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Done and dusted?
With Liverpool given a 99.2% chance to become champions and the bottom three clubs almost as sure to go down, you might think the EPL season is over.
Far from it!
As many as 11 clubs could qualify for three European competitions next season.
The chances are remote, as they are for seven clubs making it into the Champions League, but both scenarios are possible.
It depends on a combination of trophies won and league positions, but the EPL is almost guaranteed five qualifiers for the elite Champions League.
The pot of gold from its expanded format will ensure that nine contenders fight like “Dogs of War” till the end of the season.
This year’s early losers collected a minimum of £20m in prize money, but with increased sponsorship, broadcasting, etc, that can multiply.
For EPL clubs, qualification is likely to be worth at least £50m.
But before the contenders for the Big Boys’ league are discussed, it’s possible to sum up a few clubs’ seasons already.
For LIVERPOOL, it has been stunning. Following Jurgen Klopp did seem like following Sean Connery as James Bond.
A drop-off was seen as inevitable as there was not just a new manager, but an entirely new coaching staff.
Klopp had earned comparison with the immortal Bill Shankly, and when fan favourite Xavi Alonso ruled himself out of the running by staying at Bayer Leverkusen, the top coaches’ cupboard looked bare.
The little-known Arne Slot seemed more George Lazenby than either Roger Moore or Daniel Craig. What no one expected was that he would be the new Bob Paisley.
He’s made Liverpool a harder team to beat, more consistent, and produced a few masterstrokes.
Turning Ryan Gravenberch into a No.6 was one, while his substitutions sometimes suggest a sixth sense.
The volume may be lower than Klopp’s heavy metal, and he couldn’t get a proper tune out of Darwin Nunez.
But for a first season in the EPL, his overall performance has been brilliant.
In contrast, MANCHESTER CITY’S campaign has been a disaster.
Although they should still win a trophy &#8211; they’re favourites for the FA Cup – and qualify for next season’s Champions League, they’ve still fallen off the proverbial cliff.
By their stratospheric standards, it’s a failure on an unimaginable scale, and no one saw it coming.
It all started in October with Rodri’s ACL injury against Arsenal.
The collapse was such that it made you think the Spaniard had been playing in several positions.
Late collapses were too numerous to mention as they reminded older fans of the pre-takeover City’s knack of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
It was as inexplicable as it was shocking and Pep Guardiola was at a loss – reduced to self-harming as they fell out of the title race and the Champions League.
Besides missing Rodri, they had grown old together and City’s response was to spend £184m in the January transfer window in a partial rebuild.
They have stopped the rot but are mere shadows of their all-conquering selves.
For ARSENAL, it has been another season of frustration that can only be saved by winning the Champions League – for which they are dark horses.
But beating Real Madrid, whom they meet in the quarter-final first leg next week, and then bringing Old Big Ears back to north London would redeem it.
Injuries to their main men – losing Bukayo Saka being the cruellest blow of all – meant they didn’t quite have the firepower to push Liverpool.
Their strange reluctance to splash out on a striker also contributed.
With the benefit of hindsight, the £100m spent on Declan Rice – excellent though he is – might have been better spent on Alexander Isak, who was obtainable in 2023.
And Granit Xhaka was perhaps better than Rice at letting the forwards loose.
But long-term injuries to Martin Odegard, Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz &#8211; one after another &#8211; robbed them of vital quality.
The fans will demand a top goalscorer in the summer, but it’s not easy to see who would fit, and if it would be enough to turn nearly men into champions.
The surprise team of the season is NOTTINGHAM FOREST – whatever happens now.
Predicted to go down by almost all major pundits, having twice avoided the drop by the skin of their teeth, they are third in the league and in the semi-final of the FA Cup, where they meet City.
Their rise has been compared to Leicester City’s “miracle” title triumph in 2016.
They haven’t won anything yet and they could still falter – they’re starting to show signs of wear and tear – but these are the club’s greatest days since Brian Clough.
Twice winners of the European Cup, champions in their first year in the top flight, four-time winners of the League Cup, the late 1970s and 1980s were a golden era under the great man.
After 23 years in the wilderness, no one thought they’d return to such heights, but first Steve Cooper, and now Nuno Espirito Santo have masterminded a most unlikely comeback.
Credit also must go to the previously maligned recruitment department who picked up Anthony Elanga (£15m), Calum Hudson-Odoi (£3m), Matz Sels (£5m), Murillo (£12m), Ola Aina (free) and Nikola Milenkovic (£11m).
All those for less than what Manchester United paid for Mason Mount!
To miss out on a scarcely credible return to Europe, Forest have to slip badly, but must be wary of the chasing pack.
If Liverpool and Arsenal are nailed on for Champions League spots, City will surely join them.
Forest will be scrapping with Newcastle, Aston Villa and Chelsea for the other places, although Fulham and Brighton still have a mathematical chance.
If Villa were to win the Champions League and finish outside the top six, the EPL would get a sixth or seventh place, depending on other results.
Whatever the combination, the scramble should still produce a thrilling climax.
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The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.

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