Two Out of Three Aint Bad, sang Meatloaf, but the Meat was wrong. Baby, we can talk all night but that’s not going to alter the fact that two out of Everton, Leicester City and Leeds United will be relegated from the Premier League on Sunday evening.
Southampton are already gone – dead, buried, condemned to Championship football next season. But the situation is that two from three will be joining them with the outcome depending on matches in the final round of fixtures on Sunday afternoon. Everton are at home to Bournemouth, Leeds host Tottenham, and Leicester welcome West Ham. Everton have 33 points. Leicester and Leeds have 31.
It’s all in Everton’s hands. If they beat the Cherries, they are safe, regardless of what the others do. But Leicester’s draw at Newcastle in midweek has given them a bit of hope, given that the Foxes’ goal difference is much better than their rivals. If Everton are held by Bournemouth, then a win for Leicester will keep them up and send the other two down.
A draw is no use to Leicester and neither is to Leeds. At Elland Road, the home side must win and hope the other two don’t win. A Leeds win and two draws elsewhere would put Leeds above Leicester, but it would only put them above Everton – and keep Leeds safe – if they can earn a big win with a three goal or more winning margin. So, Everton are definitely in the box seat.
Manager Sean Dyche says they deserve to be the most likely club to survive, because they have earned their two-point advantage. “We’ve worked hard to get in to this position,” he said. “The two points doesn’t sound a lot, but it is as long as we capitalise on it. “All the noise aside, it all comes down to wanting to win, that’s another consistent message. It’s not that easy, but that’s our mentality to go and win.” Leicester’s Dean Smith know his team have to win, so they have to score, so they have to have attacking intent Smith says: “You’ve got to get that balance right and that’s the key thing. “We’ve got to score a goal because without a goal you won’t win the game.
“It doesn’t get any clearer for me, that’s all they need to know and that’s all they do know.” Leeds boss Sam Allardyce has seen it all before and says: “Is pray the right word? I don’t know.
“Let’s say the gods look after us and and all the other results go the right way for us but, you know, winning is the ultimate. “I just hope that we are talking in a very positive nature on Monday morning and I have a hangover.”
In the words of Meatloaf, “Now, don’t be sad, Sam. ‘Cause two out of three ain’t bad.”
