Premier League - Whats still to play for on Sunday.
Last weekend's results ensured that there's still all to play for at the top, bottom and middle of the Premier League. This means that Sunday's climatic games will be some of the tensest in recent memory and looking at the fixture list, we can only see two ties of the ten that have little relevance to the key areas of the table (Sunderland home match with Arsenal and Liverpool trip to Tottenham). So with that in mind, we've decided to go off the beaten track a little this week and instead of focusing on a couple of matches we're going to look at them all so you will know what it takes for your side to win the title, claim a position in Europe or survive the drop into the Championship.
BIG FOUR The Arsenal and Liverpool games are irrelevant. The Gunners' 1-0 victory over Everton on Sunday means that Liverpool, who have been secure in at least fourth for some weeks now, can not catch the Gunners in third. In turn, Chelsea's 2-0 defeat of Newcastle at St James' Park on Bank Holiday Monday means that Avram Grant's side are four points ahead of the Gunners and are guaranteed at least second. Arsenal and Liverpool will therefore have to participate in a two-legged qualification tie to make it through to next season's Champions League proper.
There is, of course, far more on the line for Manchester United and Chelsea. The Blues ensured a tight final day finish with that win at Newcastle, but while they are level on points with United, Chelsea do not have their fate in their own hands. If United beat Wigan, Chelsea will have to beat Bolton and overhaul a massive goal difference of seventeen to snatch the title from Old Trafford. If both teams draw or lose, the title is United's on goal difference. However, if United lose or draw at the JJB and Chelsea win, the Blues will win the title.
So how likely is a Chelsea title win? Certainly with Bolton all-but sealing survival with a 2-0 win over Sunderland on Saturday (a massive goal difference switch is the only thing that can relegate them) it seems unlikely that Gary Megson's men will be as fired up for this match as their opponents are. What's more, Chelsea have not lost in the league since a 1-0 defeat at Arsenal in December and have only dropped points in five games since then. In contrast, United's 4-1 win at home to West Ham on Saturday was their first impressive league performance in a month, a period which has seen them draw with Blackburn and Middlesbrough and lose at Chelsea.
Grant has already begun the mind games by demanding Wigan put up an honest fight on Sunday and suggesting the pressure is all on United, but he would undoubtedly swap places with Sir Alex Ferguson. Winning at Wigan, who have grown into a tenacious little side under the management of Steve Bruce, certainly won't be easy, regardless of their current league position, but it's difficult to see United's experienced players slipping up at such a crucial moment. A United goal difference win seems the most likely outcome then, and that would seem a fittingly tight finish to what has been one of the most thrilling title races in years.
RELEGATION Mathematically, there are five teams who still have the threat of relegation hovering over their heads. However, as Bolton are three points above Fulham and Reading and four ahead of Birmingham with a superior goal difference to the former duo, it would take a significant overhaul of eleven in GD for Gary Megson's men to drop into the Championship. Realistically then, the battle is down to Fulham, Reading and Birmingham, and here the permutations get particularly difficult.
