Premier League preview

Destination of title to be decided in final round of fixtures

By James Dall   Last updated: 9th May 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Premier League preview

Ancelotti: Has Ferguson on his shoulder

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The Premier League title is Chelsea's to lose, but Manchester United will not go down without a fight on what is expected to be a tense final day of the season.

With fourth place now decided, all eyes are on where the top-flight crown is destined. League leaders Chelsea host Wigan Athletic while Manchester United welcome Stoke City to Old Trafford.

Elsewhere, Arsenal must avoid defeat against Fulham if they are to fend off UEFA Champions League-bound Tottenham Hotspur who are hungry for third, while Hull City, Burnley and Portsmouth play their final Premier League fixtures for at least another campaign.

Table-toppers Chelsea tackle Wigan - live on Sky Sports HD1 - boasting a one-point lead over current champions United while they also hold a nine-stronger goal difference. A draw versus the Latics could be enough to secure the title but only a victory will definitely seal them the prize no matter the result at Old Trafford. With Wigan safe from the drop few are giving them a chance at Stamford Bridge. But back in September, Roberto Martinez's men beat the Blues 3-1. Of course this time the clash is not on a difficult pitch in the North West and with the scent of success in their nostrils, Chelsea will take some beating as they look to claim one half of a memorable double under Carlo Ancelotti.

Second-placed Manchester United must win against Stoke - live on Sky Sports HD3 - to stand any chance of retaining their crown and notching a fourth straight title. The Red Devils head into the encounter having won their last three outings while the Potters' last trip to a title contender - against Chelsea, in fact - ended in them conceding seven goals. But there is motivation for Stoke, who are on course to beat last term's 12th-place finish, with ninth even achievable. But a three-point haul at the Theatre of Dreams is a big ask, especially when considering Sir Alex Ferguson will demand his players at least end their term in the knowledge that they did everything on the final day to give them a chance of glory.

Off the back of their achievement of claiming fourth spot, Tottenham will be targeting one final hurrah to cap off a terrific season for Harry Redknapp's men. Spurs travel to Burnley aware that victory at Turf Moor coupled with a defeat for Arsenal would see them claim third spot ahead of their North London rivals. Burnley, though, will unlikely go down without a battle as their players look to give the fans a send-off they deserve. Yet the Clarets are on a three-game losing streak while Tottenham have won nine of their previous 12 league matches.

Third

A draw for Arsenal against Fulham at Emirates Stadium should be enough for them to seal third position, such is their superior goal difference over Spurs. But a stalemate would unlikely appease Arsene Wenger, whose team head into the clash against their London neighbours having not won in four outings, losing three of those. Fulham were beaten by Stoke during midweek with Roy Hodgson's men understandably distracted by next week's Europa League final with Atletico Madrid. Indeed, the club even had a request to move the fixture a day forward rejected by the Premier League, such is their keenness to be fresh for the tie.

West Ham United meet Manchester City, a side deflated by their loss against Spurs. Such cash investment, of which they can of course afford, was intended to claim fourth spot. And now Roberto Mancini's future in charge at Eastlands is in doubt. At least European football is guaranteed for City next term, and that will least serve as an additional pull to high salaries at the club. Hull's draw at Wigan on Monday means the Hammers are now mathematically safe, although, like City, their manager's future is uncertain. Indeed, speculation continues to rage over whether Gianfranco Zola will stay on at Upton Park.

Liverpool will be hoping to finish what has been a hugely disappointing season on a high when they lock horns with Hull City at the KC Stadium. The Reds currently sit seventh in the table and are guaranteed Europa League football next season, but the club will want to ensure they finish in sixth position, with the financial incentive all the more needed after their failure to achieve a top-four berth. Hull are of course now mathematically down while uncertainty remains over who will lead the club next term and what the future holds in terms of their financial situation. With Phil Brown still on gardening leave, football management consultant Iain Dowie will look to improve his claim to remain on as boss.

Aston Villa already boast more points than they accrued last term while City's loss to Spurs has opened up the possibility of securing fifth position. But, alternatively, a slip-up could see them finish seventh, so Martin O'Neill will focus his players on not ensuring they are not leapfrogged by Liverpool. Villa take on Blackburn Rovers in the Midlands, with the latter on a high following their comeback against Arsenal on Monday. It has been an impressive end to the season for Sam Allardyce's charges, who have lost just once in their last eight matches, while they beat Villa in the league earlier this season.

Finish

FA Cup finalists Portsmouth mark their final Premier League game for at least another term with a trip to Everton, who are now out of the running for European qualification. The Toffees are safe in eighth spot with their closest rivals Birmingham unable to now catch them. Said finish is a positive for David Moyes' team, but there will likely be a sense of what might have been had they not started the campaign so poorly. For bottom-of-the-table Portsmouth, the South Coast club are eyeing back-to-back league wins for the first time this term after beating Wolves last time out while of course the game is one last chance for players to impress ahead of this month's showdown with Chelsea at Wembley.

Bolton Wanderers go head-to-head with Birmingham City at the Reebok Stadium. The Trotters are safe from the drop and lie 14th in the standings, but could finish as low as 17th depending on how results go on the final day. For Birmingham, the club ended a poor run of form last time out as they notched a first three-point haul in nine outings. Relief for manager Alex McLeish, whose team had been finishing with a whimper. Cementing ninth would mark a marvellous campaign for the Blues, who will now have the summer to contemplate 'second-season syndrome'.

Lastly, quite literally, Wolverhampton Wanderers face Sunderland at Molineux. Mick McCarthy let his players off the hook following their loss at Portsmouth last weekend, such has been their efforts achieving survival. But he will unlikely be so forgiving a second time. Wolves are 16th in the table and could end the term in 15th position. Sunderland can finish no lower than their current position of 13th although they could mathematically snatch 10th place which, while gifting the club extra revenue, would serve as a satisfactory end to an odd season for the Black Cats.

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