Premier League set for gripping finale

Premier League set for gripping finale: But what can still happen?

As the last day of the English Premier League season draws near, there is still a lot to be decided at the top and bottom of the table. With the league title and Champions League qualification places still to be decided as well as the last relegation place to be filled there is still much to play for. It all comes down to 3pm tomorrow and the biggest 90 minutes in the history of Manchester City and Queens Park Rangers to name just two teams.

When 5pm ticks around on Sunday one of the most captivating Premier League seasons in the competitions 20-year history will come to a close. There are still plenty of ‘if’s’ and just as many ‘but’s’ to be decided before then.

So what can still happen?

The Premier League title

It has been, as expected, a two-horse race for most of this season. At one stage it seemed that the title was heading to City, then momentum swung back United’s way who opened up an 8 point gap, but now with one game to go it is the blue half of Manchester who have one hand firmly on the trophy.

The biggest swing in momentum was when Manchester United lost 1-0 to their noisy neighbours less than a fortnight ago with many pundits believing that Sir Alex Ferguson got his game plan wrong with his ultra-defensive tactics. United’s last real chance of getting their hands back on the trophy was when City played high-flying Newcastle United however City brushed them aside with no serious problems.

However United were undone by their own poor form. With just five games of the season left they let slip an eight-point lead. It is looking ever likely that City will be crowned champions tomorrow afternoon to claim their first league title in 44 years. Both sides go into tomorrow’s game level on points (86) but City lead their rivals by eight goals on goal difference: 63 to United’s 55.

The Outcomes

Roberto Mancni’s side know that a win will guarantee the title – unless the unlikely chance of United winning by a margin of 9 or more goals happens.

If United Slip up, City will finish on top by matching their rivals result – a draw is enough if United do not win. The title will also be heading to the blue half of Manchester if both teams lose their final game.

The only way Ferguson and United will be celebrating on Sunday evening is if United win at Sunderland and City fail to win, or if United draw and City Lose.

Likeliest Outcome: Manchester City win the league

The Relegation Fight

Wolverhampton Wanderers, who have announced Stale Solbakken will take charge next season, and Blackburn Rovers have already been relegated. One of either Bolton Wanderers or Queens Park Rangers will join them.

Going into tomorrow Bolton are in 18^th place on 35 points and QPR have two more points on 37. Rangers also have a better goal difference at -22 to Bolton’s -31. The London club are of course playing the league leaders at The Etihad Stadium and have a dismal away record this season, whereas City have dropped just two points from their 18 home games this season.

Bolton therefore need to make sure they take all three points against 14^th-placed Stoke at the Britannia Stadium, to stand a chance of playing another season in the top division in August. But it will be a very tough task considering Stoke have lost just four times at home all season.

The Outcomes

Should Bolton win then Owen Coyle’s side will probably stay up, on the basis that City will defeat QPR. If QPR win they will be safe, and if they draw both they and Bolton will draw level on 38 points. This would mean the Londoners retain their Premier League status by virtue of their better goal difference.

Likeliest Outcome: Neither side to win. QPR stay up.

The Champions League

Chelsea currently hold the key to the European qualification places. They can no longer finish higher than sixth, but their presence in the Champions League final complicates the race for European places in the league.

If Chelsea win the Champions League they will take part in next year’s competition as holders – but this will mean that whoever finishes fourth in the Premier League will not qualify for Europe’s elite competition.

If this is the case then the top three teams, and Chelsea, will all enter the Champions League at the group stage, whereas the fourth-placed team will take part in the Europa League entering at the group stages.

But, if Chelsea lose in the final, the top four teams will qualify for next seasons Champions League as normal. The top three teams will enter in the group stage with the fourth-placed team entering in the play-off round. The Blues as FA Cup winners, would enter the Europa League at the group stage.

Regardless of Chelsea winning in Munich, the team that finishes fifth will enter the Europa League in the play-off round, while Carling Cup winners Liverpool will join in the third qualifying round.

But back to basics. With City and United assured of their place in the Champions League next season, going into tomorrow it is North London’s biggest rivals Arsenal and Tottenham who currently hold the ever important third and fourth spot. However Newcastle United could quite easily spoil the party.

Arsenal go into the final day on 67 points, Spurs are one behind and Newcastle are just a further point back. But Newcastle face the difficult task of travelling to Goodison Park. If they defeat Everton, and Arsenal lose at West Brom and Spurs slip up against Fulham at White Hart Lane then Alan Pardew’s men could finish 3^rd. it is still all to play for.

Likeliest Outcome:  Arsenal 3^rd, Tottenham 4^th.

The Europa League

Chelsea and Liverpool, as winners of the FA Cup and League Cup respectively, have already booked their places in Europe’s second biggest club competition. The team that finishes fifth out of Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle (see above) in the Premier League will earn the right to play in the Europa League.

But, should Chelsea beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League Final next Saturday, then that would mean they are re-entered into the completion to defend their trophy next season. If this is the outcome than whoever finishes fourth would be demoted from the Champions League to join whoever finishes fifth, in the Europa League.

Just to make things a bit more confusing, should an English team be in the top two of Uefa’s Play Fair League then they will have a chance of being drawn out of a pot and winning a ticket to play in the Europa League.

Likeliest Outcome: Anybody’s guess!

Best ever Premier League goal: Dennis Bergkamp

In my opinion the greatest player to play in the Premier League and this has to be his best ever goal.

 Arsenal v Newcastle United

 2001/2002

 Premier League

This, that and the other: Newcastle beat Liverpool in a highly controversial match

A big win for Newcastle as they continue their push for European football and even more impressively for a place in next years Champions League. Although no disrespect to Newcastle if they do make it into the Champions League then it backs up the latest debate that English football is currently struggling.

Newcastle's win against Liverpool was the sixth league game out of their previous seven that Liverpool have lost.  This is form that is going to see Kenny Dalglish, Liverpool's most celebrated player, start to fear for his job. Even if he will not admit this.

There were however some major talking points throughout the game and of course they all put the attention on the match referee, Martin Atkinson. So lets run through them.

Andy Carroll dive: Blatant. Went round the keeper who clearly did not not touch the Liverpool striker. In my opinion dives like this should be punished with a red card, not a yellow. If Martin Atkinson had not seen this was a dive, he would have red-carded the Newcastle goalkeeper and awarded Liverpool a penalty. It would have completely changed the game. Why should the attacker be allowed to get away with this? It is clear and blatant cheating.

Liverpool penalty appeal: No doubt a penalty and a red card for Danny Simpson. After Andy Carroll knocks the ball towards goal, Simpson clearly and deliberately moves his arm towards the ball to stop it crossing the line. He knew what he was doing and denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, which we all know is punishable with a red-card. However it was impossible for Martin Atkinson the referee to see this. But if he had, it would have been a very different game.

Pepe Reina red card: Unsure. After James Perch tripped Pepe Reina, the goalkeeper reacted badly by running at Perch and barging him. He then lowered his head towards the opposition player. It appeared to make contact with the Newcastle man, but the second camera angle shows there was no contact. Perch's reaction was awful, just as bad as Andy Carroll's dive. However Reina should know better.

Newcastle second goal: Offside. As Denba Ba plays the ball through, Papiss Cisse is clearly in an offside position. Hatem Ben Arfa tries to play the ball; if he had then Cisse would have been onside as it would be a different phase of play. But he does not touch it, therefore it is still the same phase of play and Ba is therefore offside.

Overall it was a mixed afternoon for the officials. But the result only continues to show Liverpool's frailties. However they are in an FA Cup Semi-Final and they have won the League Cup. This should just about save Dalglish for one more season.

Referee Dean got Tyne-Wear derby spot-on

The laws of the game do not state that the referee should take into account the time of an incident or that the game is a local derby.

They do however say that the game is refereed based on the opinion of the referee in the decisions he makes.

This is exactly what Mike Dean did. He applied the law perfectly for 90 minutes and whilst leaving the field of play.

Lee Cattermoles first minute lunge on Cheik Toite could have easily been a red card. But thankfully for the sake of the game referee Mike Dean gave Cattermole a stern talking to and rightly issued the yellow card.

The next 30 minutes saw five cards issued and a penalty correctly awarded for a blatant shirt pull by Mike Williamson.

However it would be a great help to the game if more referees were bold enough to give more penalties for blatant infringements inside the penalty area. Although admittedly not all of them are quite as obvious as today's.

Dean had no option but to show the red card to Stephane Sessegnon for swinging his arm although contact was quite minimal. The reaction from the Newcastle man was highly embarrassing and hopefully he will be quite disappointed when he sees a replay.

Mike Dean also awarded Newcastle a clear penalty for a foul on Shola Ameobi which will be one of the easiest decisions he makes this season.

The sending off of Lee Cattermole was also spot-on. He followed the officials almost the whole length of the pitch debating numerous decisions and I shall leave it to the lip-readers to work out what he said just before he was given the red card.

A strong and physical game which you would expect from the two teams, although along with their managers lost their heads at times. However referee Mike Dean kept his for the whole 90 minutes and produced a fantastic display and reminded many that there is still a very high standard of refereeing in the Premier League.

Even Match of the Day gave him 9.5/10!