There’s just one game to go, yet it seems like everything’s still up in the air in the English Premier League. The title will end up in the city of Manchester, yet whether it will return to Old Trafford or grace the Etihad Stadium for the first time, is as yet unsettled.
Further down the table, the last two Champions League places are also still in play, with Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle all needing to win to stand any chance of sealing a spot.
Down at the bottom, it’s a straight duel between Bolton and QPR for the dubious honour of joining already relegated Wolves and Blackburn on the way down to the Championship.
All that means we could be treated to some dramatic fare on what is perhaps the most exciting last day since Blackburn pipped Man United to the title back in 1995.
The key game will, of course, be Man City’s home clash with QPR. Roberto Mancini’s side need all three points to seal the deal, and it’ll take a brave man to bet against a side that has won an incredible 17 of their 18 home matches this season. Indeed, after seeing off both Man Utd and Newcastle in their last two games, City’s superstars will be expected to see off QPR’S challenge rather easily. Then again, strange things happen when nerves are jangling and the fact that QPR – coached by former City boss Mark Hughes – need a point to make their Premiership place certain will only spice up the occasion. Regardless, I don’t see QPR pooping this particular party and City and their long-suffering fans should be celebrating a first title in 44 years come Sunday evening.
That would leave QPR’s fate hanging on the result from the Brittania Stadium, where visiting Bolton will be desperately fighting for the three points against Stoke City. Anything less and Owen Coyle’s team can start preparing for life in the Championship next season. Brittania is a tough place to visit at the best of times and if Stoke are up for it Bolton, in all their desperation, will struggle to get away with a win.
The three-way race for 3rd and 4th should be the most interesting of the lot. Arsenal lead the pack going in, and their superior goal difference means just one point at West Brom will secure yet another Champions League qualification. With the Alex Song-Robin van Persie tandem still in fine form, the Gunners shouldn’t have a problem finding goals here and it would be a huge surprise if they failed to do the necessary.
Any slip could open the door for Spurs and Newcastle, but they both face tough tests on Sunday. Tottenham host London rivals Fulham, and would be glad to finish a tupsy-turvy season on a high. Champions League qualification would be ample reward from a season in which the Spurs were briefly touted as title challengers – before their form fell away in January.
Newcastle have been the surprise team of the season, and it would be quite the story if they ended the season with a place in the Champions League. But they face the toughest task of the three with a trip to Goodison Park to face Everton, and have a vastly inferior goal difference. Besides, even an away win – which I doubt they’ll get - would still leave them hoping for one of the other two to slip up.
Arsenal’s firepower should be enough to secure a draw – at least - at the Hawthorns, and I think Tottenham will do enough to join them in the top four.
So, here’s what Super Sunday will throw up:
Champions: Man City
Third: Arsenal
Fourth: Tottenham
Relegated: Bolton
That’s what I think anyway.
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