The notion of a ‘39th game’ was roundly and rightly panned when it first surfaced nine years ago, but as anyone up to speed on their Premier League rules and regulations knows, provisions already exist for top-flight clubs to squeeze an extra fixture in.

Playoffs can be held at the end of the season if, as rule C.17 states: “…either the league champions or the clubs to be relegated or the question of qualification for other competitions cannot be determined because two or more clubs are equal on points, goal difference and goals scored, the clubs concerned shall play off one or more deciding league matches on neutral grounds”.

The rule has never had to be enforced before, but as we approach this season’s end, there is a slim – a very, very slim - chance of not just one but two playoffs being held. After 38 games, automatic Champions League qualification and the final relegation spot could still be undecided.

So, what sequence of results would be needed to bring about two one-off, all-to-play-for, 39th games?

Relegation playoff

Hull City vs Swansea City

Hull 4 Sunderland 0

Swansea 1 Everton 0

Sunderland 0 Swansea 1

Crystal Palace 2 Hull 2

Hull 0 Tottenham 2

Swansea 0 West Bromwich Albion 2

These two sides have shown a tendency to match each other’s results for some months now, but Marco Silva’s side currently sit two points clear of their closest rivals.

However, the Humberside club’s -31 goal difference and 36 goals scored are inferior to Swansea’s respective -29 and 40.

One set of results which would guarantee a relegation playoff would involve Hull picking up their biggest win of the season against relegated Sunderland at the KCOM on Saturday.

If Swansea pick up a narrow win at home to Everton, then beat Sunderland 1-0 themselves the week after, a 2-2 draw between Hull and Crystal Palace would leave both sides level on 38 points, -27 goal difference and 42 goals scored.

If both clubs then matched each other’s results on the final day, a relegation play-off would be assured.

Third place playoff

Liverpool vs Manchester City

Manchester City 3 Crystal Palace 2

Liverpool 1 Southampton 0

Manchester City 3 Leicester 1

West Ham 0 Liverpool 2

Manchester City 2 West Bromwich Albion 1

Liverpool 2 Middlesbrough 0

​Watford 1 Manchester City 3

Less likely but still possible is the prospect of a playoff between Liverpool and Manchester City, with the final automatic Champions League qualification spot contested. Confusingly, it would be a playoff to decide which team does not have to play a European playoff at the start of next season.

Liverpool currently have the points on the board and are three clear, with +29 goal difference and 71 scored. City, meanwhile, have a +28 goal difference and 65 scored, with a game in hand against West Bromwich Albion on 16 May.

A playoff could occur if City accrue several high-scoring wins without keeping a clean sheet, while Liverpool keep it tight and win narrowly.

Liverpool players who could leave this summer Show all 12 1 /12 Liverpool players who could leave this summer Liverpool players who could leave this summer Daniel Sturridge An electric frontman just three years ago, Sturridge has now lost a bit of that spark due to persistent injury problems. However, according to Jamie Carragher, Sturridge has become irked at speculation linking him with a move away, suggesting he may yet stick around to prove himself. Survival rating: 6/10 Getty Liverpool players who could leave this summer Alberto Moreno Moreno is surely in line to depart this summer, having been frozen out of the starting line-up since the opening day win at Arsenal and kept out by a makeshift left-back. Although he offers an obvious attacking threat, his lack of composure has cost Liverpool too many times in his short Anfield career. Survival rating: 2/10 Getty Liverpool players who could leave this summer Simon Mignolet He may have won his battle with Loris Karius for the starting spot between the sticks, but both may have lost the war. Neither have convinced when given an opportunity and Mignolet is merely the man in possession. There will be concern if that’s still the case come next season’s opening weekend. Survival rating: 8/10 Getty Liverpool players who could leave this summer Emre Can A player with undoubted potential, but one who has consistently under-performed. His contractual situation is a worry, too. Can’s current deal expires in the summer of 2018 and, with negotiations progressing slowly, Liverpool could be tempted to cash in. Survival rating: 7/10 Getty Liverpool players who could leave this summer Lucas Leiva A club stalwart, a fan favourite, but a player undoubtedly coming to the end of his time at Anfield. His contract expires this summer and a renewal would be one borne out of sentiment rather than sense. Survival rating: 2/10 Getty Liverpool players who could leave this summer Loris Karius Like Mignolet, Karius' future will depend on whether Klopp decides to enter the market for a goalkeeper for the second consecutive summer. If he does, last year's signing from Mainz will have a long road back to the first team. He is young, though, and his status as a relatively new signing could work in his favour. Survival rating: 7/10 Getty Liverpool players who could leave this summer Ragnar Klavan Brought in as a fourth-choice centre-back last summer, Klavan shot up the pecking order following Mamadou Sakho’s disciplinary issues. Joel Matip’s injury problems saw Klavan promoted further still and, though he has put in a handful of solid displays, others have been below-par. If a new centre-back arrives and Joe Gomez’s development continues apace, Klavan will be back on the fringes. Survival rating: 7/10 Getty Liverpool players who could leave this summer Mamadou Sakho Sakho is currently out on loan at Crystal Palace and his Anfield career looks all but over after the disciplinary problems which have dogged him. Klopp looks to have made his mind up on the defender, who would be a regular starter if he had his manager's trust. Survival rating: 1/10 Getty Liverpool players who could leave this summer Jon Flanagan Local-born Flanagan is a fan favourite who only signed a new contract last season, but as an old-fashioned full-back, he is perhaps not dynamic enough for Klopp's system. A lack of minutes at loan club Burnley will not have helped his cause. Survival rating: 2/10 Getty Liverpool players who could leave this summer Andre Wisdom Wisdom broke into Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool side during the Northern Irishman's first season at the club, but his progress has stagnated. The 23-year-old may now look to build a career away from English football, having spent this season on loan at Red Bull Salzburg. Survival rating: 2/10 Getty Liverpool players who could leave this summer Lazar Markovic Markovic seems destined to become an expensive Liverpool flop, having flattered to deceive since his £20million move from Benfica in 2014. He could yet enjoy success elsewhere however, and has shown glimpses of his undeniable talent while on loan at Hull. Survival rating: 3/10 Getty Liverpool players who could leave this summer Danny Ings Liverpool's forgotten man has been unlucky with injuries since joining from Burnley. Ings has made just 11 starts in two years following two serious knee injuries. With any luck, Klopp will show sympathy to his beleaguered striker. Survival rating: 6/10 Getty

In one set of possible results, City edge past a Crystal Palace side that have performed well against top clubs in recent weeks with a 3-2 win, while Liverpool beat Southampton 1-0 at Anfield.

Both teams win by two goals the week after, City conceding in a 3-1 win against Leicester. Their defence is breached in their game in hand too, with them beating Tony Pulis’ Baggies 2-1.

On the final day, Liverpool stick two past the goal-shy Middlesbrough, while City let one slip in a win at Watford. Both finish with identical league records - crucially, 78 points, +34 goal difference and 76 goals scored each.

Needless to say, such a sequence of results is unlikely. Not only does it involve both sides winning all their remaining games, but also because it relies on Liverpool’s leaky defence keeping three consecutive clean sheets.

How likely is all this?

Very, very unlikely.

These are not the only configurations of results that could produce each playoff, and other playoffs remain mathematically possible too. However, even the relatively reasonable sequences of results selected above are, of course, unlikely to pass.