It’s EPL ‘Survivor Sunday’!

MAY 23 —Just who will be voted out?

Yes, the entire English Premier League (EPL) season comes down to this last weekend for four teams.

How I wish it was the EPL’s Big 4 that I was referring to, with all four still in with a shot at the title.  Instead, it is the four out of the bottom five teams — West Bromwich Albion were relegated as of last week after their home loss to Liverpool — that I am talking about.

Sunderland, Hull City, Newcastle United and Middlesbrough are on 36, 35, 34 and 32 points respectively. The points spread and the goal difference between them will make this weekend a major test of nerves for the players, let alone the manager and not forgetting the hapless supporters.

What can the supporters do? As an analyst noted on TV recently, once the whistle blows, the supporters have no control nor say on the way the game is played or the emotional roller-coaster that may ensue. They simply can’t control what the players do.

The analyst added that it’s like getting into a plane and leaving it to the pilot to fulfil your hopes and intention — to reach your destination safely. Fortunately, travelling by air has much higher probability in having your hopes met than watching your favourite team play.

On the other hand, football is not a matter of life and death (though some fanatical supporters I know will disagree!).

So, all these supporters can do is to shout themselves hoarse and accept whatever the outcome at the end of 90 minutes.

The four club managers — Ricky Sbragia, Phil Brown, Alan Shearer and Gareth Southgate — may have some limited control over what happens in terms of the substitution decisions. But other than that, they too can only watch as skill, grit, lady luck and, most importantly, the referees determine who stays and who goes down.

All matches kick off at the same time to ensure that no team is given an advantage knowing in advance what result they need to obtain. So the focus will be on the four matches — Sunderland vs Chelsea, Hull City vs Manchester United, Aston Villa vs Newcastle United and West Ham United vs Middlesbrough.

The “lucky teams”, as most people are calling them, are Sunderland and Hull, because their opponents have bigger fish to fry over the following six days after the EPL season ends.

Chelsea will desperately want to win the FA Cup against Everton on the following Saturday, May 30. Also, unless you have been living in a cave the past three weeks, you will know that Manchester United are going to take on Barcelona in the Champions League final on Wednesday, May 27.

Both Sunderland and Hull need to win to guarantee they maintain their Premiership status. Or at the least, they have to equal or better the result that Newcastle take at Villa Park. The ethical question on everyone’s mind is if Chelsea and MU are entitled to play their second stringers to keep their first-teamers safe from injury and fresh for their respective match-of-the-season.

I personally feel that there is nothing wrong with that. Even as much as I want Hull to go down — mainly because of their arrogant manager — but all’s fair over 38 matches in the season.

Some teams have, over the course of the past nine months, benefited from playing weakened teams (with squad rotation) prior to or after Champions League group stage and knockout matches. So, what’s the difference between then and now. Exactly. Nothing.

Besides, Chelsea and MU don’t actually boast young inexperienced squad players. They respectively have a salary budget the size of a few EPL teams put together. These second-stringers also have a point to prove and impress their coaches.

Ultimately, like Liverpool dropping crucial points in mid-season thus missing a great opportunity to win their first Premiership title (to add to their 18 Division One titles back when there was no EPL), the clubs who are now fighting for their lives also have reached this precarious state due to basic failures in matches past.

Will they be able to make the most of this final fling for survival? I don’t think so. Hence, my money is on the status quo of the current standings to remain.

Meaning, it will be bye-bye Newcastle and Middlesbrough, together with WBA, as I have mentioned above.

Anyhow, football has had its miracles before. Just in case you are backing or following any of the four teams, here’s a little guide on what they need to do (and hope happens in other matches) to ensure safety in the EPL.

Sunderland vs Chelsea

Sunderland need a win at home to Chelsea to be safe. If the Black Cats draw and Hull fail to win they will be safe. But if they draw while Hull and Newcastle win, Sunderland could go down on goal difference or even on goals scored.

Hull City vs Manchester United

Hull also need a win to be safe but if they draw and Newcastle win at Villa, Hull will go down. A defeat will also send them down, that is if Newcastle get a point.

Aston Villa vs Newcastle United

Newcastle must win at Villa Park and hope for both Sunderland and Hull to draw or lose. If the Magpies draw they can only chase Hull and need them to lose. A defeat at Villa Park will confirm Newcastle’s relegation after 16 years in top flight football.

West Ham United vs Middlesbrough

To stay up Middlesbrough need to win at West Ham, and hope that Newcastle and Hull lose. And they need to do that while also overturning a four-goal difference between themselves and Hull. Let’s be frank, Boro’s only hope is to bounce back after one season in the Championship.