Premier League tips: three key selections in the battle for European football

Apart from the title race and relegation scrap, there's plenty to play for on the Premier League final day, including the battle to qualify for the Champions and Europa Leagues. Here are our top tips for three crunch matches in that particular race, with all games kicking-off at 4pm.

Arsenal vs Everton

Back-to-back defeats by Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United have in effect ended Arsenal’s top-four hopes. To qualify for the Champions League from here, Mikel Arteta’s men must beat Everton and hope that last-placed Norwich City overcome Tottenham.

It is a long shot. Arsenal will still be feeling low after Monday’s emphatic loss to Newcastle. Theirs is a young team and it could take a while for the players to regroup. When they last lost back-to-back games to Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion, Arsenal proceeded to lose a third to Southampton.

The pressure is now off Everton, who secured survival with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Crystal Palace last time out. Being able to play with a degree of freedom could help Frank Lampard’s side avoid defeat at the Emirates Stadium.

Recommended bet: Everton or draw @ 2.96

Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira has overseen his side conceding the fourth fewest goals at home in the Premier League this season

Crystal Palace vs Manchester United

Manchester United must beat Crystal Palace to guarantee a place in the Europa League. If they slip up, they would open the door to West Ham United, who are two points behind the Red Devils and have a markedly superior goal difference. The Hammers travel to Brighton on the final day.

This has been a season to forget for United – and they are unlikely to end it on a high. Crystal Palace are tricky opponents, particularly at home. Liverpool and Chelsea are the only visiting teams to have won at Selhurst Park since New Year’s Day, and both sides were arguably fortunate to emerge victorious over Patrick Vieira’s men.

Only Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal have conceded fewer goals at home than Palace this term, which is why a price of 1.8 on United either failing to find the net or scoring just once is attractive.

Recommended bet: Manchester United to score under 1.5 goals @ 1.8

Norwich City vs Tottenham Hotspur

It took a while for Tottenham to grow into a more consistent side under Antonio Conte, but it is fair to say they achieved that goal at just the right time. Since the start of March, Spurs have lost just two of 12 games and have accrued more points than anyone but Liverpool.

Fourth place is now theirs for the taking. Conte could hardly have asked for a kinder fixture to conclude the campaign. This has been another Premier League season in which Norwich have, to all intents and purposes, failed to compete. They have won the fewest number of games, amassed the fewest points, scored the fewest and conceded the most goals this term.

It is hard to look past a comfortable away win, so consider Tottenham to win both halves at 2.4.

Recommended bet: Tottenham to win both halves @ 2.4

Recommended bets

Everton or draw @ 2.96

Man Utd under 1.5 @ 1.8

Spurs both halves @ 2.4