Manchester City’s David Silva (left) sweeps past Ashley Westwood, of Aston Villa, during a Premier League match on Wednesday.Manchester City’s David Silva (left) sweeps past Ashley Westwood, of Aston Villa, during a Premier League match on Wednesday.

The game’s critics are not expecting more twists and turns at the summit of the Premier League in tomorrow’s final programme.

Manchester City, who moved two points clear at the top on Wednesday following a 4-0 win over Aston Villa, need only a draw against West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium to pip Liverpool to the championship.

What altered things at the top was Liverpool’s home defeat to Chelsea on April 27. That gave City another chance to make it two titles in three years and Liverpool crumbled after throwing away a three-goal lead for a 3-3 draw at Crystal Palace earlier this week.

West Ham secured their Premiership status a few weeks ago so that puts City in an even stronger position to reach their objective in their last match.

Manager Manuel Pellegrini has become good at mind games even though he is right in saying that the race is not over yet.

West Ham have turned their attention to next season after moving beyond the safety line with a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month.

Manager Sam Allardyce said he would be “absolutely delighted” if striker Andy Carroll makes the England squad for the summer World Cup.

West Ham only managed one win in their last ten matches away at Manchester City.

2013 City-West Ham 2-1
2011 City-West Ham 2-1
2009 City-West Ham 3-1
2008 City-West Ham 3-0
2008 City-West Ham 1-1
2006 City-West Ham 2-0
2005 City-West Ham 2-1
2003 City-West Ham 0-1
2001 City-West Ham 1-0
1996 City-West Ham 2-1

Liverpool’s collapse at Selhurst Park has all but shattered their title hopes ahead of their last league outing, at home to Newcastle.

Manager Brendan Rodgers was disappointed with the outcome against Palace but declared that the fans should still be satisfied to see the team doing so well this season.

Striker Luis Suarez made it a double after adding the Football Writers Association award to the PFA Player of the Year prize.

Third-placed Chelsea face demoted Cardiff City away.

Chelsea struggled mostly in attack this season since their strikers failed to produce the goods. Yet, the Blues’ goal against column shows that they have the best defence.

Chelsea were held to a goalless draw by struggling Norwich last weekend. After the match, veteran wing-back Ashley Cole gave a clear indication that this will be his last year at Stamford Bridge.

Norwich’s survival hopes are as good as nil as they are three points adrift of fourth-bottom West Brom who enjoy a goal difference of +17 compared to the Canaries.

Arsenal, who travel to Norwich for their final league game, are sure of fourth place and another season of Champions League football as manager Arsene Wen-ger confirmed he will sign a new contract this summer.

Outgoing champions Manchester United lost seven times at home this season but in midweek, they beat Hull 3-1 to give their fans something to cheer about.

Tomorrow, United will be on their travels to face Southampton who have enjoyed a decent campaign and at times were also in contention for Europa League qualification.

Mauricio Pochettino has refused to commit his future to Southampton as reports are claiming that Tottenham Hotspur have stepped up their interest in the Argentine.

At the Stadium of Light, Gus Poyet deserves all the accolades coming his way this week as beaten League Cup finalists Sunderland finally made sure of avoiding the drop with a home win over West Brom.

Sunderland will be at home tomorrow to play Swansea who will have Garry Monk as manager next season following his appointment on a permanent basis earlier this week.

Fixtures and forecast

Today

League One play-offs
Semi-finals, 1st leg
Peterborough-L. Orient (13:15) - 1
Preston-Rotherham (18:15) - 1

League Two play-offs
Semi-finals, 1st leg
York-Fleetwood (20:30) - X

Scottish Premiership
Hibernian-Kilmarnock (13:15) - 1
Partick-Ross County (13:15) - X
St Mirren-Hearts (13:15) - X

Premiership play-offs
Quarter-finals, 2nd leg
Falkirk-Queen of South - X

Championship play-offs
Semi-finals, 2nd leg
Cowdenbeath-Ayr - 1
Dunfermline-Stranraer - X

League One play-offs
Semi-finals, 2nd leg
Annan-Stirling X
East Fife-Clyde X

Tomorrow

English Premier League
(all kick-offs at 16:00)
Cardiff City-Chelsea - 2
Fulham-Crystal Palace - X
Hull City-Everton - X
Liverpool-Newcastle - 1
Man. City-West Ham - 1
Norwich-Arsenal - 2
Southampton-Man. United - 2
Sunderland-Swansea - 1
Tottenham-Aston Villa - 1
West Brom-Stoke - X

Standings: Man. City 83; Liverpool 81; Chelsea 79; Arsenal 76; Everton 69; Tottenham 66; Man. United 63; Southampton 55; Newcastle 49; Stoke 47; C. Palace 44; West Ham 40; Swansea 39; Sunderland, Aston Villa 38; Hull 37; West Brom 36; Norwich 33; Fulham 31; Cardiff 30.

Championship play-offs
Semi-finals, 2nd leg
Derby-Brighton (18:15) - 1

League Two play-offs
Semi-finals, 1st leg
Burton-Southend (13:00) - 1

Scottish Premiership
(all kick-offs at 13.15)
Aberdeen-Motherwell - 1
Celtic-Dundee United - 1
Inverness CT-St Johnstone - 1

Monday

Championship play-off
Semi-finals, 2nd leg
QPR-Wigan (20:45) - X

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