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It's squeaky bum time and here's 5 Premier League talking points ahead of the weekend

Could Manuel Pellegrini’s job be on the line at Old Trafford?

THE PREMIER LEAGUE season is entering the business end of proceedings as the final stretch approaches and things are hotting up at both ends of the table.

The stand-out fixture of the weekend is Sunday’s Manchester Derby but there are several pivotal games across the next three days which could go along way to determining the fate of many clubs.

Here are five talking points before the action…

Bruce under fire as Hull’s daunting run-in begins

Soccer - Steve Bruce File Photo Mike Egerton Mike Egerton

Those sides floundering at the wrong end of the table know they have a handful of games left to save themselves as they enter now or never territory. Hull City, in particular, face a daunting final set of fixtures as they look to keep their heads above water.

Last week’s 3-1 defeat to Swansea leaves Steve Bruce’s side hovering perilously close to the red zone, just two points from safety, and with those below them picking up points, City find themselves in real trouble.

Five of Hull’s remaining outings are against sides inside the top seven, starting with a trip to Southampton on Saturday as they look to end a run of five games without a win.

Even Bruce has admitted they will have to pull off some ‘crazy results’ to save their top-flight status over the course of the next few weeks with Liverpool, Arsenal and Man United all still to visit the KC Stadium.

As we’ve seen before, teams can embark on an inspired run when the stakes are so high but December 2013 was the last time Hull managed to defeat a top-half side. It would be stretching it to say the writing is on the wall but anything other than three points on Saturday may just condemn last season’s FA Cup runners-up to the drop.

Sherwood returns to the Lane with a point to prove

Soccer - Christian Benteke Filer PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Less than twelve months after suffering the axe at Tottenham, the irrepressible Tim Sherwood will no doubt return to White Hart Lane on Saturday all guns blazing and with a point to prove.

He has insisted his tenure at Spurs was a successful one despite the circumstances of his departure but this weekend is not about him as his Aston Villa side remain in a relegation dogfight.

Christian Benteke single-handedly salvaged a point for the Midlands club during the week in their proverbial relegation six pointer against QPR but they continue to look nervously over their shoulder.

The current buffer between themselves and the R’s is three points but they’ve played a game more than the majority of those around them after their midweek outing and could yet be dragged into the danger zone.

On the face of it, Spurs’ Champions League challenge has petered out but they’ll hope to take care of their own business in the event of those above them slipping up during the run-in.

Coincidentally, the 46-year-old’s last game in charge of Spurs was a 3-0 win over his present employers on the final day of last season. It will be interesting to see what sort of reception Sherwood gets on his return to North London but either way he’ll be hell-bent on silencing the hosts and avoiding a repeat of that scoreline from twelve months ago.

Remy out to dent former employers’ chances of survival

Britain Soccer Premier League AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

After Jose Mourinho confirmed Diego Costa is set to miss the next four games with his ongoing hamstring troubles, Loic Remy will be the one tasked with leading the line for Chelsea on Sunday.

The French striker will return to his old stomping ground with the stakes just as high for both clubs. It’s hard to imagine anybody but John Terry lifting the Premier League trophy aloft come the end of May but a slip-up at Loftus Road may just offer the chasing pack a glimmer of hope.

Their gap at the summit – seven points with a game in hand – means one final twist in this title race is highly unlikely but the Blues have been well off their best in the last few months.

All the pressure will be on the visitors and QPR will know this is a ‘free hit’ for them with not many expecting the hosts to get anything from a fixture against the Champions elect.

Chris Ramsey’s side have enjoyed a mini-renewal of sorts having picked up four points in the space of a week but they’ve still a lot of ground to make-up and any setbacks at this juncture of the campaign could prove to be defining.

It’s a clash that barely needs further fuel but Remy’s return in Chelsea blue is another element of intrigue to this London derby. He has scored the winning goal in each of Chelsea’s last two outings in the league and after having had to wait patiently for his chance, he is certainly taking advantage of his extended run in the side.

Could the balance of power be shifting back towards the red side?

Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Manchester City v Manchester United - Etihad Stadium EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

The stand-out fixture of the weekend is undoubtedly Sunday’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford as the race for the top four intensifies down the final stretch. After the reverse fixture before Christmas, not many would have predicted City would be heading across Manchester currently behind their near neighbours.

Given United have lost the last five meetings between the rivals, it says a great deal about the rut Manuel Pellegrini’s side find themselves in that the hosts are the favourites once again to take the points on Sunday.

Monday’s chastening defeat to Crystal Palace all but ended whatever small chance City had of challenging Chelsea for the title as they face the prospect of a trophy-less season.

Five straight wins for Louis van Gaal’s side has lifted them above their near neighbours in the table for the first time in 486 days. The motivation to inflict more woe on their rivals is enough in itself but this is a perfect opportunity to consolidate their position in third and prove the balance of power is shifting back towards the red half of Manchester.

Van Gaal admits he’s been dreaming over beating City with much more than bragging rights on the line.

Robin van Persie will miss the game through injury but his absence has coincided with United’s revival with the much-maligned Marouane Fellaini spearheading the charge. If United are heading in the right direction under van Gaal, City are unravelling at an alarming rate.

The defending champions have collected just 18 points since the turn of the year but Vincent Kompany, who is a doubt for Sunday, insists it’s the perfect fixture to arrest their slide.

Another defeat would, remarkably, raise more questions about the future of the manager and also throw their top-four status into further jeopardy with Tottenham and Liverpool ready to pounce on any slip-up.

It’s not unusual for each meeting between these two for be coined as the most important derby in some time but it’s hard to avoid using such superlatives in this instance with so much at stake for both clubs.

Can Newcastle find some form to salvage something from season?

Britain Soccer Premier League AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

It’s been another frustrating season for Newcastle and their passionate supporters in the North East. Alan Pardew’s abrupt departure, jumping ship to Crystal Palace, saw his assistant John Carver installed as manager until the end of the season and it’s unlikely he’ll be in the hotseat come August.

The Magpies have won just twice in his twelve games in charge and a run of four consecutive defeats has caused the fans to vent their anger with many threatening to boycott the next home game against Tottenham.

With each passing defeat, Newcastle have slid closer towards the relegation zone and while they still have a healthy cushion between themselves and the bottom three, another reversal on Monday would leave the St James’ Park faithful sitting uneasy for the final games.

It’s hard to envisage this season getting much worse but a heavy loss at Anfield would just add to the gloom over Tyneside.

For Liverpool, the FA Cup offers Brendan Rodgers a chance to add gloss to an otherwise underwhelming campaign but they’ll still have aspirations of a top-four finish.

The midweek win over Blackburn will give the Reds confidence heading into the final stages of the season and a strong finish may just be enough to snatch a Champions League berth.

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