Hang on to your hats! With only three matches remaining for most clubs, the Barclays Premier League is still taking us for an incredible ride with unexpected twists and turns at every corner and most of the big issues, even at this late stage, still unresolved. With ten matches to be played this weekend, the picture could become clearer at both ends of the table or remain just as foggy as it is right now.
At the top of the table only one point separates leaders Chelsea from defending champions Manchester United in a title race that will probably not be decided before the final whistles sound on May 9th. On Saturday, United are at home to fourth placed Tottenham Hotspurs who have beaten Arsenal and Chelsea in their last two fixtures. Surely it is asking too much of Harry Redknapp's team to complete the trifecta of victories against the top three teams in consecutive matches. As always, the Red Devils will fight for ninety plus minutes in front of an Old Trafford crowd that expects nothing less than three points from their heroes. But for Spurs the stakes are also high as a first ever place in next season's European Champions League beckons, bringing with it the biggest financial windfall in the team's history and, for the players, the opportunity to play in the world's most important club competition. The always shrewd Mr Redknapp will instruct the rampant Gareth Bale to run at the experienced but aging Gary Neville at every opportunity in a one on one clash which could prove decisive. Of course, Manchester United will be favored to win, but with Wayne Rooney clearly less than 100% fit, Tottenham could return to White Hart Lane with at least a point.
Chelsea will already know how their title rivals fared as they walk out against Stoke City at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Although The Potters have drawn eight times on the road, more than any other team, Chelsea have won fifteen of their seventeen starts at home this season and, despite having to play without their suspended captain, John Terry, I expect them to add one more to the win column.
Arsenal's season has imploded, losing three away fixtures in the space of twelve days, Defeats to Barcelona, bitter North London rivals Tottenham and relegation threatened Wigan Athletic will see Arsene Wenger's side breathe a huge sigh of relief to return home to the Emirates Stadium. However, with confidence low the Gunners would prefer not to have to play fifth placed Manchester City who can still smell Champion's League football for next season. City were desperately unlucky to lose in the 93rd minuted to Manchester United last time out and, with Emmanuel Adebayor wanting to excel against his former team, they should become only the fourth team this season to leave the Emirates with at least a point.
Aston Villa and Liverpool will be hoping for favors from Manchester United and Arsenal as their cling to their outside chances of grasping that coveted fourth spot. Villa should make home field advantage tell against their local rivals Birmingham, who have lost each of their last three away fixtures. Liverpool, who will no doubt be tired from their epic overland trip to Madrid, face a much shorter journey to struggling Burnley. Although they will have to do without injured striker Fernando Torres for the rest of the season, they should still have the quality to return to Anfield with maximum points.
Merseyside neighbors Everton have picked a great time to host Fulham who, like Liverpool had to travel overland to Europe on Thursday. The Toffees are getting stronger with every game and must be wishing the season would continue all summer. Home win for the Blues!
The weekend's remaining matches will all have an impact on who will join Portsmouth in the drop to next season's Championship. Bolton Wanderers should ensure their Premiership safety by picking up at least a point at home to Pompey and if Wolverhampton Wanderers can tie at home to Blackburn then Mick McCarthy's side should also avoid relegation. Eighteenth placed Hull face rapidly improving Sunderland at the KC Stadium in a match they simply must win to have any chance of catching West Ham. Luckily for Iain Dowie's side most of Sunderland's best results have been at home and their away form has been awful, having won only once in seventeen outings.
Meanwhile, West Ham and Wigan go head to head at Upton Park in an encounter between two teams who could not have had more diversely opposite experiences last time out. Wigan will still be pinching themselves to make sure that they didn't just dream up their three goals in the last ten minutes come from behind victory against Arsenal, while West Ham looked like a team of sleep walkers in their 0-3 defeat at Anfield on Monday. With so much on the line and with their magnificent supporters blowing bubbles for all they are worth, I expect to see the Hammers finally come good!
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