After Monday's drama at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City can close on the Premier League title at Newcastle.
Newcastle host Man City; United take on Swansea; Spurs play Villa
After Monday's drama at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City can close on the Premier League title knowing it is all in their hands.
City lead Manchester United on goal difference with two matches remaining but face a tough trip to high-flying Newcastle, who go into the game fresh from an impressive victory at Chelsea.
United will hope to keep in touch when they host Swansea later on
Super Sunday, while the battle to avoid relegation remains incredibly tight.
Before Blackburn's crucial game at Wigan on Monday, Bolton, Aston Villa and QPR are all in action and will be desperate for three points ahead of the final day.
Roberto Mancini has insisted that
Manchester City's game at
Newcastle will be more difficult than their recent derby with Manchester United. It may all be gamesmanship from the Italian but there is no doubt about it - going to Tyneside and getting a result will be no easy task, especially with the knowledge that three points would see them put one hand on the Premier League trophy. Monday's encounter may not have been a classic but City restricted their neighbours and produced a tactical masterclass - United could not even muster a shot on target. Newcastle, though, are still fighting for a place in the top four this season and bounced back from a terrible afternoon at Wigan to overcome Chelsea at Stamford Bridge thanks to two outstanding goals from Papiss Cisse, the second a contender for goal of the season. On the most important afternoon of the campaign so far, can City withstand the pressure and secure a vital win? Find out on Sunday live on
Sky Sports 1 and
1HD from 1.30pm.
Title conceded?
The most surprising aspect of Monday's game at the Etihad Stadium was
Manchester United's limp and tame display. They were second best throughout the evening and must now rely on a City slip-up if they are to claim a 20th title. Few would bet against them getting the job done at home to
Swansea City, but if City can get a win earlier in the afternoon at Newcastle, there may be some demoralised faces around Old Trafford. Sir Alex Ferguson is set to be without Danny Welbeck and Jonny Evans for the visit of Brendan Rodgers' side, who themselves have enjoyed an excellent first season in the Premier League. It could be a United backlash though, with Ferguson looking to claw back the goal-difference deficit at the top of the table. United currently trail City by eight in that department and they go to Sunderland on the final day. Keep tuned to
Sky Sports 1 and
1HD for kick-off at 4pm.
Tottenham have picked themselves up and dusted themselves down from their winter slump and back-to-back wins against Blackburn and Bolton have reignited their hopes of finishing in the top four this season. They have also been boosted by the news that Harry Redknapp will not be leaving the club in the immediate future, after England moved to appoint Roy Hodgson as national coach on Tuesday. The performance at the Reebok Stadium on Wednesday night was more like the Tottenham of before Christmas - their pace on the break and clinical edge in the final third proving too much for Bolton. This weekend Spurs travel to struggling
Aston Villa with both sides desperate for three points, albeit for very different reasons. Tottenham, currently fourth, trail Arsenal by one point and are ahead of Newcastle on goal difference. Villa, meanwhile, hover three points above the relegation zone and will not want any last-day nerves.
Fabrice Muamba returned to
Bolton in midweek in a tearful appearance, but Owen Coyle may have been crying tears of a different sort after watching his side claw their way back into the match against Spurs before falling to a 4-1 defeat. It means Wanderers wasted their game in hand and are level on points with QPR, two above Blackburn and three behind Wigan and Aston Villa. They host
West Brom on Sunday and this is a must-win game, with the Baggies safe and with little to play for. Indeed, with Roy Hodgson now turning his attention to the European Championship, Albion may be a little off the boil - something Coyle will look to exploit.
Queens Park Rangers are in serious risk of dropping back down to the Championship at the first time of asking, despite the fact that they are currently above the relegation zone on goal difference.
Stoke City travel to Loftus Road this weekend and if anything is going to save Rangers, it will be their home form. A dreadful away record has been tempered somewhat by home victories over Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool and with Stoke having played Everton on Tuesday, there may be some tired legs among Tony Pulis's squad. The Potters have had another solid campaign and enjoyed some success in the Europa League as well - how the Hoops will envy their comfortable league position.
Many expected
Norwich City to be struggling in May when the season began, but Paul Lambert has done a fine job in steering the Canaries to safety. That has been assured for some time now and Lambert has been shrewd in the transfer market, cherry-picking players from outside the Premier League and crafting a side that has produced some remarkable performances. This weekend, however, will be one of their biggest challenges this season as they go to third-placed
Arsenal. Arsene Wenger will not want to risk finishing fourth and not qualifying for next year's Champions League, should Chelsea win that competition this season, and will want maximum points on Sunday and in their final match at West Brom.
Landmark win
Fulham ended their woeful record away at Merseyside clubs on Tuesday night with a 1-0 win against Liverpool - their first ever victory at Anfield. Martin Jol has enjoyed a productive first season in charge of the West Londoners and they have produced some excellent displays, Clint Dempsey in particular having a fantastic campaign. This weekend they host
Sunderland, another side sitting comfortably in mid-table. Martin O'Neill steered the Wearsiders away from trouble after a disastrous start under Steve Bruce. Fulham are tough to beat at home but with the pressure off at Craven Cottage, anything could happen here.
Finally, already-relegated
Wolves lock horns with
Everton at Molineux. Everton would much rather be somewhere else on Saturday, with local rivals Liverpool at Wembley alongside Chelsea for the FA Cup final, with the Toffees having fallen to the Reds in the semi-finals. Since that game Everton are unbeaten, thrashing Fulham, coming back to earn a remarkable draw at Manchester United before another draw at Stoke. Wolves showed pride and resolve to come from behind against Swansea and will hope for similar fight in front of their home fans, who have been through the wringer this year.
