West Ham vs Leeds: Final Day Survival Clash

West Ham and Leeds face a straight fight for survival on the final day, while Tottenham know a single point against Everton will be enough to keep them up. Around them, a jittery, fractured season hurtles towards its conclusion with nine games kicking off at the same time and nowhere to hide.

Below is how the final afternoon shapes up.

Brighton v Manchester United

Sunday, 4pm – Amex Stadium
Referee: Sam Barrott

Brighton’s season has flickered rather than burned, but they arrive on the last day with enough edge to trouble anyone. Their form line – WDWLWL – sums it up: capable of a punch, vulnerable to one too. Danny Welbeck leads their scoring charts with 13 and remains their sharpest threat.

Roberto De Zerbi’s options are thinned slightly. Mats Wieffer is a doubt with an ankle problem, while Kaoru Mitoma, Adam Webster and Tzimas are all ruled out until at least June or beyond. The bench will again lean on experience such as James Milner and depth options including Veltman, Igor and March.

Manchester United land on the south coast with momentum at last. LWWWDW tells the story of a side that has finally strung results together, even as injuries nibble at the edges of the squad. Benjamin Sesko, with 11 goals, has been their main finisher but is nursing a calf issue and must be assessed.

Erik ten Hag is without Matthijs de Ligt (back) and has moved on from Casemiro, who is not in the squad. The bench is heavy on youth and new faces – Mount, Yoro, Zirkzee and others – but United arrive knowing one more strong performance can lock in a respectable finish from a chaotic campaign.

Burnley v Wolves

Sunday, 4pm – Turf Moor
Referee: Andrew Kitchen

At Turf Moor, it feels like a season that never quite got going. Burnley limp into the finale on a grim LLLLDL run, goals hard to come by and confidence fragile. Zian Flemming’s 10 goals have been a rare bright spot in a dull attacking picture.

Vincent Kompany’s side are still without key figures: Beyer is sidelined until August, Cullen until September. Connor Roberts is a doubt with an achilles issue. The bench will again be patched together from the likes of Dubravka, Bruun Larsen, Amdouni and Broja as Burnley search for one last response.

Wolves have not been much healthier in spirit. Their own form – LLLDLD – speaks of a team drifting, the early-season bite long gone. No one has broken clear in front of goal: Arokodare, S Bueno, Sadio Mané and R Gomes share top spot with just three each.

Injuries to Johnstone and Chiwome, plus a long-term issue for González, have forced Gary O’Neil to lean heavily on the squad. The bench is full, but the cutting edge has been missing for weeks. The final whistle here may feel more like a release than a turning point.

Crystal Palace v Arsenal

Sunday, 4pm – Selhurst Park
Referee: Farai Hallam

Selhurst Park has seen too many false dawns this season. Palace close out their campaign on a DLLDLD run, the energy of the crowd rarely matched by the consistency on the pitch. Jean-Philippe Mateta, with 11 goals, has carried much of the attacking burden.

Oliver Glasner’s injury list still includes Richards, Nketiah and Doucouré, all sidelined until at least June. Palace’s bench is deep in youthful promise – Umeh, King, Guessand, Strand Larsen – but this has been a year of learning rather than leaping.

Arsenal, by contrast, arrive like a train finally back on the rails. After back-to-back defeats, they’ve rattled off four straight wins. LLWWWW is the form line of a side that has rediscovered its authority. Viktor Gyökeres has led the way with 14 goals, bullying defences and dragging Arsenal up the table.

Mikel Arteta must still juggle fitness concerns. Ben White is out with a knee problem until July, while Jurrien Timber and Mikel Merino are doubts. Even so, a bench packed with the likes of Trossard, Havertz, Saka, Rice and Saliba underlines the depth that has powered their late surge.

Fulham v Newcastle

Sunday, 4pm – Craven Cottage
Referee: Rob Jones

Craven Cottage has felt restless. Fulham’s LDWLLD sequence captures the frustration of a campaign that never quite clicked. Harry Wilson’s 10 goals have kept them afloat, but the supporting cast has too often gone missing.

Marco Silva is without suspended defender Joachim Andersen, serving the second of a three-match ban. Ryan Sessegnon remains out with a hamstring issue. The bench offers experience and flair – Tete, Reed, Cairney, Smith Rowe, Jiménez, Berge, Chukwueze – but Fulham need more than names; they need a final-day statement.

Newcastle arrive with the scars of an erratic season. LLLWDW is a jagged run, yet it hints at a late stabilisation. Bruno Guimarães has nine goals and remains the heartbeat of their midfield and attack.

Eddie Howe’s injury list is long: Joelinton, Schär, Krafth, Livramento and Miley are all out until at least June or July. Sandro Tonali is a doubt with a hamstring problem. Even so, a bench including Ramsdale, Tierney, Elanga, Gordon, Wissa and others gives Newcastle enough firepower to turn a tight game.

Liverpool v Brentford

Sunday, 4pm – Anfield
Referee: Darren England

Anfield’s season has swayed between title dreams and harsh reality. Liverpool’s recent form – WWWLDL – shows both their capability and their fragility. Hugo Ekitiké, with 11 goals, has been their leading scorer but is sidelined by an achilles issue, leaving a hole at the top of the pitch.

Jürgen Klopp’s medical bulletin is not kind: Endo, Bradley, Leoni, Bajcetic and Lucky are all unavailable. Alisson and Isak are doubts, the goalkeeper with a hamstring problem, the striker still chasing full match fitness. The bench remains strong – Gomez, Frimpong, Mac Allister, Chiesa – but Liverpool must knit it all together one last time.

Brentford, driven by Igor Thiago’s outstanding 22-goal season, have punched above their weight again. Their DDLWLD run suggests a side that has tired but never fully folded.

Thomas Frank is without Henry, Milambo and Carvalho, all out with long-term issues, yet he has enough depth on the bench – Ajer, Pinnock, Hickey, Henderson, Janelt, Dasilva – to keep Brentford competitive. One more upset at Anfield would be a fitting sign-off.

Manchester City v Aston Villa

Sunday, 4pm – Etihad Stadium
Referee: Andy Madley

At the Etihad, the numbers are as ruthless as ever. Manchester City are unbeaten in six, WWDWWD, and Erling Haaland’s 27 goals once again define their cutting edge. Pep Guardiola has the rare luxury of a fully fit squad and no suspensions.

The bench reads like a who’s who of options: Lewis, Reijnders, Marmoush, Aké, Aït-Nouri, Kovacic and more. City know the script on the final day. They usually write it themselves.

Aston Villa arrive with intent, not awe. Their DWLLDW form is uneven, but Unai Emery’s side have repeatedly shown they can hurt the elite. Ollie Watkins, on 14 goals, has been the spearhead of their resurgence.

There are concerns over Alysson (groin) and Emiliano Martínez (finger), both doubts, and Boubacar Kamara remains out with a knee injury. Even so, a bench featuring Barkley, Buendía, Bailey, Watkins, Konsa, Torres, McGinn and Douglas Luiz shows the depth of quality that has powered Villa’s rise. If anyone can spoil a party, it is this Villa side.

Nottingham Forest v Bournemouth

Sunday, 4pm – City Ground
Referee: Craig Pawson

The City Ground has rediscovered its voice. Nottingham Forest’s DWWWDL run hints at a team that has finally found some rhythm. Morgan Gibbs-White, with 14 goals, has been at the heart of almost everything good.

Forest are not without problems. Ndoye is a doubt with a groin issue, while Savona, Murillo and Hudson-Odoi are all out until at least June or July. Aina and Boly also miss out. The bench will again lean on Ortega, Gunn, Yates, McAtee, Awoniyi and others to carry the load.

Bournemouth have quietly put together one of the division’s most impressive late-season runs: WWDWWD. Kroupi’s 13 goals have led the way in an attacking, fearless side.

They travel without any fresh injuries, though Christie serves the second of a three-match suspension and Soler is a doubt with a hamstring problem. Even so, with options like Brooks, Adli, Unal and Kluivert on the bench, Bournemouth arrive in the Midlands with confidence and ambition.

Sunderland v Chelsea

Sunday, 4pm – Stadium of Light
Referee: Chris Kavanagh

The Stadium of Light closes its campaign in a strangely hopeful mood. Sunderland’s WLLDDW form suggests a side still learning, still raw, but capable of rising to the occasion. Brian Brobbey, with seven goals, leads a modest scoring chart.

Talbi, Mundle and Moore are all out, while Alderete is a doubt as he chases match fitness. The bench – Ellborg, Cirkin, Diarra, Rigg, Traoré, Isidor, Mayenda – is young, energetic and unpredictable.

Chelsea arrive trying to shake off a bruising stretch. LLLLDW is the record of a club still trying to work out what it wants to be. João Pedro’s 15 goals have been a rare constant in an otherwise turbulent season.

Mauricio Pochettino must again navigate injuries: Estêvão and Gittens are both out with hamstring problems, Derry is sidelined by concussion. Lavia and João Pedro are doubts as they push for match fitness. Even so, the bench is stacked with talent – Badiashile, Adarabioyo, Santos, Lavia, Guiu, Garnacho, Neto – and the expectation, as always, is that Chelsea find a way.

Tottenham v Everton

Sunday, 4pm – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Referee: Michael Oliver

Here is where the tension spikes. Tottenham know the maths is brutally simple: avoid defeat against Everton and they are safe. Lose, and the trapdoor could swing open depending on results elsewhere.

Their recent form – LDWWDL – has been streaky, flashes of promise undercut by costly lapses. Richarlison, with 11 goals, has been their main source of hope in front of goal.

The squad is stretched. Ben Davies, Cristian Romero, Dejan Kulusevski, Mohammed Kudus and Odobert are all out until at least June, with Simons sidelined until February. Solanke and Djed Spence are doubts with hamstring and jaw issues respectively. Ange Postecoglou’s bench – Austin, Dragusin, Palhinha, Gray, Maddison, Bissouma, Kolo Muani and others – still has quality, but the margin for error has evaporated.

Everton arrive in poor form themselves. DLLDDL is a miserable run, and Beto’s nine goals tell their own story of a side that has struggled to hurt opponents often enough.

Sean Dyche’s men are missing Branthwaite and Grealish until August, while Idrissa Gueye is a doubt as he works back to full fitness. The bench, featuring Travers, Coleman, Patterson, Aznou, Alcaraz, McNeil and others, has experience but limited spark. Yet Everton know one thing: they can drag any game into a scrap. On a day like this, that might be enough to turn the screw.

West Ham v Leeds

Sunday, 4pm – London Stadium
Referee: Anthony Taylor

And so to the other end of the survival rope. West Ham and Leeds collide in east London with everything on the line. West Ham’s WDWLLL slide has hauled them into danger at the worst possible time, Jarrod Bowen’s eight goals no longer enough to paper over the cracks.

Lukasz Fabianski is out with a back problem, Traoré is a doubt, and David Moyes must lean on a trimmed squad. The bench – Areola, Todibo, Kilman, Walker-Peters, Kanté and others – offers experience, but the mood is brittle. One bad half, one mistake, and the season could cave in.

Leeds, by contrast, arrive with momentum. WWDWDW is the record of a side that has learned how to manage tight games. Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with 14 goals, has given them a focal point and a belief they can always find a way.

They are not untouched by injuries – Gruev, Gudmundsson, Longstaff, Okafor and Stach are all out until August, while Bogle and Struijk are doubts – but the bench still carries threat: Meslier, Nmecha, Gnonto, Piroe, Struijk (if fit), Buonanotte. Leeds know a win keeps them safe and could drag West Ham under.

When the whistles go around the country at roughly the same moment, the table will lock into place and the arguments will begin. For now, all that matters is 90 minutes, a handful of chances, and who holds their nerve when the season comes down to a single afternoon.