Skip to content

Premier League questions: Can Leicester secure the title? Who will drop to the Championship?

Race for the title

The most unpredictable Premier League campaign is back and a champion could be crowned with the top-five sides all in action, live on Sky Sports.

Leicester go to Old Trafford knowing a win on Super Sunday will secure the Premier League title, but Tottenham will be hoping Manchester United can keep the race alive for their trip to Stamford Bridge on Monday Night Football.

Arsenal welcome Norwich to the Emirates on Saturday Night Football and Manchester City travel to St. Mary's for the second Super Sunday game with Champions League places still up for grabs.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Jamie Redknapp gives his thoughts on this week's Saturday Night Football clash between Arsenal and Norwich, as well as the rest of Saturday's action

There is also the crucial battle to avoid the drop with two from Sunderland, Norwich and Newcastle the most likely to drop down to the Championship.

With so much at stake, we take a look at 10 questions that could be answered over the weekend.

Can Howe heap more pressure on Martinez? (Everton v Bournemouth - Saturday, 3pm)

Everton's Spanish manager Roberto Martinez gathers the ball during the FA cup quarter-final football match between Everton and Chelsea at Goodison Park
Image: Everton manager Roberto Martinez is under pressure from fans

It has been an unhappy campaign for Everton and it could get even worse for manager Roberto Martinez. A very leaky defence has undone all the good work in attack and mid-table mediocrity looks certain.

The fans appear to have turned on Martinez and even winning all the remaining games of the season may not be enough to keep his job.

Also See:

Joshua King of Bournemouth celebrates scoring his team's second goal
Image: Bournemouth have had a miraculous season

In contrast, Eddie Howe has pulled off a miracle. A team everyone deemed destined for relegation are aiming for a top-10 finish and a win at Goodison Park will see the Cherries move above their hosts in the table.

Both teams go into the weekend in a bad run of form, but if the game is anything like the 3-3 draw earlier in the season then we are in for a cracker.

Pardew to stick another nail in Geordie coffin? (Newcastle v Crystal Palace - Saturday, 3pm)

Alan Pardew has the chance to win Crystal Palace's first FA Cup.
Image: Alan Pardew has the chance to push Newcastle closer to relegation

Alan Pardew's reign on Tyneside was greeted with mixed levels of excitement at the time. Some fans felt he could do better while others felt he was held back by the owners.

The Magpies' former boss could return to St. James' Park and push the club further towards relegation. Palace are more-or-less guaranteed Premier League football next season, but the players have FA Cup final places to earn.

Rafa Benitez is slowly turning Newcastle's season around but it could be too late. Fans must hope Norwich and Sunderland slip up but they will be in full voice to roar on their side.

Will Big Sam continue big escape? (Stoke v Sunderland - Saturday, 3pm)

NORWICH, ENGLAND - APRIL 16:  Jermain Defoe of Sunderland in good heart during the Barclays Premier League match between Norwich City and Sunderland
Image: Jermain Defoe has been key to Sunderland's survival hopes

Sam Allardyce has never been relegated from the Premier League and it looks like he might carry on that tradition.

The Black Cats seemed down and out a few weeks back, but great performances against Norwich and Arsenal have taken them out of the relegation zone.

Jermain Defoe's goals have been crucial in keeping Sunderland in with a chance of avoiding the drop but it is their defence - three clean sheets out of four - in recent weeks that has been most impressive.

Stoke, who have received much praise this season, appear to be on the beaches already. They have lost their last three games and conceded four goals in each.

How do Villa stop unwanted record? (Watford v Aston Villa - Saturday, 3pm)

Aston Villa v A.F.C. Bournemouth - Premier League
Image: Villa fans have turned against team and club

Aston Villa have let the fans down badly this season. The demise from the Martin O'Neill days has been slow and torturous and the atmosphere last week at Villa Park was toxic.

The players have one last chance to stop their run of defeats matching the club record of 11 set in 1963. The problem is how. They have lost 25 games this season and no one will be surprised if they lose three more.

Ben Watson hopes Quique Sanchez Flores is not sacked by Watford.
Image: Ben Watson hopes Quique Sanchez Flores is not sacked by Watford

Watford lie 12th in the Premier League in their first season since returning to the top flight. Quique Sanchez Flores has achieved this in his only season in English football.

Yet his future at Vicarage Road is hanging by a thread and it may take a strong finish to the season for the owners to keep faith in the Spaniard. 

Can the Hammers hold on to Europe? (West Brom v West Ham - Saturday, 3pm)

Andy Carroll celebrates with Dimitri Payet after opening the scoring
Image: Much of West Ham's success this season has been down to Dimitri Payet

West Ham's season was going so well they were being hailed as Champions League contenders. Led by the scintillating form of Dimitri Payet and Mark Noble they were looking like they could do it.

Four draws out of five appear to have put paid to these hopes and instead of looking up they are looking over their shoulder to hold on to a Europa League spot from Liverpool and Southampton.

The club is desperate to say goodbye to Upton Park with a bang and securing European success would be a great coup for the owners.

West Brom's season appears pretty much over but do not expect Tony Pulis to allow his players any respite as Tottenham found to their cost.

Who will save their season? (Arsenal v Norwich - Saturday, 5.30pm, live on Sky Sports 1 HD)

Many Arsenal fans stayed away from Emirates while others made they feelings known
Image: Many Arsenal fans want to see changes at the Emirates

Both teams go into Saturday Night Football needing three points to save their season.

Norwich are staring relegation in the face and are the most out-of-form team in the bottom four. They have struggled to score goals but will take heart from their 1-1 draw against the Gunners at Carrow Road earlier in the season.

Live Ford Saturday Night Football

This will be Arsene Wenger's 750th Premier League game in charge at Arsenal and never has his future been so shrouded in doubt.

From title favourites to struggling to stay in the top four, this has been a tough 2016 for the red half of North London and with rumours of anti-Wenger protests growing louder this could be an even tougher 90 minutes.

Can the Swans stop Sturridge? (Swansea v Liverpool - Sunday, 12pm)

Daniel Sturridge celebrates his early opener for Liverpool against Newcastle
Image: Daniel Sturridge has been in fine form

Liverpool, straight from their Europa League semi-final against Villarreal, head to the Liberty Stadium with the aim of securing European football for next season.

They need to chase down West Ham into sixth to guarantee it and will be relying on the fine form of Daniel Sturridge, who has scored in six of his last seven Premier League appearances, including each of the last four.

One more win for Swansea will guarantee safety this season and manager Francesco Guidolin deserves a lot of credit for getting the Swans out of trouble.

Will Leicester make the impossible a reality? (Manchester United v Leicester - Sunday, 2.05pm, live on Sky Sports 1 HD)

Claudio Ranieri
Image: Claudio Ranieri can win the title at Old Trafford

Leicester City will be crowned champions if they win at Old Trafford. Yes, you did read it correctly. The equation is now that simple.

The Foxes will have to do it without top scorer Jamie Vardy, that did not matter against Swansea, but they will come up against a Manchester United squad with plenty still to fight for.

Live Ford Super Sunday

United will not want another club winning the league on their own turf when they are so used to lifting the trophy themselves.

More importantly, they are still chasing down Arsenal and rivals Manchester City for a Champions League place and only three points will keep the pressure on.

Can the Saints secure Euro spot? (Southampton v Manchester City - Sunday, 4.30pm, live on Sky Sports 1 HD)

Shane Long of Southampton celebrates with Jay Rodriguez of Southampton and Cedric Soares of Southampton after scoring against Aston Villa
Image: Southampton are aiming for a Europa League place

Theoretically, Southampton could finish eighth and qualify for the Europa League but that depends on a whole host of factors going their way. Ideally, they need to finish as high as possible.

Five points separate fifth and eighth and there is all to play for. All the Saints can do is win their games but considering the first half of the season they had it would be quite an achievement to finish in the European places.

Live Ford Super Sunday

Manchester City stand in their way. They still have to secure a top-four place and with this season's Champions League hopes in the balance against Real Madrid, the league is the best way for them to guarantee a seat at Europe's top table next year.

Will Chelsea finally kill off Spurs' title hopes? (Chelsea v Tottenham - Monday, 8pm, live on Sky Sports 1 HD)

Tottenham striker Harry Kane (right) celebrates after scoring against Liverpool
Image: Harry Kane's goals have fired Spurs to title contention

Tottenham will be relying on Manchester United to beat Leicester and keep their title aspirations alive. If they do, Chelsea will love nothing more than killing the dream.

The Blues have had the most disappointing season for quite some time but destroying their London rivals hopes of taking their trophy will give them consolation. Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas have already said as much.

Live Ford Monday Night Football

Tottenham have not won a league game at Stamford Bridge since 1990 - winning 17 and drawing eight of their 25 meetings.

Harry Kane is two league goals short of reaching the 50 milestone and is in great form scoring 13 goals in his last 14 Premier League appearances for Spurs.

You can watch Leicester, Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester City in action on Sky Sports this weekend.

By purchasing a Sky Sports Day Pass for £6.99 or Sky Sports Week Pass for £10.99, you can enjoy access to all seven Sky Sports channels and watch on a TV with a NOW TV Box or on a range of devices.

Around Sky