Anything can happen – and I mean ANYTHING – on the final day of the Premier League season.
I know because I was part of a Liverpool team that finished fourth in their last game of the campaign…in a two-horse race.
I wasn’t actually playing. I’d managed to get myself sent off against Everton and so missed the last three games of the season.
But, even so, we went into the final day needing a win at Sheffield Wednesday to guarantee second and an automatic place in the Champions League.
Somehow, we only drew… even though their keeper Kevin Pressman was injured, and the sub keeper they brought on, Matt Clarke, got himself sent off for handling the ball outside his box.
Yep, you read that right, we only drew against 10 men with a striker in goal.
It was Andy Booth, for the record. And he saved with his legs in the very last minute, when Steve McManaman was through on goal.
Which is my slightly awkward way of saying, don’t go thinking it will all be straightforward on Sunday, with United winning at a canter against Leicester and Chelsea strolling to the victory everyone expects when they face Wolves.
Don’t be thinking it will follow an obvious plan at the bottom, either.
In fact, if you’re looking for a bet, then I’d suggest that all three of the clubs still involved in the relegation fight will LOSE. Which would mean Villa stay up by default.
Back to the top for the minute, though, and Liverpool’s failure in that 1996-97 season to qualify for the Champions League had massive ramifications for the club.
We missed out on millions for not getting there… and it ultimately cost Roy Evans his job.
One game. One final day. And long-term implications. You look now at Chelsea and the money they have committed to spending, when the transfer window opens, suggests they are gambling big on next season.
That’s a huge risk because no one can confidently predict what the hell with happen to football in the next year because of the pandemic.
Clubs could lose hundreds of millions, if the absence of fans continues.
But splashing out hundreds of millions in times of uncertainty is a massive risk.
Chelsea could have some fabulous players, but end up slogging around the killing fields of Thursday night Europa League football, if they lose to Wolves and United fail to beat Leicester.
Then look at United. If they lose to Leicester and Chelsea avoid defeat, it would mean they would have qualified for the Champions League just twice in seven years.
Think of that. Five of the last seven years without the massive European money the top tier delivers and demands.
Basically, if you don’t get regular Champions League cash, then you are fighting a losing battle.
Less income, less spending, less quality.
Chelsea are gambling their future on one big result. Spend millions now and, if there’s a second wave of coronavirus, well, they are in trouble.
Lower than that there is plenty at stake. Tottenham could easily lose out on even a Europa League place if results (and the FA Cup final) go against them. They are a billion in debt. And no European income?
I think back to the end of that 1996-97 season and I wonder how costly my red card proved to be. I’d have backed myself to score against Andy Booth with my eyes closed.
Because of that draw, there were big changes at the club, the end of era, with John Barnes leaving. Stan Collymore went too.
I can see the same happening to one of the big clubs who miss out on the European money this time around.
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