushing for European qualification anymore should benefit Man City, but the Cottagers must not be completely written off as they are more than capable of pulling off an upset, with top-five twists and turns potentially on the cards during an intriguing final day.
Man City have won their final Premier League match in nine of the last 11 seasons, though, and their impressive 17-game winning streak over Fulham will fill them with confidence. The Citizens will rightly be regarded as favourites and they should have enough to come out on top, with De Bruyne going out on a high by helping Guardiola’s side qualify for the Champions League.
Sunday, 4pm
Max: Ipswich 1-2 West Ham
Sports Mole: Ipswich 1-3 West Ham
Weak at their Portman Road base this season, Ipswich are unlikely to keep a clean sheet against the likes of Bowen, Kudus and Fullkrug in attack for West Ham.
A more attacking approach from the Hammers could lead to plenty of goals in East Anglia, where they are likely to end a disappointing campaign with a positive result.
Sunday, 4pm
Max: Liverpool 2-2 Crystal Palace
Sports Mole: Liverpool 2-1 Crystal Palace
Liverpool slipping up on Sunday would actually be on brand; there have only ever been three instances of an English top-flight champion not winning any of their last four games of a season, and it happened twice to the Reds in 1976-77 and 1982-83.
However, Slot’s side can capitalise on the absence of Wharton and likely absence of Guehi to close out a successful season on a high note, before the real celebrations begin for the Premier League and FA Cup champions.
Sunday, 4pm
Max: Man Utd 1-1 Aston Villa
Sports Mole: Man Utd vs. Aston Villa – to follow
Sunday, 4pm
Max: Newcastle 1-0 Everton
Sports Mole: Newcastle 2-0 Everton
Newcastle have been reliable in the big games under Howe, and this certainly falls under that category, with the hosts fully expecting to get over the line and finish in the top five.
Everton have nothing to play for and the emotional toll of last weekend’s Goodison farewell may signal the end of their campaign one week earlier than most.
Sunday, 4pm
Max: Nott’m Forest 3-2 Chelsea
Sports Mole: Nott’m Forest 1-1 Chelsea
Now is not the time to be conservative; both sides must throw caution to the wind in their pursuits of Champions League football, but Chelsea’s attacking record on the road has left a lot to be desired.
However, Forest’s end-of-season form has hardly been inspiring either, and a settled Blues backline can hold out for a draw, one that may be enough for them but one that will officially crush the hosts’ dreams of Champions League participation.
Sunday, 4pm
Max: Southampton 0-3 Arsenal
Sports Mole: Southampton 0-2 Arsenal
The curtain cannot come down on the season quickly enough for Southampton and Arsenal, both of whom already have one eye on 2025-26 and may not play out a cracker on Sunday.
The prospect of there being nothing on the line could lead to a more open game than Man City’s visit, but if so, only Arteta’s men should benefit as they make absolutely sure of second place.
Sunday, 4pm
Max: Spurs 1-2 Brighton
Sports Mole: Spurs 1-3 Brighton
There could be scope for Spurs to defy pre-game expectations this weekend, as the Lilywhites are riding cloud nine for the first time in a long time and will be welcomed by the most jovial atmosphere the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has ever seen.
However, with Postecoglou sure to shuffle his pack considerably and Brighton in a good moment, the Seagulls should take advantage of the hosts’ European hangover to rubber-stamp eighth place.
Sunday, 4pm
Max: Wolves 0-1 Brentford
Sports Mole: Wolves vs. Brentford – to follow
Max Rowat Q&A
How did you come to support West Brom and what are your favourite memories from your time as a fan?
Max: My dad’s side of the family are West Brom supporters so I was brought up supporting them as well. My favourite memory as a fan was our Premier League great escape beating Portsmouth on the last day of season to stay up in 2005, and also beating Wolves 5-1 on their own turf back in 2012.
Who have been your favourite five players for West Brom?
Max: Jeff Astle, Chris Brunt, Cyrille Regis, Bob Taylor, Bryan Robson.
What’s going on with the band at the moment?
Max: We have just released our second album ‘Moments In Everglow which is out now. We’re also touring all across the world.
Moments In Everglow’ by Koven is available to stream now.
You can follow Koven on Instagram.
2024-25 SEASON LEADERBOARD (ARTISTS)
Scores are calculated as one point for a correct result and five points for a correct scoreline.
1. Kyle Starkey (16pts | Gameweek 3)
2. Make Friends’ Max Lewin (15pts | Gameweek 2)
3. Kids Return’s Clement (14pts | Gameweek 27)
= Mychelle (14pts | Gameweek 28)
= Harry Lyon (14pts | Gameweek 37)
6. Everyone Says Hi’s Nick Hodgson (13pts | Gameweek 1)
7. The Horrors’ Faris Badwan (12pts | Gameweek 34)
8. Blitz Vega’s Kav Sandhu (10pts | Gameweek 5)
9. Trampolene’s Jack Jones (9pts | Gameweek 4)
= Kneecap’s Mo Chara (9pts | Gameweek 6)
= The Slow Readers Club’s James Ryan (9pts | Gameweek 20)
= Alex Spencer (9pts | Gameweek 21)
= Better Joy’s Bria Keely (9pts | Gameweek 22)
= The Florentinas’ Paddy Boyd (9ts | Gameweek 31)
15. Feet’s Harry Southerton (7pts | Gameweek 13)
= IN PARALLEL’s Harrison Baker (7pts | Gameweek 15)
= HIMALAYAS’ Joe Williams (7pts | Gameweek 25)
= Matilda Shakes’ James Hallam (7pts | Gameweek 32)
19. Kids in Glass Houses’ Iain Mahanty (6pts | Gameweek 7)
= proFESSional’s Rob Hennebry (6pts | Gameweek 8)
= Solar Eyes’ Glenn Smyth (6pts | Gameweek 24)
22. Cardinal Black’s Chris Buck (5pts | Gameweek 30)
23. Maddox Jones (4pts | Gameweek 9)
= The Farm’s Peter Hooton (4pts | Gameweek 18)
= Danko’s Lewis White (4pts | Gameweek 23)
= The Pale White (4pts | Gameweek 26)
27. She Drew The Gun’s Louisa Roach (3pts | Gameweek 10)
= The Now’s Shane Callaghan (3pts | Gameweek 17)
= Chilli Jesson (3pts | Gameweek 11)
= PG Ciarletta (3pts | Gameweek 29)
= James Bradshaw (3pts | Gameweek 36)
32. Soft Launch’s Josh McClory (2pts | Gameweek 12)
= My First Time’s James Mellen (2pts | Gameweek 14)
= Apollo Junction’s Ben Hope (2pts | Gameweek 16)
= GIRLBAND! singer Georgie (2ps | Gameweek 35)
2024-25 COMPETITION HISTORY
Gameweek 1: Everyone Says Hi’s Nick Hodgson 13-14 Sports Mole
Gameweek 2: Make Friends’ Max Lewin 15-4 Sports Mole
Gameweek 3: Kyle Starkey 16-13 Sports Mole
Gameweek 4: Trampolene’s Jack Jones 9-9 Sports Mole
Gameweek 5: Blitz Vega’s Kav Sandhu 10-11 Sports Mole
Gameweek 6: Kneecap’s Mo Chara 9-4 Sports Mole
Gameweek 7: Kids in Glass Houses’ Iain Mahanty 6-3 Sports Mole
Gameweek 8: proFESSional’s Rob Hennebry 6-7 Sports Mole
Gameweek 9: Maddox Jones 4-10 Sports Mole
Gameweek 10: She Drew The Gun’s Louisa Roach 3-4 Sports Mole
Gameweek 11: Chilli Jesson 3-8 Sports Mole
Gameweek 12: Soft Launch’s Josh McClorey 2-3 Sports Mole
Gameweek 13: Feet’s Harry Southerton 7-10 Sports Mole
Gameweek 14: My First Time’s James Mellen 2-8 Sports Mole
Gameweek 15: IN PARALLEL’s Harrison Baker 7-2 Sports Mole
Gameweek 16: Apollo Junction’s Ben Hope 2-3 Sports Mole
Gameweek 17: The Now’s Shane Callaghan 3-6 Sports Mole
Gameweek 18: The Farm’s Peter Hooton 4-4 Sports Mole
Gameweek 19: N/A
Gameweek 20: The Slow Readers Club’s James Ryan 9-14 Sports Mole
Gameweek 21: Alex Spencer 9-7 Sports Mole
Gameweek 22: Better Joy’s Bria Keely 9-6 Sports Mole
Gameweek 23: Danko’s Lewis White 4-3 Sports Mole
Gameweek 24: Solar Eyes’ Glenn Smyth 6-4 Sports Mole
Gameweek 25: HIMALAYAS’ Joe Williams 7-8 Sports Mole
Gameweek 26: The Pale White 4-8 Sports Mole
Gameweek 27: Kids Return’s Clement 14-22 Sports Mole
Gameweek 28: Mychelle 14-4 Sports Mole
Gameweek 29: PG Ciarletta 3-12 Sports Mole
Gameweek 30: Cardinal Black’s Chris Buck 5-7 Sports Mole
Gameweek 31: The Florentinas’ Paddy Boyd 9-18 Sports Mole
Gameweek 32: Matilda Shakes’ James Hallam 7-5 Sports Mole
Gameweek 33: N/A
Gameweek 34: The Horrors’ Faris Badwan 12-10 Sports Mole
Gameweek 35: GIRLBAND! singer Georgie 2-8 Sports Mole
Gameweek 36: James Bradshaw 3-2 Sports Mole
Gameweek 37: Harry Lyon 14-10 Sports Mole
