Sunday 15 May 2016 17:16, UK
As the Premier League season reaches its climax, we look at some of the questions that should be answered by end of play on Sunday.
Will Arsenal finish on a high? And does that matter? (Arsenal v Aston Villa)
Would a big win over basement side Aston Villa send Arsenal fans into the summer with renewed optimism? How about a second-place finish?
That could still be possible if Tottenham lose to Newcastle, yet even 'St Totteringham's Day' would surely not be celebrated with the normal enthusiasm and glee.
Arsenal have finished above Spurs for the last 21 years but this season has been one of frustration for the Gunners. There have been protests against manager Arsene Wenger, empty seats at the Emirates in recent home matches and a sense of under-achievement.
If they finish with a thumping victory, as they should, it would no doubt be well received, but Arsenal's future will not be determined by this result. It will be determined, as it has been over the last few years, by what they do or don't do over the summer.
Will Claudio Ranieri receive recognition on his return to Stamford Bridge? (Chelsea v Leicester)
When the fixtures for this season were announced back in June 2015, the newly-crowned Premier League champions would have had an eye on this final-day encounter with the Foxes and whether they would need points to claim a second successive crown.
Nobody, however, would have envisaged that Leicester would head to London 31 points and eight places higher than the Blues, having already sealed the Premier League title with two games to spare.
The dramatic turnaround in both sides' fortunes mirrors that of Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri, who returns to Chelsea 12 years after being struck off for tinkering with his team too much and being replaced by Jose Mourinho.
The charismatic Italian returns to Stamford Bridge as a champion, and, as a guard of honour is formed pre-match, Chelsea will have their chance to show their former boss, and his team, the appreciation their stellar campaign merits.
Will the Toffees finally have something to cheer about? (Everton v Norwich)
The final day of the season usually throws up fixtures with little riding of them, and nowhere is this more the case than at Goodison Park on Sunday.
It all looks set to be a sombre atmosphere on Merseyside as managerless Everton, fresh from parting company with Roberto Martinez, host relegated Norwich in their last game before the Canaries drop back into the Championship.
The Toffees' form in front of their own fans - which has yielded just five league victories this term - was arguably the key to Martinez's downfall.
Martinez paid the price for failing to get the most out of his star-studded squad, as too did the Everton fans as inconsistency set it at Goodison.
Having drastically under-performed, the Everton players have the chance to draw a line under their season, and give their fans optimism for life under their new manager, whoever it may be.
Will this be Louis van Gaal's last Old Trafford outing? (Man Utd v Bournemouth - live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 2.30pm)
As a turbulent season at the Theatre of Dreams draws to an end, the questions that have hung over Van Gaal's future will no doubt resurface once the final whistle sounds on Sunday.
Add to the fact that Jose Mourinho - the No 1 contender for the United job - has pencilled in a July return to management and Bournemouth could be the last team to face a Manchester United side managed by the Dutchman.
Yet, for all the criticism levelled at Van Gaal, if results go United's way he could end the season back in the Champions League and having clinched a first FA Cup in 12 seasons.
While many people associated with the club baulk at the idea of celebrating a fourth-place finish, could qualification for Europe's elite-club competition, at the expense of rivals Manchester City, pave the way for a third season under Van Gaal's rule?
Spurs to seal North London bragging rights in the North East? (Newcastle v Tottenham)
A month or so ago, Newcastle were forced to close the general sale of tickets for this fixture to prevent scores of Spurs fans from populating the home end at their sides' potential Premier League coronation.
A first league title in 55 years may have evaded Mauricio Pochettino's men but they head to St James' Park with a prize in sight that, in the short term, would make up for missing out to Leicester in the title race.
Victory against relegated Newcastle would secure second spot behind the champions and, crucially, ahead of bitter rivals Arsenal - a feat last achieved in 1995.
Add that to the fact that Pochettino has committed his long-term future to the club and the pain endured at the 'Battle of the Bridge' will soon be forgotten, replaced by a renewed sense of optimism at the Lane.
Saints to go marching into Europe? Or will Palace halt their charge? (Southampton v Crystal Palace)
Champions League football may well be out of reach for Ronald Koeman's Southampton but qualification for the Europa League for the second successive season means that, unlike a number of final-day fixtures, there is plenty to play for at St Mary's.
The Saints are currently on course to seal a Europa League qualifying-round spot but such hopes could be derailed by the visitors long after they've left the south coast.
If Crystal Palace win the FA Cup against Manchester United next weekend, then Alan Pardew's men would take that qualification spot.
In-form Saints, however, will be keen to keep their destiny in their hands and will be confident of taking three points against a Palace side that will no doubt be without several first-team players ahead of the final at Wembley.
Will there be a post-Boleyn Ground comedown for the Hammers? (Stoke v West Ham - live on Sky Sports 3 HD from 2.55pm)
West Ham supporters will be gently nursing their voices back to full health after an emotionally-charged final night at the Boleyn on Tuesday.
Having given their iconic stadium of 112 years the perfect send-off with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Manchester United, Sunday's trip to the Britannia marks the start of the latest chapter in the Hammers' history.
The United victory left Europa League football within the grasp of Slaven Bilic's side, and what better way to see in the new era at the Olympic Stadium than by sealing European football in its maiden season.
However, with celebrations going on well into the night as the Boleyn received a fitting farewell, can the drained Hammers find the strength for one final performance?
Will Pellegrini leave City in a state for Pep? (Swansea v Man City - live on Sky Sports 2 HD from 2.55pm)
After three seasons and three major honours, Manuel Pellegrini's tenure as Manchester City manager comes to an end at the Liberty Stadium.
Having clearly prioritised City's Champions League campaign this term - during which they succumbed to Real Madrid in the semi-finals - there is still plenty of work for the Chilean to do domestically before Pep Guardiola takes the reins.
Defeat to Southampton and Sunday's draw with Arsenal had opened the door to Manchester United in the race for the top four, although the threat from their cross-city rivals diminished slightly following their midweek defeat at West Ham.
A consummate professional throughout, Pellegrini will be keen to end his reign with the same degree of integrity that has become synonymous with his tenure.
Avoid defeat in south Wales and fourth spot is secure for his successor. Defeat, however, opens the door to United and the possibility of Europa League football in Pep's first season.
Will it be a fond farewell for Flores? (Watford v Sunderland)
Depending how results go on the final day, Watford could finish as high as 11th or as low as 16th. Considering they've never survived a season in the Premier League before, wherever they finish from here on will surely be a success.
Yet the man who has masterminded the season, gelling together 16 new signings and 22 different nationalities at the start of the campaign, and also reaching an FA Cup semi-final, will be saying his farewells on Sunday.
Despite the club recently saying they are "extremely pleased" with Quique Sanchez Flores' work, it was announced on Friday that he will be leaving at the end of the season.
Flores will be the seventh manager to depart the club since the Pozzo family completed their takeover in 2012, and it is a decision few could have seen coming at Christmas when the newly-promoted side were seventh, three points outside the top four.
Perhaps, given they had five managers during the course of last season's promotion campaign, it should not be too much of a surprise to anyone though, including Flores.
Will any fringe players work their way into contention? (West Brom v Liverpool)
Jurgen Klopp hasn't been afraid to make wholesale changes in the Premier League while his first-choice Liverpool side have impressed in Europe.
With Wednesday's Europa League final in Basel looming - where the Reds can secure Champions League football next term - the German is expected to ring the changes for Sunday's trip to The Hawthorns.
It proved to be a decision that back-fired the last time it was implemented as Swansea put a youthful Liverpool side to the sword at the start of the month. Don't, however, expect the same this time around.
Few players have the chance to play in a European final and a decent performance against the Baggies could pave the way for a late surge into Klopp's plans on what could be another vintage night on the continent for the Reds.
