Saturday 2nd May 2009
Six points behind the leaders and only four games left. It really is ‘last chance saloon’ for Chelsea as any dropped points will be the end of their title hopes. With a game against Barcelona to come in four days time, I wonder if Hiddink will accept that the Champions League is a far better bet than the Premier League?
Fulham continue to shock and amaze and they are in pole position to pick up the last Europa League qualifying place. They are tough to beat but they have only won two away from home all season.
SoccerNews prediction: 2-0
City have a chance of qualifying for Europe which didn’t really seem likely a few weeks ago. Eleven wins at home have been the main reason for their relative success and they are a different proposition in front of their own fans.
Blackburn should just about be safe now as they have a six point gap over the team third from bottom. They will still feel they need a point or two more, but probably won’t expect to get it here.
SoccerNews prediction: 3-1
A couple of weeks ago I thought Middlesbrough were doomed. I still do really, but it’s not quite so certain.
United know that the title is theirs to lose. Win four and draw one of their remaining five games and they are champions. Simple as that. Fergie has said he’ll make changes to his midfield and attack in order to keep people fresh for the Champions League. The fact that Scholes, Giggs, Park and Berbatov might come in will hardly raise a cheer at the Riverside!
SoccerNews prediction: 0-2
Pompey are all but safe and Paul Hart has done a quiet but excellent job since he took over from the hapless (hopeless?) Tony Adams.
Arsenal are pretty much assured of finishing fourth so this game really doesn’t matter. I don’t know if Pat Rice and Arsene Wenger will play as Fergie suggested, but expect a few players to be given a rare start.
SoccerNews prediction: 1-1
At the start of the season, Stoke probably didn’t expect to finish in mid-table and West Ham probably didn’t expect to be challenging for Europe.
The fact that they are both over achieving says a lot about the respective managers, Tony Pulis and Gianfranco Zola. Both of them deserve all the credit in the world.
SoccerNews prediction: 1-1
Harry Redknapp is still angry about the penalty given against his team at Old Trafford last week and he will want his team to bounce back and get the last European qualification place.
West Brom managed to get a win last week and although they can still escape, it’s pretty unlikely. Defeat here might just be the final nail in their coffin.
SoccerNews prediction: 2-0
A mid-table meaningless game between two sides who are not the most entertaining to watch. Don’t expect too many thrills and spills in this one!
SoccerNews prediction: 0-0
Sunday 3rd May 2009
A must win game for both teams for very different reasons. Liverpool will know what is needed as both Chelsea and Manchester United played yesterday. Whatever happened in those games, Liverpool know that they can’t afford to drop points.
Newcastle have reached desperation stage now, but they could put a huge amount of pressure on Hull for Monday night’s game if they could get something here. I don’t think they will!
SoccerNews prediction: 2-1
The humiliating defeat at West Brom last week has left Sunderland in a lot of trouble. They are only four points above their rivals from Newcastle, but with the teams below them all struggling to buy a point, they might just about be OK.
Everton are almost guaranteed to finish fifth or sixth and with an FA Cup final on the horizon they must take care not to start a run of poor results. Defeat at home to Manchester City last week could be a worrying sign. They’ll be keen to put that right in this one.
SoccerNews prediction: 1-1
Monday 4th May 2009
What a shame that Aston Villa’s season is fading away to a disappointing climax. Whatever happens they have had a great season and I hope their fans realise that. I’m sure they would have settled for a fifth or sixth placed finish at the start of the season.
Hull are in free-fall and if one of the teams below them can find some points from somewhere, they will get relegated. I can’t see them picking up anything here even though Villa are not at their best.
SoccerNews prediction: 2-0
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