Originally Posted by SkySports

Premier League preview

After the chess game tactics of midweek European exertions, the blood and thunder of the Premier League returns in the month of May - opportunities now need to be seized, pawns used to protect the king.


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Spectators were expecting a deluge of goals in the UEFA Champions League, but with the quality so high in attack, midfield and defence, so much yearning for Rome and the two fixtures in reality at half-time, little was risked and caution was pocketed to be thrown at the wind a week later.

However, it is do or die for sides competing in England's top flight, the majority only have four matches remaining to determine their destinies, to establish whether the curtain falls on a jubilant, sterile or agonising conclusion.

The action recommences live on Sky Sports 1 & HD1 on Saturday at 12.30pm as Manchester United, fresh from their semi-final first leg win over Arsenal, travel to a Middlesbrough side hanging to their hopes of safety by brittle dental floss. Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson has one eye on the title, the other on the Gunners. The Scot will rotate while Boro will need to take their chance and end the afternoon with a toothy smile.

Third-placed Chelsea entertain Fulham, who appear on course for the Europa League, in a West London derby at Stamford Bridge. Blues interim coach Guus Hiddink's pre-match press conference will make for interesting viewing after he vowed to go for the jugular at Barcelona. Whether Chelsea will be quite so reserved versus Fulham remains to be seen, but likeable manager Roy Hodgson could envisage this as an opportune moment to, incredibly, close on sixth.

At the depths of the murky deep, West Bromwich Albion are also in action in the smog of the capital when they meet Howard Webb's anti-fan club Tottenham Hotspur. Harry Redknapp was right to feel aggrieved at Old Trafford last week, but his mid-table team are mathematically safe, and, while three points were dropped, his feelings about the nuisance of what comes with entering European competition are well-documented. For the Baggies, the Great Escape part two remains a work in progress.

Blackburn Rovers, no matter what your feelings are on the ethos behind playing a defender the size of a telephone box up front, are in a decent position safety-wise. In a game where Mark Hughes faces his former club, Manchester City host their North West neighbours at Eastlands. City are within reach of seventh, aware that a lack of European football is only likely to attract the money-grabbers, while if Sam Allardyce avoids defeat he can all-but consider returning Christopher Samba to his natural position.

Paul Hart seemed to have avoided a capsizing at Portsmouth, but the temporary boss is experienced enough to know that teams in the bottom three are desperate to seize on a capitulation from above. Pompey's test is Arsenal, who will certainly be resting personnel ahead of their home second leg against the European champions. The only fly in the ointment for Portsmouth is Andrey Arshavin, a Russian whose beating wings are his feet. Furthermore, the Gunners would loathe to lose their 20-match unbeaten run.

Gianfranco Zola, who was rewarded for his fine work at West Ham United with a new contract last weekend, faces the unenviable task of taking on Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium. The Potters have suffered defeat just three times at their ever so noisy home turf this season, form that has handed them a superb and likely chance of avoiding demotion. It is expected to be a game of contrasting styles and whether the Hammers can cope with Stoke's 'in yer face', yet fair, tactics will make intriguing viewing.

Lastly on Saturday, Wigan Athletic tackle Bolton Wanderers. The Latics, suffering from key departures in January and double-edged sword Amr Zaki whose recent disruptive behaviour followed key early-season goals, have lost their last three outings as their chances of a top-seven finish seem to have gone up in smoke. Meanwhile, Bolton, driven on by impressive English pair Kevin Davies and Matthew Taylor, will move level on points with their North West rivals should they record success at the JJB Stadium.

Few are expecting a close-fought 4-3 thriller when Liverpool meet Newcastle United on Sunday. Only Alan Shearer will deep down know whether he regrets taking on the Magpies challenge. Some said the move was win-win for the television pundit, but, should he envisage a future career in management, leading his hometown club to relegation would be a sticky pill for his confidence and future employers to swallow. Anything other than a hiding at the title-chasing Reds, a side right now obsessed on landing No.1 spot, would surely be deemed as a triumph for Newcastle.

The final game of the weekend sees Sunderland take on Everton, live on Sky Sports 1 & HD1. The Wearsiders, who seemed to have escaped the drop in February, have found wins hard to come by and losses plentiful of late. Defeat against FA Cup finalists Everton, who still have fifth-placed Aston Villa in their sights, would only serve as further nervousness for the North East, where feasibly three clubs could be relegated. Ricky Sbragia, though, may spy an Everton side distracted by Wembley, and the Black Cats may look to pounce.

Originally Posted by Tommy Red
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It could be pretty much over by mid-afternoon tomorrow.

Originally Posted by Flash_Back
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at both ends of the table?

Boro win tomorrow, you heard it hear first
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Originally Posted by Tommy Red
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They won't win, but they may very well get something. Depends on what side we put out. We will definitely have Tuesday in mind with the crucial return leg at the Emirates so I expect a lot of changes. I just hope the team isn't TOO weak.

I think it might be 1-1. Boro are always good against the big teams at home and we don't have a good record there. The fact that they are fighting for their Premiership lives may make it tougher.

And I was actually just referring to the top when I said it could be over. I don't think any results tomorrow could end the relegation scrap just yet.