One week to go and then the season is over, 😦 But it is slightly interesting there is a battle for third, second and fourth spot. The challenge for who doesn’t get Europa spot or who does want to. The other interesting factor of the week this could be the decider of who gets relegated next week.
Southampton V Aston Villa
Southampton are sort of stumbling over the finishing line they played so well over the begging of the season. The last four matches have yielded a single point, with Ronald Koeman’s side losing three away from home. In comparison Aston Villa started off really poorly but with the influence of Tim Sherwood, they have turned it around. They have won consecutive game also Christian Benteke scoring 10 goals in his last nine league appearances. Southampton have only beaten Villa once in six meetings at St Mary’s Stadium: a 4-1 success in September 2012. I don’t think they have much chance to win again as the form has dropped slightly and Villa look like they are up for a good fight and a win for them would guarantee safety and set them up for the FA cup.
Villa Win
Burnley V Stoke
Last week was a good week for one side, but not the other side. Burnley were finally relegated after playing slightly well this campaign this will be the last chance to see their team at home in the Premier League before an immediate return to the Championship, but it will be a totally different atmosphere. The reason for the relegation is goalscoring they have failed to score in 17 league matches and when they did win it was only due to them winning by a single gaol margin. Stoke did very well this season under Mark Hughes they are on target to get the highest they need one more point to better last season’s tally of 50, a club record in the Premier League. Burnley will certainly put up a good fight but I think Stoke should pip them to the points, with the possibility of a goal for Peter Crouch who has yet to score against Burnley.
Stoke Win
Queens Park Ranger V Newcastle United
This we be slightly interesting to team that are in complete melt down. QPR have finally been put out of the misery of will the won’t they after an embracing performance against Man City really just showed the season they have had. A few bad eggs have been blamed by some for the downfall, but I would put it down to bad performances and not the right set of tactics home and away at the beginning of the season. Newcastle has been just as bad really, the leaving of Pardew from an outside prospective would announce the decline. But the rot had already set in before he left, they don’t have the right players for the squad, they don’t seem to be able to get the basics right and won’t be likely to recruit anyone to improve next year. The idea of them trend water seemed odd at the time but it looks as though this hasn’t worked and the are in a big risk of being relegated. They have to win this match to keep up the fight and stop regulation, one positive is that they have won their last four games against QPR – all by a single-goal margin, so if this fact sticks this may be the lifeline they need.
Newcastle Win
Sunderland V Leicester
Last year it was ‘Gus’s Great Escape’ that saw Sunderland to safety, but the Leicester City story this time is arguably even more impressive. Sunderland are in the same situation as last year but like there Tyne Wear neighbours they to are in a bit of relegation scrap separated by 2 points but they have a mod week game against Arsenal also. Both teams are coming off the back of consecutive wins. But what might separate the sides is the fact that Sunderland are undefeated in the last 10 matches. But this is unlikely to play on Leicester mind because I suspect they will put up a good fight. Which for me may nick it as the could do something with a speedy attack.
Leicester Win
Tottenham Hotspur V Hull City
Tottenham have been in poor form as recent times they have gone off the boil as it were. But this may be due to the large amount of games and the disappointment of not winning the cup one could understand the decline. But this is also working in their favour as a season not in the Europa cup may do what it did for Liverpool and allow them to focus on a top 4 finish next season. Hull have gone back a step this year after playing int he FA cup final and staying up this time last year, they are in the drop zone. They won go down this week but with out three points from this match will be a massive help. Hull are without a victory in six Premier League games against Tottenham since winning their first top-flight meeting, at White Hart Lane, in October 2008. But this could change with the form that Tottenham are in and the fact the goals have dried up a bit for Kane, if Hull can maintain a good defence and get some good chine they could help maintain Premier League football for next year.
Hull Win
West Ham V Everton
The hammers have been struggling for form ever since the begging of the year. In January they were contending for a champions league spot as well-looking a dead on favourite to get a Europa spot. In their first 18 matches of the season they picked up 31 points. In the subsequent 18 games they have collected just 16 points. They have slipped down the able very quickly due to bad performances and injury problems up front. Everton have been similar they did however manage to turn it around recently but with back to back defeat conceding goals, it looks like he troubles are back. But the more interesting factor of this match is who can avoid the least yellow cards, this being due to the fact that England has been given an extra Europa spot for FairPlay and both side are at the top of the list to get it. So the game may not be about goals it maybe about not get silly yellows and reds so they can still qualify for Europa cup next season. But on form anyway Everton will want revenge they won the reverse 2-1 but the FA cup so the side knocked out on a dramatic penalty shoot that ended 8-9 to West Ham. But something say that this maybe a null game which not much happens.
Draw
Liverpool V Crystal Palace
SO this is it the build up has been on going but this is the last Anfield match for Stevie G. It will be emotional and heated one could imagine. For Palace there isn’t much to play for other than pride and the chance to rifle up the table to get more money, the main task for Pardew is complete keep them up for another season. After winning four successive Premier League games, Palace have now lost four in a row. They will be wanting to put up a fight one could imagine to end an odd season on a high to set up the next. For Liverpool they have been very poor winning their last seven Premier League games, scoring just seven goals. Their two victories came against Newcastle and QPR. They did well though to draw against Chelsea and it was from the man of the moment Stevie G. This match is set up to be his moment again possible scoring a spectacular goal, but one would imagine that Crystal palace will be aware of this.Although Crystal Palace have not won a league game at Anfield for 24 years since a 2-1 victory in November 1991, when Marco Gabbiadini and Geoff Thomas netted for the Eagles. They have recently had a good run against Liverpool losing only one of the match out of four. It will be as I said a charged game but you can Liverpool winning it just for the atmosphere alone.
Liverpool Win
Stew'ing over it 