Updated at 08.30
1. Can United seal a Champions League spot?
IT’S BEEN A difficult few weeks for Man United, who have lost three games on the bounce after their convincing 4-2 win over City last month.
Nevertheless, results elsewhere have made life easier for Louis van Gaal’s men.
The Red Devils’ main rivals for fourth, Liverpool, have been similarly unconvincing, dropping points at Hull and West Brom recently.
Consequently, United’s win at Crystal Palace, coupled with Liverpool losing to Chelsea, would mean the Red Devils are guaranteed a Champions League place.
That said, Palace have looked impressive at times since Alan Pardew took over as manager, and may fancy their chances against a United side who have lost as many games as they’ve won on their travels this season.
2. Carver not suited to Premier League management
Having looked safe until recently, eight losses in a row means Newcastle are in relegation trouble again.
The Magpies host West Brom, as they bid to secure a win that will go some way towards ensuring their safety for another season.
Yet the behaviour of manager John Carver has certainly done little to help their plight.
Carver’s actions have ranged from the ill-advised (suggesting defender Mike Williamson got himself deliberately sent off last weekend) to the comical (claiming to be the best coach in the Premier League).
Though it’s easy to sympathise with the Newcastle manager who has been undermined by the club’s authorities’ decision to throw him in at the deep end until a better managerial option becomes available, it is rapidly becoming apparent that he lacks the necessary diplomacy and player-management skills to be a successful coach at this level.
3. Have Liverpool got Chelsea at a good time?
(Steven Gerrard kept Liverpool’s Champions League hopes alive with a late winner against QPR last weekend)
There’s no doubt that Liverpool need a win on Sunday to have any realistic hope of maintaining their top-four challenge this season.
Conceivably, they face an extremely difficult task, as they prepare to play Chelsea, who were crowned Premier League champions last weekend.
Liverpool’s task is all the more daunting owing to the fact that the game takes place at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea are unbeaten at home all season in the league, and have conceded just seven goals in their ground since the start of the campaign.
However, history suggests the Blues could falter.
Both their previous title victories under Mourinho were won with games to spare, and in both cases, Chelsea dropped points after securing the title.
In 2005-06, the trend was particularly evident, as they lost both their remaining games, having already won the league at Old Trafford, so there could well be a sense of deja vu when they face Liverpool on Sunday
4. Burnley and QPR on the brink
While there is hope yet for Villa, Newcastle, Leicester, Hull and Sunderland in the relegation dogfight, QPR and Burnley look doomed.
The two teams trail 17th place Hull by seven and eight points respectively with three games to play.
Therefore, both QPR and Burnley must win their remaining three matches to have any hope of staying up.
The more likely scenario though will see their relegations confirmed this weekend, as they prepare to face Hull and Man City respectively.
5. Southampton and Tottenham battle it out for dubious Europa League prize
(Christian Eriksen has run a greater overall distance than any other Premier League player this season)
With Liverpool all but assured of a Europa League spot at worst, it looks as if the final automatic place in the competition is a two-horse race between Tottenham and Southampton, with the latter currently trailing the former by one point in the league.
There are obvious incentives to finishing sixth rather than seventh — the prestige and the greater prize money being two obvious benefits. However, the prospect of regularly playing in the Europa League next season is somewhat of a dubious honour.
Granted, the lucky winner gets a Champions League spot, while there is also the extra income it brings to the clubs.
However, Tottenham have plainly suffered to a degree this season owing to their participation in Europe’s second-tier competition. Spurs have played more matches than any other Premier League club, and their recent series of lifeless performances suggests the heavy workload is taking its toll.
Christian Eriksen, so impressive in the early parts of the season, has run a greater overall distance than any other player in the league, and has ostensibly been lacking his usual sharpness in recent games.
Therefore, Tottenham may not be too dismayed if they finish seventh, but even then, the White Hart Lane outfit will be required to compete in the Europa League if Aston Villa fail to win the FA Cup final.
