[attach id=250054 size="medium"]Manchester United, who secured a record 20th league title on Monday, are away to Arsenal tomorrow.[/attach]
Manchester United have wrapped up their 20th championship following the emphatic 3-0 win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Monday with striker Robin van Persie hitting all goals for the Red Devils.
United will again play in the Champions League next season and five teams are fighting for the remaining three berths, three of which are from London – Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham.
Second-placed Manchester City should make it into the top-four but Everton’s chances are slim.
For the 10th year running, teams from Lancashire and London have monopolised the top positions in the Premiership. Newcastle were the last ‘outsiders’ to claim a Champions League berth back in 2003.
Remaining fixtures
Man. City (68 points)
Home − West Ham (today); Away − Swansea (May 4); Home − West Brom (May 7); Wembley − Wigan (May 11, FA Cup final); Away − Reading (May 14); Home − Norwich (May 19).
Arsenal (63 points)
Home − Man. United (tomorrow); Away − QPR (May 4); Home − Wigan (May 14); Away − Newcastle (May 19).
Chelsea (62 points)
Home − Swansea (tomorrow); Away − Man. United (May 5); Home − Tottenham (May 8); Away − Aston Villa (May 11); Home − Everton (May 19).
Tottenham (61 points)
Away − Wigan (today); Home − Southampton (May 4); Away − Chelsea (May 8); Away − Stoke (May 12); Home − Sunderland (May 19).
Everton (56 points)
Home − Fulham (today); Away − Liverpool (May 5); Home − West Ham (May 12); Away − Chelsea (May 19).
The best match this weekend will be at the Emirates tomorrow as Arsenal take on Manchester United with Van Persie returning to his former club for the first time since his move to Old Trafford last summer.
The Gunners have not lost in their last six league matches − five wins and a draw, conceding only two goals. Defender Laurent Koscielny is looking forward to locking horns with Van Persie as Thomas Vermaelen is reluctant to leave Arsenal, despite losing his first-choice status.
Manchester City’s performances have continued to baffle their supporters. After taking a deserved lead at Tottenham last week, they lost 3-1 in 10 crazy minutes. Today, the Citizens host mid-table side West Ham in the early kick-off.
The Hammers have moved clear of relegation trouble. They are preparing to move into their new home, the Olympic Stadium, and looking at ways to raise cash to sign striker Andy Carroll permanently.
Chelsea, unbeaten in their last three league matches, left Anfield last week with only one point in their bags following a last-gasp equaliser by Luis Suarez who left his ‘mark’ on the match with a goal and a bite on Branislav Ivanovic’s hand.
Chelsea coach Rafa Benitez ignored the controversy surrounding Suarez, who was subsequently banned for 10 matches, and instead bemoaned Liverpool’s late equaliser in the 2-2 draw.
Tomorrow the Blues, who beat Basel 2-1 in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday, play hosts to Swansea at Stamford Bridge.
The way they came back after being in arrears against City has given Tottenham a boost in the race for a place in the Champions League next season. This afternoon, Spurs travel to Wigan, the FA Cup finalists.
Although Everton are the outsiders in the battle for a Champions League place, they can still do it if they win their remaining matches, starting with their home clash with Fulham this afternoon.
Reports this week claimed that Everton will try to prise Malky Mackay away from Cardiff if manager David Moyes leaves the club at the end of the season.
At St James’ Park, Newcastle will be seeking to beat Liverpool and move to safer waters in the standings. The Toon have won once in their last five league matches.
Liverpool have fallen way off the pace in the race for a top-four finish and without Suarez for the next 10 matches, they are unlikely to finish the season on a high.
Fixtures and forecast
Premier League
Everton-Fulham - 1
Man. City-West Ham (13:45) - 1
Newcastle-Liverpool (18:30) - X
Southampton-West Brom - X
Stoke-Norwich - 1
Wigan-Tottenham - 2
Tomorrow:
Arsenal-Man. United (17:00) - 2
Chelsea-Swansea (16:00) - 1
Reading-QPR (14:30) - 2
Monday:
Aston Villa-Sunderland (21:00) - X
Standings: Man. United 84; Man. City 68; Arsenal 63; Chelsea 62; Tottenham 61; Everton 56; Liverpool 51; West Brom 45; Swansea, West Ham 42; Fulham 40; Southampton 39; Norwich 38; Sunderland, Stoke, Newcastle 37; Aston Villa 34; Wigan 31; QPR, Reading 24.
The Championship
Barnsley-Hull City - 2
Blackburn-Crystal Palace - X
Blackpool-Derby - 1
Bristol-Huddersfield - 2
Cardiff-Bolton - X
Ipswich-Birmingham - 1
Leeds-Brighton - 2
Middlesbrough-Charlton - 1
Millwall-Nottm Forest - X
P’borough-Sheff. Wed (18:20) - 1
Wolves-Burnley - 1
League One
Brentford-Doncaster - 1
Bury-Yeovil Town - X
Carlisle-Colchester - 1
Crawley-Hartlepool - 1
Crewe-Walsall - X
Leyton Orient-Oldham - 1
Notts County-Coventry - 1
Scunthorpe-Swindon - X
Sheffield Utd-Preston - 1
Shrewsbury-Portsmouth - X
Stevenage-MK Dons - X
Tranmere-Bournemouth - 2
League Two
Accrington-Oxford - X
Wimbledon-Fleetwood - 1
Burton-Gillingham - X
Cheltenham-Bradford - 1
Chesterfield-Exeter - 1
Dagenham-York City - X
Northampton-Barnet - 1
Rochdale-Plymouth - X
Rotherham-Aldershot - 1
Southend-Morecambe - 1
Torquay-Bristol Rovers - 1
Wycombe-Port Vale - X
Scottish Premier
St Johnstone-Inverness (13:00) - X
Aberdeen-Kilmarnock - X
Dundee-Hearts - 2
Hibernian-St Mirren - X
Tomorrow:
Motherwell-Celtic (13:45) - 2
Division One
Airdrie-Livingston - 2
Cowdenbeath-Dumbarton - 1
Morton-Hamilton - 1
Partick-Dunfermline - 1
Raith-Falkirk - X
Division Two
Alloa-Albion - 1
Ayr United-Arbroath - X
Brechin-Stenhousemuir - 1
Queen of South-East Fife - 1
Stranraer-Forfar - 2
Division Three
Berwick-Annan - 1
E. Stirling-Rangers (13:45) - 2
Montrose-Queen’s Park - X
Peterhead-Clyde - 1
Stirling-Elgin City - X
Hot four
Everton
Manchester City
Stoke City
Leyton Orient