Never in Premier League history has so much been riding on the last 90 minutes of a season. The 2011/12 season culminates on Sunday with three major issues still waiting to be resolved: Who will qualify for next season's Champions League? Who will be relegated? And more importantly, who will win the title?
Race for the title
Current Standings Last day fixtures
1. Man City +63 86 Manchester City v QPR
2. Man Utd +55 86 Sunderland v Manchester United
The equation is simple. Manchester City have to beat Queens Park Rangers at the Etihad Stadium and they will win their first title in 44 years. City's home record this season has been phenomenal, winning 18 out of 19 home games and drawing the other. On paper then, a home banker. Not at all. QPR are scrapping for their lives at the other end of the table and need three points to guarantee safety. There are a few other sub-plots to consider as well. R's manager Mark Hughes is returning back to the club where he was sacked in a "very unethical way" according to Sir Alex Ferguson and will be eager to prove a point to the City owners. What better way than to spoil their party? Add to that QPR trio Shaun Wright-Phillips, Nedum Onuoha and Joey Barton returning to the club where they made their name, and Anton Ferdinand hoping to do his brother Rio a favour and City's chickens shouldn't be counted.
If City do slip up, then neighbours Manchester United can steal the title. If there is one thing we all know about Man United it's that they don't know when they are beaten. The current champions are away to an out of form Sunderland and will be favourites to win the game, if not the title. But the Black Cats' manager Martin O'Neill will also want to make sure the season doesn't fizzle out after a fantastic turnaround in fortunes since his appointment. Sunderland haven't won a league game since a 3-1 win at home to QPR on the 24 March seven games ago, but on their day can beat anyone in the league. Just ask Man City, who they beat 1-0 on New Year's Day and are the only team to come away from the Etihad with a point and should have arguably got all three.
Fight for fourth
Current Standings Last Day Fixtures
3. Arsenal +24 67 Everton v Newcastle
4. Tottenham +23 66 Tottenham v Fulham
--------------------------- West Brom v Arsenal
5. Newcastle +7 65
This is far more complicated, with three clubs fighting out for two spots and Champions League qualification. Arsenal are currently in pole position and travel to the Hawthorns on the final day to face West Bromwich Albion. Arsenal's North London rivals Tottenham are the current occupants of the final Champions League place and welcome Fulham to White Hart Lane. This season's surprise package Newcastle are still in with a chance of Champions League football, but must win at an in form Everton and hope either Spurs or Arsenal lose.
The Hawthorns is sure to have a carnival atmosphere on Sunday as the Baggies say goodbye to new England manager Roy Hodgson. With this in mind, the home side will be determined to end the season with a win and in turn secure a top half finish. For Arsenal to finish third they must simply win. However, if they do lose, they will have to hope Spurs lose and Newcastle fail to win. A draw will be good enough to finish at least fourth.
On paper, Spurs have the easier fixture on the last day with a home game against Fulham. Their form however, isn't the best. They have won just three of their 12 league games since the end of February, while Fulham have won five of their last seven and can finish as high as seventh. But a more encouraging stat for Spurs is that Fulham have only won four away games this season and scored only 12 goals, the second lowest in the division. For Spurs to finish third they have to win and hope Arsenal fail to beat West Brom. A draw will be good enough providing Newcastle fail to win and Arsenal lose by two or more goals.
Newcastle visit Everton on Sunday needing to win due to their inferior goal difference compared to the two North London clubs. It won't be easy though, as they face an Everton side who are unbeaten in their last eight games. Indeed both clubs have had successful seasons, with Everton looking set to finish above Merseyside rivals Liverpool for the first time since 2004/05. But it's the Toon who have taken the most plaudits this season. Many expected them to struggle at the start of the season after selling key players, but the form of their two strikers Demba Ba and Papis Cisse has seen them in a scenario where they are guaranteed at least Europa League football. Newcastle have to win at Everton and hope either Spurs fail to win or Arsenal lose or both to finish a remarkable season in the top four.
To add to the confusion, whoever finishes the season in fourth place are not sure of Champions League football. If Chelsea beat Bayern Munich in the final of the Champions League, then it will be they who qualify for the competition next season and the team who finishes fourth will drop into the Europa League. If Chelsea lose, then the team who finishes fourth will play in the Champions League, entering the competition in the playoff stage.
Relegation dog fight
Current standings Last Day Fixtures
17. QPR -22
37 Manchester
City v
QPR
------------------------ Stoke City v Bolton
18. Bolton -31 35
Blackburn Rovers and Wolves have already been relegated into the Championship, but who will join them? It will be either last season's winners of the Championship, Queens Park Rangers or Premier League stalwarts Bolton, who have been in England's top division since 2001.
The R's are currently favourites to stay up after their recent home form. Five consecutive wins at Loftus Road against Liverpool, Arsenal, Swansea, Tottenham and Stoke has seen them go into the last day with a chance of survival which seemed unlikely a couple of months ago. As already mentioned, if they are to stay up in their first season back in the Premier League they will have to take a point at the Etihad Stadium, which seems unlikely. Their best chance of staying up will come at the Britannia Stadium, as Stoke take on Bolton.
It's been a turbulent season for Wanderers. They have struggled near the bottom of the Premier League from almost the outset, but it was the collapse of midfielder Fabrice Muamba in an FA Cup tie at Tottenham which put it all into reality. Muamba's remarkable recovery in hospital coincided with Bolton becoming galvanised on the pitch as results picked up at a crucial stage of the season. Due to their inferior goal difference, Bolton need all three points at Stoke to have a chance of staying up, but we all know that is easier said than done for any team that goes to the Britannia Stadium. A win for the Potters would equal their best points tally in the Premier League, some going for a team that will play its 56th match of a gruelling season. They've only lost four times at home in the league this season, but there is some hope for Bolton. Last season, Wigan needed a win on the last day at the Britannia to stay up. They did
------------------------ Stoke City v Bolton
18. Bolton -31 35
Blackburn Rovers and Wolves have already been relegated into the Championship, but who will join them? It will be either last season's winners of the Championship, Queens Park Rangers or Premier League stalwarts Bolton, who have been in England's top division since 2001.
The R's are currently favourites to stay up after their recent home form. Five consecutive wins at Loftus Road against Liverpool, Arsenal, Swansea, Tottenham and Stoke has seen them go into the last day with a chance of survival which seemed unlikely a couple of months ago. As already mentioned, if they are to stay up in their first season back in the Premier League they will have to take a point at the Etihad Stadium, which seems unlikely. Their best chance of staying up will come at the Britannia Stadium, as Stoke take on Bolton.
It's been a turbulent season for Wanderers. They have struggled near the bottom of the Premier League from almost the outset, but it was the collapse of midfielder Fabrice Muamba in an FA Cup tie at Tottenham which put it all into reality. Muamba's remarkable recovery in hospital coincided with Bolton becoming galvanised on the pitch as results picked up at a crucial stage of the season. Due to their inferior goal difference, Bolton need all three points at Stoke to have a chance of staying up, but we all know that is easier said than done for any team that goes to the Britannia Stadium. A win for the Potters would equal their best points tally in the Premier League, some going for a team that will play its 56th match of a gruelling season. They've only lost four times at home in the league this season, but there is some hope for Bolton. Last season, Wigan needed a win on the last day at the Britannia to stay up. They did
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