The Premier League title race is well and truly over.
While last year’s climax between Manchester United and Manchester City reached the final kick of the season, this year’s finish has been nailed down with nine games remaining – hardly the same type of nail biting conclusion.
To recap week 30 of the Premier League, which took place over two weeks ago due to the international break, United built their lead at the top of the table to 15 points. City’s demoralising 2-0 defeat to Everton was compounded further when United won 1-0 at home to Reading courtesy of a deflected Wayne Rooney goal.
That puts the majority of people’s attentions on the battle for survival at the bottom of the table.
With just eight games remaining, only eight points separates six sides all vying for another season in the Premier League.
Inside the bottom three, Harry Redknapp and Roberto Martinez are both masters of the Houdini act, yet their sides are well and truly camped in the relegation zone. Reading has a new manager, but they’re in dire straights.
Meanwhile it doesn’t get much better for the teams outside the relegation zone. With only four points the difference between 15th and relegation, Sunderland, Southampton and Aston Villa are looking over their shoulders.
Aston Villa’s gutsy come-from-behind victory over QPR on the last matchday blew the relegation fight wide open. It meant Villa soared three points clear of the drop zone, cracking a seven-point gap between themselves and bottom placed QPR. Villa is at home to Liverpool on Sunday, while QPR travels to Fulham on Monday evening.
Reading hired ex-Southampton manager Nigel Adkins as their new boss over the international break. But the 48-year-old, who was sacked by the Saints earlier this season, has his work cut out for him at the Madejski Stadium. Like QPR, there are seven points separating the Royals from relegation and survival. Adkins’s first match in charge is against Arsenal this weekend.
Wigan’s 2-1 victory over Newcastle on the last matchday was marred by Callum McManaman’s shocking tackle on Massadio Haidara. McManaman was incredibly not sent off for the challenge, nor reported for the incident after the match, meaning he is free to play in Wigan’s match against Norwich this weekend. The Latics are looking for another sensational late play for survival. They’re currently three points inside the relegation zone, but have a match in hand on Aston Villa.
Meanwhile Newcastle is by no means safe, either. They sit only two games from the drop zone with a trip to Manchester City coming up this weekend.
Southampton recorded an impressive 3-1 win over Liverpool on matchday 30. The Saints were in red-hot form and hardly looked a side that is sitting just four points from the bottom three. They’re playing some wonderful football at the moment. Under Adkins, and now under Mauricio Pochettino, they’re playing fearlessly. It’s this type of football that should see them survive for another season in the Premier League. They host Chelsea this weekend.
Although for a while it seemed their safety was assured, Sunderland could be the surprise packets to go down. The Black Cats are currently four points from the dreaded drop zone, but they have an incredibly difficult final eight games – beginning with Manchester United this weekend. Martin O’Neill’s men follow up that clash with a run of games against Chelsea, Newcastle and Everton, before finishing their season away at Tottenham.
Finally, an important note for Australian viewers: Daylight Savings begins in the UK on Sunday March 31, meaning kickoff times will be different to their regular scheduling. Be sure to look carefully at the times of kickoff below.
Predictions (AEST)
Saturday March 30 at 11.45pm
Sunderland 0-2 Manchester United
Sunday March 31 at 2.00am
Arsenal 3-0 Reading
Manchester City 2-1 Newcastle
Southampton 1-2 Chelsea
Swansea 1-1 Tottenham
West Ham 1-1 West Bromwich Albion
Wigan 2-1 Norwich
Sunday March 31 at 4.30am
Everton 0-0 Stoke
Sunday March 31 at 11.30pm
Aston Villa 0-2 Liverpool
Tuesday April 2 at 6.00am
Fulham 1-1 QPR
Riley Beveridge is a second-year Bachelor of Sports Journalism student at La Trobe University. You can follow him on Twitter: @RileyBev.
