The fixtures (All kick off Sunday 4pm)
Arsenal v Fulham
Aston Villa v Blackburn
Bolton v Birmingham
Burnley v Tottenham Hotspur
Chelsea v Wigan (Live on Sky Sports 1)
Everton v Portsmouth
Hull City v Liverpool (Live on Setanta Sports)
Manchester United v Stoke (Live on Sky Sports 3)
West Ham United v Manchester City
Wolves v Sunderland
Chelsea v Wigan
The title is in the Blues’ hands and they’ve had the look of champions about them lately, particularly when negotiating a potentially tricky tie at Anfield last weekend. It’s not all over yet though and anything less than three points for Ancelotti’s men will hand the initiative to Manchester United.
Wigan have already beaten Chelsea this season and their recent win over Arsenal shows they can mix it with the big boys, but two humiliations against Manchester United as well as a trashing at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur show just how frustrating and inconsistent they’ve been this season. Their record away from home is awful and they are likely to be mere spectators in what should be a memorable day for players and fans alike at the Bridge.
Chelsea have no fresh injury worries ahead of Sunday’s clash. Marcelo Moreno will miss out for Wigan as will Titus Bramble and Chris Kirkland, while on loan striker Scott Sinclair has already returned to Chelsea as he would have been ineligible to play against is parent club.
Odds:
Chelsea 1/9, Wigan 22/1, Draw 9/1
JOE Prediction: Chelsea to stroll to victory on the way to their first Premier League title in four years.
Manchester United v Stoke
United will do the professional thing on Sunday, but you can’t help but feel it will all be in vain. With unpredictable Wigan the visitors at Stamford Bridge, you never what could happen, but the smart money is on John Terry lifting the Premier League title sometime near six on Sunday evening.
It could be the last time you will see some players in a United shirt with rumours that Sir Alex is going to overhaul the squad in the summer. They should have enough for Stoke at the weekend, but Tony Pulis can look back on this season with satisfaction after defying the expectations of many pundits who had tipped them for the drop in their second season in the top flight.
Antonio Valencia has been given early holidays by Sir Alex Ferguson after suffering an ankle injury against Tottenham a fortnight ago. Abdoulaye Faye returns to the Stoke squad while Asmir Begovic will continue in goal in the absence of Thomas Sorensen.
Odds:
Manchester United 1/8, Stoke City 22/1, Draw 17/2
JOE Prediction: United should win this comfortably, but it won’t be enough for a fourth Premier League title in succession.
Arsenal v Fulham
Six games ago, Arsenal were only two points adrift at the top of the table and tipped by many pundits to go all the way on the basis of what was deemed an easier a run in than their fellow title rivals. Five points later, Arsenal are now eleven points behind leaders Chelsea and the Gunners face the ultimate humiliation of losing third place to arch rivals Spurs should they fail to overcome Fulham at the Emirates.
They could hardly have asked for a handier final home tie than Roy Hodgson’s Fulham, whose thoughts will no doubt be drifting towards the Europa League final next week.
Tomas Rosicky, Nicklas Bendtner and Alex Song are out for Arsenal along with long term casualties Manuel Almunia, William Gallas, Thomas Vermaelen, Cesc Fabregas and Denilson. Gael Clichy is a doubt while Andrey Arshavin could feature after returning to action against Blackburn last weekend. Damien Duff will miss out after limping out of the midweek defeat to Stoke and Hodgson could well rest a number of first team players ahead of the big game in Hamburg on Wednesday.
Odds:
Arsenal 1/5, Fulham 14/1, Draw 7/1
JOE Prediction: Arsenal to stroll to victory and make sure of third place.
Aston Villa v Blackburn
After their hopes of Champions League football came to an end at Eastlands last weekend, Villa have nothing to play for with Europa League qualification already secured. Blackburn have been very impressive in the second half of the season and should they achieve better results than Stoke and Fulham on Sunday, they will finish in the top half of the table.
Odds:
Aston Villa 4/7, Blackburn 11/2 Draw 3/1
JOE Prediction:
Blackburn to take advantage of a tired Villa and come away from Birmingham with a win
Bolton v Birmingham
Bolton have been showings signs in recent weeks of adapting to a more attractive style of football that Owen Coyle promised he would bring to the Reebok. Young starlets Jack Wilshere and Vladimir Weiss have been particularly impressive and if Coyle can hang on to them for another season, Bolton could surprise a few people next year.
Alex McLeish has done wondrous things with Birmingham this season and deserves great credit for driving the club to their highest ever finish in the Premier League. He will also have money to spend in the summer, so the Blues could go from strength to strength next year.
Stuart Holden, Andy O’Brien and Chris Basham could figure for Bolton after recovering from injury. Stephen Carr returns from suspension for the Blues while Scott Dann remains out with a calf problem.
Odds:
Bolton 5/4, Birmingham, 12/5, Draw 12/5
JOE Prediction: Can’t see there being much between them at the Reebok, we’ll plump for a draw.
Burnley v Tottenham Hotspur
Spurs will be on a high after Wednesday’s victory over Manchester City sealed their place in the Champions League next season. If results go their way on Sunday, they could conceivably overtake Arsenal in third place, but it is unlikely that the Gunners will slip up at home to Fulham. Burnley have looked like a sinking ship ever since Owen Coyle left for Bolton and appointing a manger not deemed good enough for the Championship was a disastrous step. This should be a formality for Harry Redknapp’s men.
Chris McCann will be in Burnley’s squad after enduring a frustrating injury-hit campaign while Clarke Carlisle will miss out with an ankle injury. Harry Redknapp is expected to rest Ledley King and there is a doubt over the participation of Huerelho Gomes who is struggling with a muscle strain.
Odds:
Burnley 6/1, Tottenham 8/15, Draw 10/3
JOE prediction: Easy win for a Spurs side still in party mood after Wednesday night.
Everton v Portsmouth
Everton’s strong finish to the season was too little, too late for David Moyes men as their efforts to qualify for European football next season ultimately fell short. Who knows what might have happened had injury not deprived them of some key players such as Phil Jagielka and Mikael Arteta for such a large chunk of the season. Portsmouth have reacted well to the setback of administration and will be in good spirits ahead of their FA Cup final appearance next weekend.
Odds:
Everton 3/10, Portsmouth11/1, Draw 5/1
JOE Prediction: Everton to continue on their good run of form and finish the season on a high with a win.
Hull City v Liverpool
The last Premier League fixture to be held in the KC Stadium for the foreseeable future sees a clash between two sides with a lot more than a meaningless end of season fixture on their minds. Hull will be more concerned about the financial implications of dropping out of the top division, while the future of Rafa Benitez and the ownership of the club remain concerns down Anfield way.
Liverpool have been in decent form towards the season end but even with a win on Sunday, the best finish they can hope for is sixth, which given the optimism shown by Liverpool fans last August, represents a disastrous campaign for the reds.
Odds:
Hull 11/2, Liverpool 4/7, Draw 10/3
JOE Prediction: The tigers seem to have lost all of their fight. A facile away win for Liverpool
West Ham United v Manchester City
Word from the boardroom is that Roberto Mancini will be at the helm at Eastlands next season but we’re not so sure he will be the man entrusted with the millions of Sheikh Mansour in the transfer market this summer.
City were never going to win the title despite the numerous signings but Champions League football was well within reach and their performances in crucial recent clashes against Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur were simply not good enough and some of that must be attributed to Mancini’s negative approach.
In the other dugout, it could be the last you will see of Gianfranco Zola in charge of the Hammers as some of the bizarre statements from the new owners have not exactly inspired confidence.
Gareth Barry won’t feature for City and his participation in the World Cup is now in doubt after suffering ankle ligament damage against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday evening.
Odds:
West Ham 7/2, Man City 10/11, Draw 11/4
JOE Prediction:
No pressure for City this time around, so they should grab all three points at Upton Park.
Wolves v Sunderland
Many thought that Wolves would be heading straight back to the Championship this season, but Mick McCarthy’s side have been very organised and difficult to beat, but badly lacking goals at the other end, despite the form of Kevin Doyle. Sunderland’s mid season slump was very alarming, but they’ve been back to more like their old selves of late and should really be aiming higher than twelfth place, which they can achieve should they beat Wolves and Fulham lose to Arsenal on Sunday.
Matt Jarvis will return for Wolves who have no fresh injury worries while Sunderland have been rocked by the news that Irish midfielder David Meyler has been ruled out for a long spell after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury.
Odds:
Wolves 11/8, Sunderland 9/4, Draw 12/5
JOE Prediction: Darren Bent to round off a quite brilliant season for the Mackems with a couple of goals in an away win.
