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Premier League enters final week of season

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As the Premier League enters the final week of the season, there is still plenty to play for at both ends of the table.

With two games remaining for all the clubs preparing to settle the campaign’s remaining issues, AFP Sport takes as closer look at the race to qualify for the Champions League and Europa League, as well as the fight to avoid relegation.

Chelsea and Leicester City are in possession of the coveted top four berths alongside champions Liverpool and Manchester City, who are guaranteed to finish second.

But both side’s grip on those spots in next season’s Champions League could easily be broken by in-form Manchester United in a nerve-jangling finale.

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Third-placed Chelsea are one point ahead of both Leicester and United, who sit fifth and are behind the Foxes on goal difference.

On Sunday, Leicester lost 3-0 in a tricky trip to Tottenham, while on Wednesday United host West Ham and Chelsea travel to Liverpool.

After those games, the top four may have been shaken up significantly before the final round of matches on July 26.

Chelsea need four points from their last two games to guarantee qualification and play Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge on the last day.

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Leicester and United meet in a decisive showdown at the King Power Stadium, which means if either of those teams win those last two games they are guaranteed to return to Europe’s elite club competition.

United are the form team after winning five of their seven league games since the restart, while Chelsea and Leicester have both shown recent signs of vulnerability.

The teams who finish fifth and sixth will qualify for next season’s Europa League, unless either of the sides in those positions win the Champions League or the Europa League – United and Wolves are contenders in the latter competition – when they restart next month.

Winning those tournaments is rewarded with Champions League qualification.

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If the FA Cup winners finish in the top six, then seventh place in the Premier League would qualify for the Europa League.

Sixth-placed Wolves will qualify for the Europa League if they win their final two games against Crystal Palace and Chelsea.

Tottenham, one point behind Wolves, will be guaranteed to hold onto seventh place at least if they win their final two games against Leicester and Palace.

Sheffield United, who face Everton and Southampton, are one point behind Tottenham in eighth and need Jose Mourinho’s men or Wolves to slip up.

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Norwich are already relegated, leaving two places to be filled by unwilling teams over the next week.

West Ham and Brighton are effectively safe after moving six points clear of the relegation zone, leaving Watford, Bournemouth and Aston Villa scrapping for survival.

Third-from-bottom Bournemouth are three points behind Watford and can move level on points if they beat Southampton at Dean Court on Sunday, with a three-goal margin of victory enough to take them above the Hornets on goal difference.

Watford take on Manchester City at Vicarage Road on Tuesday and shortly afterwards Villa host Arsenal.

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If Watford beat City or take a point, then Bournemouth or Villa would be relegated if they fail to match the Hornets’ result.

On the last day, Villa head to West Ham, Bournemouth are at Everton and Watford travel to Arsenal.

After going six games without a win after the coronavirus hiatus, Villa have given themselves hope with four points from their last two matches, although conceding a late equaliser at Everton on Thursday was a major blow.

Bournemouth’s win against Leicester on July 12 was their first in 10 games, but a defeat at City kept them in the mire.

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Watford had won their previous games before a 3-1 loss at West Ham on Friday dented their survival bid. – AFP

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Accra Lawn Tennis Club, Ikoyi Club international friendly ends tomorrow

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The four-day international tennis championship between the Accra Lawn Tennis Club of Ghana and Ikoyi Sports Club of Nigeria is set to reach its climax tomorrow at the Accra Lawn Tennis Courts (ALTC) in Accra.

According to the organisers, tomorrow would witness high profile matches with a lot at stake as both clubs aim to unsettle each other to enhance the rivalry between the two nations.

The event is an annual arrangement between the two clubs that sees the championship rotated among them.

The team representing Ghana includes Thomas Amoako Boafo, Issek Antwi-Agyei, Dr Abraham Oppong Adjei and Palm Nii Okine for the 40+ years’ division.

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The trio of Dr Bankah, Abeiku Bentsi and Ekow Arthur will be in contention for the 50 years plus group while the pairs of Dr Maxwell Adjei and Edmund Nii Botchway, Frederick Van De Vyer and David Carreras and Nicholas Kumadey and Palm Nii Okine feature against the Nigerians in the Doubles championship.

In the Men’s division, the onus would be on Chris Hammond, Kweku Amakye, Nana Dr Kofi Boakye, Chris Tagoe, Dr Henry Holdbrook-Smith, Nick Akpebu, Brian Benneh and Michele Nemesi to make the ALTC proud.

The women for the Ladies competition are Kate Coleman, Fatiha Menzel, Naa Ofoli, Wendy Quartey, Wanda Quartey and Kuukua Bartels-Kodwo.

Veteran player, Peter Annan, will be the Acting Captain of Team Ghana and would be ably assisted by Lawrence Lartey.

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Expected to lead the ALTC is Dr Maxwell Adjei, who is the newly elected Chairman of the club. He is also the Head of Dental at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge Hospital).

Mr Peter Annan, the Acting Captain of ALTC, told The Spectator that as part of the arrangement for the international friendly, a special tour was organised for members of Team Ikoyi.

He was confident that as the host club, ALTC will prevail as winners of this year’s edition which ends tomorrow.

BY ANDREW NORTEY

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Street Academy annual health walk postponed

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The Street Academy’s annual health walk has been postponed.

The event, the 26th edition, was initially slated for today but was postponed due to the two-day cleaning exercise instituted by President John Dramani Mahama.

This year’s edition is on the theme: ‘Feet on the Street, Hope in Motion.’

According to the organisers, the event would be held on August 1 with all protocols intact.

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Dr Ataa Lartey, the Founder and Executive Director of the Academy, told The Spectator that the walk which was expected to be joined by a few dignitaries will start at the Accra Art Centre.

From there, it would proceed through the principal streets of Accra to James Town and return to the starting point.

The event aims to raise awareness about the plight of needy and underprivileged children, promote healthy living, and advocate the importance of basic education.

According to Dr Lartey, the walk will feature a range of activities, including a brisk group walk, mass aerobics, free health screening, and entertainment for children.

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By Spectator Sports Reporter

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