Manchester United, Leicester and Chelsea are in pole position to finish in the top four, but West Ham, Everton, Tottenham and Aston Villa all have games in hand to bolster their challenge, while troubled champions Liverpool are not yet out of the running.
At the bottom Burnley, Newcastle, Brighton and Fulham are separated by four points in the fight to avoid joining the seemingly doomed West Brom and Sheffield United in the Championship next season, the latter of whom parted company with their manager Chris Wilder yesterday (Mar 12).
It brought the curtain down on a fairytale story where local lad and boyhood fan Wilder took the club from the depths of the lower leagues to the Premier League in successive seasons, confounding the critics in their first season back in the top-flight to finish a hugely impressive ninth place in the table.
This season they have struggled and currently remain bottom of the table. Despite many experts believing Wilder had more than enough credit from his previous heroic efforts to stave off any possible departure, the news was confirmed yesterday that he has left his post by mutual consent.
Early reports suggest unrest behind the scenes with the Blade’s Middle Eastern owners wanting to restructure the club and bring in a technical director of football, something Wilder was very much against.
Sheffield United travel to Leicester City tomorrow.
Bale back to his best
The Europa League looked like the best route into the Champions League for both Tottenham and Arsenal less than two weeks ago and while that remains the case for the Gunners, Gareth Bale’s resurgent form has hauled Spurs back into top-four contention.
The Welshman had scored just one Premier League goal all season prior to Feb 28, but bagged four in two games against Burnley and Crystal Palace either side of a hard-fought win at Fulham for Jose Mourinho’s men.
Still five points adrift of Chelsea, albeit with a game in hand, Tottenham can ill afford many more slip ups if they are not to rely on cup glory to salvage Mourinho’s first full season in charge.
With Bale now up to speed, he has formed a fearsome front three with Harry Kane and Son Heung-min that make Tottenham favourites to extend a five-game unbeaten run in north London derbies at the Emirates Stadium tomorrow.
Reborn Moyes back at Old Trafford
Manchester United snapped Manchester City’s winning streak at 21 games last weekend but with a 14-point gap still separating the top two, the immediate target for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men is just to secure second place.
United have a six-point lead over fifth-placed West Ham, but the Hammers have a game in hand and can halve that deficit at Old Trafford tomorrow.
David Moyes lasted just 10 months as United manager as Alex Ferguson’s successor.
But after further unhappy spells at Real Sociedad and Sunderland, the Scot has led West Ham to mount an unexpected top-four challenge.
Only City have won more points in 2021 than Moyes’ men.
“I can’t promise anything but we will do our best to go there and get a result, that’s for sure,” said Moyes of visiting his old club.
Moyes will be without one of his key performers in recent weeks, though, as Jesse Lingard is ineligible as he is on loan from United.
City test for flying Fulham
Fulham’s fine form has Brighton, Newcastle and Burnley nervously looking over their shoulders.
Scott Parker’s men secured a famous 1-0 win away to Liverpool last weekend and have lost just once in their last seven games.
Fulham’s revival will be put to the test when Manchester City travel to Craven Cottage today, which could give the other strugglers a chance to gain some breathing space.
Brighton host a Southampton side that have won just once in their last 11 games.
Newcastle and Aston Villa drew 1-1 last night with an injury time-equaliser from Magpies’ captain Jamaal Lascelles earning an invaluable point for the hosts.
Fixtures (all Phuket times)
Saturday
Leeds v Chelsea 7:30pm
Crystal Palace v West Brom 10pm
Sunday
Everton v Burnley 12:30am
Fulham v Manchester City 3am
Southampton v Brighton 7pm
Leicester v Sheffield United 9pm
Arsenal v Tottenham 11.30pm
Monday
Manchester United v West Ham 2:15am
Tuesday
Wolves v Liverpool 3am
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