EPL Predictions: Picks, Top Players for Week 38 Premier League Fixtures

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Yet another incredible Premier League season is set to draw to a close on Sunday, and while Leicester City have already completed their Cinderella story, there's much still to be decided with key fixtures remaining in the race for the UEFA Champions League and to avoid relegation.

Sunderland will relegate Norwich City and bitter rivals Newcastle United if they beat Everton at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday, and should they fail to do so, they'll have a second bite of the cherry on the final day at Watford.

The Canaries have the same fixtures as the Black Cats but in reverse, while the Magpies will be hoping for results to go their way and a victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

In the fight for the top four, Manchester United can leapfrog Manchester City if they can beat West Ham United in the Hammers' last match at Upton Park on Tuesday, and the Red Devils can cement their place at home to Bournemouth on the final day.

Here are all the remaining fixtures in the 2015-16 Premier League season, complete with predictions for each, and read on for the players who could have a huge impact on how the campaign ends for their sides and those around them:

Remaining Premier League Schedule
Date	Time (BST/ET)	Fixture	Prediction
Tuesday, May 10	7:45 p.m./2:45 p.m	West Ham vs. Manchester United	2-2
Wednesday, May 11	7:45 p.m./2:45 p.m	Norwich City vs. Watford	1-1
Wednesday, May 11	7:45 p.m./2:45 p.m	Sunderland vs. Everton	2-0
Wednesday, May 11	8 p.m./3 p.m.	Liverpool vs. Chelsea	3-1
Sunday, May 15	3 p.m./10 a.m.	Arsenal vs. Aston Villa	3-0
Sunday, May 15	3 p.m./10 a.m.	Chelsea vs. Leicester City	2-2
Sunday, May 15	3 p.m./10 a.m.	Everton vs. Norwich City	2-1
Sunday, May 15	3 p.m./10 a.m.	Manchester United vs. Bournemouth	2-0
Sunday, May 15	3 p.m./10 a.m.	Newcastle United vs. Tottenham Hotspur	1-2
Sunday, May 15	3 p.m./10 a.m.	Southampton vs. Crystal Palace	3-0
Sunday, May 15	3 p.m./10 a.m.	Stoke City vs. West Ham	1-3
Sunday, May 15	3 p.m./10 a.m.	Swansea City vs. Manchester City	2-1
Sunday, May 15	3 p.m./10 a.m.	Watford vs. Sunderland	1-2
Sunday, May 15	3 p.m./10 a.m.	West Brom vs. Liverpool	0-2

BBC Sport

Jermain Defoe, Sunderland

After Norwich's defeat to Manchester United on Saturday, Newcastle and Sunderland were both presented with an excellent chance to take another step toward Premier League survival. As Toon legend Alan Shearer noted, only one did:

Norwich result opened the door out of relegation @SunderlandAFC emphatically took the chance while @nufc messed up.Advantage @SunderlandAFC ^[1]^[2]^[3]
— Alan Shearer (@alanshearer) May 7, 2016 ^[4]

The Magpies failed to win at Aston Villa—where they were relegated on the final day of the 2008-09 season—while Sunderland earned a memorable come-from-behind win against Chelsea.

Key to that result was Jermain Defoe, and should the Black Cats survive—and it seems likely they will at this point—he'll have played a huge part.

The striker has bagged 15 Premier League goals this season, including five in his last eight games. Former England goalkeeper David James hailed his impact:

Fair play, I thought @SunderlandAFC ^[5] signing Defoe was risky, but he has been superb during the fight for survival
— David James (@jamosfoundation) May 7, 2016 ^[6]

So did Martin Keown on Match of the Day:

Jermain Defoe... still doing it... #SAFC https://t.co/dEAggqW2Ea ^[7]^[8]
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) May 7, 2016 ^[9]

Sam Allardyce's side will want to have their survival assured on Wednesday, particularly as it will be their last game at home this season, and they can take advantage of a partisan crowd.

Defoe is a ruthless finisher, and against Everton's porous defence, he's sure to have chances to score. If Sunderland are forced to wait until Sunday, he's similarly likely to have the opportunity against a Watford side who have won just two of their last 10 matches.

Wayne Rooney ^[10], Manchester United

If United can win their remaining two matches, they'll finish at least fourth regardless of what City can muster against Swansea City on the final day.

While Wayne Rooney has been sub-par more often than not this season, he remains an important figure at Old Trafford, and had he been on form throughout the campaign, it's likely United would already be in the top four.

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

As the Red Devils bid to beat West Ham and Bournemouth, how Rooney fares will likely have a big impact on their final league position.

On Saturday, Rooney was the provider of the match's only goal as he turned and picked out Juan Mata ^[11], per Samuel Luckhurst and Rob Dawson of the Manchester Evening News:

A slapstick goal for a slapstick match. Excellent awareness from Rooney. #mufc ^[12]
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) May 7, 2016 ^[13]

Fair play to Rooney. Thought chance was gone but decent spot to see Mata. United lead 1-0. Schneiderlin straight out to warm up.
— Rob Dawson (@RobDawsonMEN) May 7, 2016 ^[14]

With the England captain now being deployed in midfield by Louis van Gaal, it is his vision and passing range making an impact for United rather than his goals.

As OptaJoe noted, the assist brought the England international to an impressive milestone:

95 - Wayne Rooney is now joint-third for assists in Premier League history (95, level with Fabregas). Provider.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 7, 2016 ^[15]

That said, with Anthony Martial now a doubt for the West Ham match after being withdrawn in the warm-up at Carrow Road, per Adam Marshall ^[16] of United's official website, Rooney will need to be more prepared to pull the trigger than he seems to have been of late.

In years gone by, the 30-year-old would have simply slotted home the chance against Norwich rather than attempting to find another player, and it could benefit his team for him to rediscover that killer instinct for the final two games.

If Rooney can produce two strong performances to finish the season, United have an excellent chance of salvaging Champions League football. If he can't, the Red Devils will find their task that much more difficult.