Premier League preview: The battle for Europe

๐Ÿ† @FCKobenhavn are back-to-back champions of Denmark. They have been ruthlessly clinical in front of goal:

๐Ÿ”น 60 goals (most)
๐Ÿ”น 53.9 xG (most)
๐Ÿ”น 6.1 goals over expected (most)
๐Ÿ”น 5.8 shots on target per game (most)
๐Ÿ”น 26.6 touches in opp. box per game (most)

#fcklive | #sldk twitter.com/FCKobenhavn/stโ€ฆ

๐‘ซ๐‘จ๐‘ต๐‘บ๐‘ฒ๐‘ฌ ๐ŸŒŸ๐ŸŒŸ๐ŸŒŸ ๐‘ด๐‘ฌ๐‘บ๐‘ป๐‘น๐‘ฌ

#fcklive #sldk

๐Ÿ”น 12 goals
๐Ÿ”น 53 shots
๐Ÿ”น 24 on target
๐Ÿ”น 8.9 xG
๐Ÿ”น 3.1 goals over expected
๐Ÿ”น 5.6 xA
๐Ÿ”น 20.8% conversion
๐Ÿ”น 4.4 touches in opposing box (per game)

In all of the above metrics, @FCKobenhavn‘s Viktor Claesson sits in the 95th percentile of all #sldk players (at least).

#fcklive

๐™’๐™ž๐™ฃ ๐™ฅ๐™ง๐™ค๐™—๐™–๐™—๐™ž๐™ก๐™ž๐™ฉ๐™ฎ ๐Ÿ“Š

๐Ÿ”ต #LCFC win: 49%
โš’๏ธ #WHUFC win: 27%
๐Ÿค Draw: 24%

That point at Newcastle might just come back to save Dean Smith’s @LCFC today. But they’ll need all three points against West Ham, and a favour from Bournemouth.

#PremierLeague | #LEIWHU

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Top-four battle

With Leicester and Liverpool securing vital wins at Old Trafford and Chelsea losing to Arsenal, the top-four race has reached a crescendo with some significant matches coming up. It looks like itโ€™s going to be between three sides for a top-four place but West Ham still have an outside chance and will be desperate to qualify for Europe.

West Bromwich Albion vs Liverpool 
West Brom form

West Bromwich Albion are heading back to the Championship after a solitary season back in the Premier League. It has been a disappointing campaign with Sam Allardyce unable to keep the Midlands club up after he was appointed in December.

Sam Allardyce, manager of West Bromwich Albion reacts during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion at the Emirates Stadium. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

There was a mini-revival with wins against Chelsea and Southampton, but two defeats and two draws from their last four has condemned them to relegation.


Liverpool form

Liverpool are back in the top-four race. After beating Southampton and Man United, the Reds will be smelling blood. Leicester and Chelsea both lost one of their two games and face each other next week, which gives Liverpool hope of usurping one of them.

Jurgen Kloppโ€™s side currently sit in fifth position after leapfrogging West Ham and are just four points behind Chelsea with a game in hand.

Liverpool are unbeaten in seven Premier League matches and should win their final three games, against teams who have little to play for.

Roberto Firmino of Liverpool celebrates after scoring the third goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

However, in the corresponding fixture, they drew 1-1 against WBA and a theme of the campaign has been dropped points against the sides at the bottom.

Liverpool have only won one of their five league matches against the three newly promoted teams this season.


Head to head

History is not on the Baggies side. They have lost their last 17 home matches against Liverpool by an aggregate score of 44-9, with their last victory coming in the 1980-81 season.

Six of the last eight Premier League encounters between the two sides have ended as a draw.


Brighton vs West Ham
Brighton form

It has been a strange season to work out for Brighton, who have battled relegation despite playing some excellent, free-flowing football. Graham Potterโ€™s men have created the chances of a top-six side, but their finishing has left a lot to be desired.

Brighton’s English manager Graham Potter (L) reacts with Brighton’s English defender Lewis Dunk at the final whistle during the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Leeds United. (Photo by JOHN SIBLEY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

They bossed proceedings against Wolves last weekend but conspired to lose 2-1 after captain Lewis Dunk was sent off. He will be missing for this clash. The Seagulls are in 17th but are safe for another season, and will be looking to beat last yearโ€™s tally of 41 points.

Brighton have only won one of their last six games, a 2-0 victory at home to Leeds. They have kept a clean sheet in six of their last nine home games in 2021.


West Ham form

West Hamโ€™s Champions League push has petered out in recent weeks but that shouldnโ€™t detract from their outstanding season.

They sit in sixth place and are on track for Europa League football. David Moyes has done a sterling job to have his side competing for a top-six finish.

Jesse Lingard was named as the Premier League player of the month for April, a reward for his excellent performances since joining on-loan.

Jesse Lingard of West Ham United during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Everton at the London Stadium. (Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

The Hammers were off-colour against Everton last weekend and need to beat Brighton to stay in the top six after three losses from their last five games.


Head-to head

West Ham have never beaten Brighton in the Premier League (D4, L3).


Featured image: Liverpool’s German manager Jurgen Klopp celebrates on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford. (Photo by MICHAEL REGAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

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๐Ÿ† @FCKobenhavn are back-to-back champions of Denmark. They have been ruthlessly clinical in front of goal:

๐Ÿ”น 60 goals (most)
๐Ÿ”น 53.9 xG (most)
๐Ÿ”น 6.1 goals over expected (most)
๐Ÿ”น 5.8 shots on target per game (most)
๐Ÿ”น 26.6 touches in opp. box per game (most)

#fcklive | #sldk twitter.com/FCKobenhavn/stโ€ฆ

๐‘ซ๐‘จ๐‘ต๐‘บ๐‘ฒ๐‘ฌ ๐ŸŒŸ๐ŸŒŸ๐ŸŒŸ ๐‘ด๐‘ฌ๐‘บ๐‘ป๐‘น๐‘ฌ

#fcklive #sldk

๐Ÿ”น 12 goals
๐Ÿ”น 53 shots
๐Ÿ”น 24 on target
๐Ÿ”น 8.9 xG
๐Ÿ”น 3.1 goals over expected
๐Ÿ”น 5.6 xA
๐Ÿ”น 20.8% conversion
๐Ÿ”น 4.4 touches in opposing box (per game)

In all of the above metrics, @FCKobenhavn‘s Viktor Claesson sits in the 95th percentile of all #sldk players (at least).

#fcklive

๐™’๐™ž๐™ฃ ๐™ฅ๐™ง๐™ค๐™—๐™–๐™—๐™ž๐™ก๐™ž๐™ฉ๐™ฎ ๐Ÿ“Š

๐Ÿ”ต #LCFC win: 49%
โš’๏ธ #WHUFC win: 27%
๐Ÿค Draw: 24%

That point at Newcastle might just come back to save Dean Smith’s @LCFC today. But they’ll need all three points against West Ham, and a favour from Bournemouth.

#PremierLeague | #LEIWHU