Saturday 16th May 2009
Barring a fifteen goal turn around, Bolton are safe in the top league for another season. They would love to pick up the three points here to make it a reasonable season for them.
Bolton will never have a better chance of picking up three points as they take on a Hull side with one win in twenty and five straight defeats.
Hull are in the relegation zone on goal difference and with a final game at home to Manchester United, they know they will need all three points here to stay up. The trouble is, they have forgotten how to do it.
SoccerNews prediction: 2-1
One point behind Aston Villa, Everton will be keen to fight for fifth place. They will fancy their chances against West Ham although West Ham’s away record is not too dissimilar to Everton’s home record.
West Ham are just two points behind Fulham in the race for the final Europa League qualification place and Zola will be desperate to get into Europe.
This could well be a decent game.
SoccerNews prediction: 2-2
This may well be the game where Manchester United are crowned Premier League champions for the third season in succession. They need just a point but Arsenal are hardly easy opposition.
Arsenal are guaranteed to finish in fourth place but they after their Champions League humbling at the hands of United, they will be very keen to avoid having to congratulate them again on the Premier League title.
United are on form and Arsenal were turned over by Chelsea at the Emirates last week.
SoccerNews prediction: 1-1
It is last chance saloon for Middlesbrough. If they don’t get three points here they will either be relegated or be very close to being relegated.
Aston Villa will be doing all they can to hang onto fifth place to crown a very decent season for them although at one point it looked like being so much better.
I feel sorry for Gareth Southgate but I just don’t see them getting what they want and need in this one.
SoccerNews prediction: 0-1
Two more teams desperate for three points for very different reasons. Newcastle have given themselves a great chance of surviving after their Monday night win against Middlesbrough. Now they may be safe even if they lose, on the basis that Hull can’t buy a point. Three points here would make it a lot more comfortable.
Fulham are so close to European qualification they can smell it. Although Roy Hodgson and the club are playing down the importance of qualification, they will be very keen to see it through.
SoccerNews prediction: 1-1
This is the only game this week where neither side has anything to play for. They are level on points safely in mid-table. It wouldn’t have been a classic if anything had been at stake, but as it is, I would give this one a miss.
SoccerNews prediction: 0-0
Tottenham are two points behind the final European place and Manchester City are three. On paper this should be a good and close game that is very difficult to predict.
In practice, Tottenham are pretty good at home and Manchester City have won just twice on their travels all season.
SoccerNews prediction: 2-0
Sunday 17th May 2009
Chelsea can still claim the runners-up spot if Liverpool slip up badly, but they are likely to finish third. With being out of the Champions League and the title race, the FA Cup final is suddenly a very important game for Guus Hiddink’s men. Maybe a few of the regulars will be rested in this game.
Blackburn are all but mathematically safe and probably will be after this game whatever happens.
SoccerNews prediction: 2-0
West Brom have given themselves a little hope in recent weeks but escape still seems very unlikely. In fact, needing three points to have any chance, Liverpool are just about the last side they would want to be visiting the Hawthorns.
Liverpool may go into this game knowing that the title has gone for another season if United have managed to get a point on Saturday. On the other hand, if United have lost, Liverpool will know that a win would put all the pressure in the world on Fergie’s men.
SoccerNews prediction: 0-3
Monday 18th May 2009
Monday evening sees a game between two pretty poor teams. Neither side is safe from the drop as I write although Portsmouth could be depending on the weekends other results so far.
Sunderland have hit a dreadful run and with David James bringing back his ‘calamity’ nickname in recent weeks, Pompey are not much better.
SoccerNews prediction: 1-1
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