What a week for Wigan. FA Cup champions one day, relegated from the premiership a few days later. Tough luck, but that’s life in the NFL…..I mean BPL.
Now all that’s really left to be decided is, who will clinch the fourth and final UEFA Champions League spot? Arsenal or Tottenham? Let’s take a look at this last weekend of matches – Survival Sunday as I see it…here we go:
Chelsea v Everton
Stamford Bridge
Fresh from their Europa League triumph on Wednesday, Chelsea, who can finish no worse than fourth, will look to lock up third place with a win over Everton this Sunday, and make it a bitter send off for Toffees’ manager David Moyes who is heading to take over the reins at Manchester United at season’s end. A Blues loss would give Arsenal the chance to leapfrog Chelsea into third place should the Gunners beat Newcastle. Everton would certainly like to send Moyes off in style. The Blues have finished the season strong, unbeaten in their last seven matches with five wins, while the Toffees will finish the season in sixth regardless of Sunday’s outcome. Chelsea won the earlier meeting this season at Goodison Park, and the Blues have won three of the last four meetings including the last matchup at Stamford Bridge back in October 2011. Blues for the win.
Prediction: Chelsea – 2 Everton – 1
Liverpool v Queens Park Rangers
Anfield
With Liverpool assured of a seventh placed finish and QPR already doomed to relegation, there is little motivation for this clash. Rangers are closing the season on an eight match winless streak, while Liverpool, despite closing the campaign on a seven match winning streak, saw their hopes of European qualification dissipate weeks ago after a string of drawn matches. The match will be longtime Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher’s farewell and so it should be an emotional scene at Anfield, as one of the club’s all-time greats bids adieu. The Reds won the earlier meeting this season by a 3-0 margin at Loftus Road and Rangers have just one win in the last six meetings between the sides. I see the Reds closing the season with a win as Rangers exit the premiership on a sour note.
Prediction: Liv – 2 QPR – 0
Manchester City v Norwich City
Etihad Stadium
After a shock defeat to Wigan in the FA Cup Final last Saturday, followed by the sacking of manager Roberto Mancini, Manchester City, who have locked up a second place finish in the league, will close their Premier League campaign against Norwich on Sunday. All signs point to Malaga’s Manuel Pellegrini being appointed the new Citizens manager. The Canaries can finish middle of the table despite just two wins from their last ten matches and just three wins from their last twenty. City are unbeaten in the last seven head to head meetings, winning the last meeting at the Etihad 5-1 back in December 2011, and they have outscored the Canaries 15-5 in the last three meetings (of course, all wins). Citizens all the way in this one.
Prediction: Man City – 3 Norwich – 0
Newcastle United v Arsenal
St James’ Park
After flirting briefly with relegation, Newcastle ensured their safety for next season by beating QPR last week and seeing Wigan fall to yet another defeat, which sealed the Latics relegation fate. In what has been a forgettable campaign, the Magpies have had few bright spots but will look to play spoiler on Sunday against an Arsenal side who is looking to lock up a Champions League spot with a win. The Gunners would love to take care of business, although an unlikely Spurs loss at home to Sunderland would also put the Gunners into the UCL next season. Gunners are just one point ahead of Tottenham and therefore even a draw would prove problematic for Wenger and company should Spurs bag all three points. Arsenal have won the last two meetings with Newcastle by a combined 9-4 scoreline, though both meetings were at the Emirates. The Magpies have actually drawn the last two meetings with Arsenal at St. James’ Park (0-0, 4-4). But with so much at stake, I expect the Gunners to pull through and win on the road to seal fourth spot.
Prediction: Newcastle – 1 Arsenal – 2
Southampton v Stoke City
The Friends Provident St Mary’s Stadium
Two sides which also flirted with relegation but who eventually ensured their safety, will do battle this Sunday when Southampton host Stoke City. Both sides were fairly ordinary down the stretch of the season with Saints winless in their last five after winning three straight, and the Potters claiming just two wins from their last eleven. Stoke has just one way win in their last ten league matches and lost six straight away games between January and March of this year. The sides played out a 3-3 draw when they met back in December , while Southampton has won the last three head to head meetings at home. I will back the Saints to win this one.
Prediction: South – 2 Stoke – 1
Swansea City v Fulham
Liberty Stadium
Swansea will close out a solid campaign at home to Fulham on Sunday. The Swans will likely finish in the top ten despite just one win from their last nine outings while for their opponents Fulham, it will be a season to forget, especially the second half. The Cottagers have closed on a five match losing streak and are winless in their last seven and could finish as low as seventeenth – a really poor showing considering the positive signs they showed at the start of the season. The Swans have won the last three head to head meetings with the Cottagers, including the last meeting at Liberty Stadium, a 2-0 result back in December 2011. Hard for me to go against the Swans this weekend.
Prediction: Swansea – 2 Fulham – 0
Tottenham Hotspur v Sunderland
White Hart Lane
The equation is simple for Spurs – well, not really. Spurs must win and hope that Arsenal either loses or draws with Newcastle, for Andre Villas Boas and company to book a spot in next season’s Champions League. Spurs are just a point back of Arsenal in fifth and despite another good season, are staring another trip to the Europa League in the face. Meanwhile, Sunderland, another side that flirted with relegation danger, ensured their spot in the premiership for at least another season after back to back 1-1 draws and of course, Wigan losing last week. Spurs have done well against the Black Cats, unbeaten in the last five meetings, and they won the first meeting this season back in December. I will back Spurs for the win but at the end of the day, they will come up just short of that Champions League spot.
Prediction: Tottenham – 2 Sunderland – 1
West Bromwich Albion v Manchester United
The Hawthorns
With Sir Alex Ferguson’s home farewell now taken care of, the Red Devils will close out the Ferguson era with an away trip to West Brom. United will look to crack the 90 point mark with a win, while West Brom, who have lost three in a row, will look to finish off an impressive season on a winning note, and wrap up a top ten finish. Man U will be looking to tie the 2004-05 and 2005-06 Chelsea teams’ EPL record for wins in a 38 match season – of 29. Ending the season at least ten points clear of Manchester City will be somewhat of an incentive, but sending Sir Alex off into the sunset with a win should be motivation enough. The Red Devils are unbeaten in the last eighteen head to head meetings with the Baggies, and have won the last four in a row. Red Devils all the way.
Prediction: West Brom – 0 Man U – 2
West Ham United v Reading
Upton Park
The Hammers close out their campaign against already relegated Reading on Sunday at Upton Park. West Ham can finish above Swansea with a win and an unlikely Swans loss at home to Fulham, while Reading, who seemed doomed for relegation since the start of the new year, are simply bidding farewell to the top flight. Neither side has fared well down the stretch, the Hammers with just one win from their last seven, Reading with just one win from their last thirteen, chalking up ten losses during that stretch. Interestingly, Reading has won the last three head to head meetings and six of the last eight, so maybe history will repeat itself – but I back the Hammers for the win.
Prediction: West Ham – 1 Reading – 0
Wigan Athletic v Aston Villa
DW Stadium
In what many hoped would have been a Survival Sunday winner-take-all matchup, already relegated Wigan will face Aston Villa at the DW. Wigan sealed their fate after Tuesday’s 4-1 defeat to Arsenal, which meant that despite Villa’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea a few days earlier, the Villains would live to fight another season. Wigan will likely finish the season having allowed the most goals in the campaign – there are currently ranked last with 71 goals conceded. Villa chalked up two crucial wins over Sunderland and Norwich to climb to safety, but will finish the season without talented striker Christian Benteke (19 goals this season), suspended for his red card in the loss to Chelsea last week. Added to that, that could have been the last time Villa fans see Benteke in an Aston Villa jersey, with the star striker linked to off season moves to Dortmund, Arsenal and AC Milan – though Villa seem set to offer him a big contract. Wigan ambushed the Villains 3-0 when the sides met back in December at Villa Park, the Latics’ first win in six head to head meetings with Aston Villa. I see a draw in this one though. So long Wigan.
Prediction: Wigan – 1 Villa – 1
It’s been another great season, but all good things must come to an end. UEFA Champions League Final on Saturday May 25, look out for my preview on this match, coming on Thursday of next week.
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