With three matches remaining till the end of season, Liverpool continue to top the standings and now they’re in the straight for home for their first Premier League crown in 24 years.
The Reds are leading second-placed Chelsea by five points with Manchester City six adrift of the leaders but with a game in hand.
Manager Brendan Rodgers is seen as the man behind Liverpool’s success this season but on the field captain Steven Gerrard, like the rest of the squad, is playing his heart out as the Reds fully deserve to be where they are after showing great form in this crucial phase of the championship.
Tomorrow, Liverpool start favourites to beat a depleted Chelsea team and edge closer to glory.
Last week, Raheem Sterling scored twice and Luis Suarez broke the 30-goal barrier as Liverpool beat Norwich 3-2 away.
Pressure is one thing but expectation is quite another and Liverpool, in their first real game as champions-presumed, produced a performance to fit the billing at Carrow Road.
Chelsea’s title hopes received an almost fatal blow last week when they went down to Sunderland at Stamford Bridge.
In midweek, Chelsea played away at La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals first leg.
The Blues have a good chance of advancing to the final after a laboured 0-0 draw at the Calderon. However, that came at a huge cost following serious injuries to goalkeeper Petr Cech and captain John Terry.
On Thursday, Blues midfielder Ramires was handed a four-match ban for violent conduct.
In the last decade of Premier League football at Anfield, Liverpool and Chelsea are on par with four wins each.
2013: Liverpool-Chelsea 2-2
2012: Liverpool-Chelsea 4-1
2010: Liverpool-Chelsea 2-0
2010: Liverpool-Chelsea 0-2
2009: Liverpool-Chelsea 2-0
2007: Liverpool-Chelsea 1-1
2007: Liverpool-Chelsea 2-0
2005: Liverpool-Chelsea 1-4
2005: Liverpool-Chelsea 0-1
2003: Liverpool-Chelsea 1-2
After their home win against West Brom, Manchester City travel to London to play guests to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Manuel Pellegrini dismissed claims his lack of squad rotation can cost City the Premier League title as they have dropped seven points from their last four games.
Crystal Palace, with the magical Tony Pulis at the helm, have won their last five league games to steer clear from the troubled zone.
On Monday, fourth-placed Arsenal entertain Newcastle United at the Emirates.
The ‘dress rehearsal’ to next month’s FA Cup final between the Gunners and Hull at the KC Stadium last week, was one-way traffic as Arsenal won 3-0 to send a clear warning to the Tigers that they are fully focused on ending a nine-year trophy drought on May 17.
After their home win over Manchester United and former boss David Moyes, Everton take on Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium seeking to keep the pressure on Arsenal for a place in the Champions League next season.
In his maiden season at Goodison Park, manager Roberto Martinez achieved what none of his eight predecessors had managed − a league double over Manchester United.
As a result of their loss to Everton, United will not be playing in the Champions League next season. After the dust settled down, United sacked Moyes who had pleaded for patience from the fans and the board. Clearly, his words fell on deaf ears.
Today, United will have Ryan Giggs acting as temporary manager for the home match against relegation-troubled Norwich.
Bottom-placed Sunderland ap-pear to be reserving their best displays against the top guns following a 2-2 draw at Manchester City and a 2-1 win at Chelsea.
The Black Cats square up to fellows-in-distress Cardiff at the Stadium of Light with manager Gus Poyet claiming he would prefer the Welsh team turning up in Real Madrid shirts tomorrow after their stunning win at Chelsea.
Poyet feels survival is now within his side’s grasp.
Fixtures and forecast
Premier League
Fulham-Hull1
Man. United-Norwich (18:30) 1
Southampton-Everton (13:45) 2
Stoke-Tottenham X
Swansea-Aston Villa 1
West Brom-West Ham 1
Tomorrow:
C. Palace-Man. City (17:10) 2
Liverpool-Chelsea (15:05) 1
Sunderland-Cardiff (13:00) 1
Monday:
Arsenal-Newcastle (21:00) 1
Standings: Liverpool 80; Chelsea 75; Man. City 74; Arsenal 70; Everton 69; Tottenham 63; Man. United 57; Southampton 49; Newcastle 46; Stoke 44; C. Palace 43; West Ham 37; Swansea, Hull 36; Aston Villa 35; West Brom 33; Norwich 32; Cardiff, Fulham 30; Sunderland 29.
The Championship
Birmingham-Leeds 1
Bournemouth-N. Forest X
Burnley-Ipswich (13:15) 1
Charlton-Blackburn X
Derby-Watford 1
Doncaster-Reading X
Huddersfield-Leicester 2
Middlesbrough-Barnsley X
QPR-Millwall 1
Sheffield Wed.-Bolton X
Wigan-Blackpool 1
League One
Bradford-CrawleyX
Bristol City-Crewe 1
Carlisle-Oldham X
Colchester-Brentford 2
Coventry-Wolves 2
Leyton Orient-Tranmere 1
Notts County-Swindon X
Preston-Gillingham 1
Rotherham-MK Dons 1
Shrewsbury-Peterborough 1
Stevenage-Walsall X
League Two
AFC Wimbledon-Morecambe 1
Bury-Portsmouth 1
Dagenham-Northampton X
Exeter-Scunthorpe X
Fleetwood-Southend 1
Mansfield-Torquay X
Oxford-Accrington 1
Plymouth-Hartlepool 1
Rochdale-Cheltenham 1
Wycombe-Bristol Rovers X
York-Newport 1
Tomorrow:
Burton-Chesterfield (16:00)X
Hot Four
Swansea City, West Bromwich Albion, Rochdale, York City.