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US AND THEM So we’re nearly there after nine months of slogging, sweating, freezing and apoplectic ranting. Plus ca change. All for title or qualification, whatever’s the more valuable for you. For us, those bedecked in the only claret and blue that counts, it’s all boiled down to position and qualification, which now seems so unlikely that we can but look back upon a year that brought a quarter final and, probably, a change of guard, but little else to rise above the mundane.
For today’s opponents, the ultimate analysis may yet deliver no more than that save a higher – a much higher – final position. Until a fortnight ago, the title was within Liverpool’s reach. Now that too has fallen by the wayside courtesy of excessive generosity to their dear neighbours in blue, and Crystal Palace. Another costly slip, you might say. Is a smidgin of fight left within them? Or, indeed, in us? Would those with the mightier testicles please stand up.
THE RELEGATION GAME Everton, to all intents and purposes, are safe despite enduring months of points fined and even more months of truly crap play, and may now settle back and celebrate against the visiting Bees. The Blades will most likely see their long-anticipated return to the Championship confirmed this afternoon, while the three candidates for the other two places have yet to perspire a tad more. Forest, on 26 points, have an unappealing run-in (H City; A Sheff U; H Chelsea; A Burnley), while Luton (25) must negotiate Wolves A; Everton H; West Ham A; and Fulham H. And Burnley (23) can look forward to visits to Man U and Spurs, while hosting Newcastle and Forest. The Hatters have arguably the kindest get out of jail card, but do they have the wherewithal to use it?
BEST OF THE REST Arsenal have to win at Spurs if they’re to retain a chance of lifting the Premier League trophy. Ordinarily, beating your bitter rivals on their turf is hard enough, but the current stakes raise Sunday’s encounter to a tantalizingly stratospheric level. Some less consequential fixtures are also available.
CHAMPIONSHIP In what may readily be mistaken for a severe bout of dyspepsia, Leicester seem to have overcome their bout of late season hiccups to reclaim their place at the top of the Championship. Automatic promotion is there for the claiming. As it is for Ipswich and Leeds, though not necessarily in that order. Leeds visit QPR on Friday night in the weekend’s opener.
Should Leeds pip the Tractor Boys to second spot, there’s a good chance of two intriguing play-off games between Norwich and Ipswich. Southampton and West Brom are the other two in the other, horribly intense, final battle for promotion. At the bottom, it’s a stomach butterflies-inducing battle between Huddersfield, Brum, Sheff W, Plymouth and, at a push, Blackburn (who not that long ago had their sights set on promotion) to avoid the two remaining relegation places. Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Saudi Liga, Chinese Liga, Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta, Jurgen Klopp, Lady Diana, are you watching?
WEST HAM UNITED vs LIVERPOOL (1230)
Draw.
FULHAM vs CRYSTAL PALACE (1500)
Draw.
MANCHESTER UNITED vs BURNLEY (1500)
Home win.
NEWCASTLE UNITED vs SHEFFIELD UNITED (1500)
Home win.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS vs LUTON TOWN (1500)
Draw
EVERTON vs BRENTFORD (1730)
Home win.
ASTON VILLA vs CHELSEA (2000)
Home win.
*SUNDAY*
BOURNEMOUTH vs BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION (1400)
Home win.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR vs ARSENAL (1400)
Draw.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST vs MANCHESTER CITY (1630)
Away win.
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