D-Day: All eyes on Manchester City and United as Premier League season comes to climax
The eyes of the footballing world are once again on Manchester this weekend as the Premier League title race reaches its climax.
All prizes are still up for grabs with pressing matters at both ends of the table still in the balance going into the final afternoon of the season.
At the top City are in the box seat knowing a home win over QPR will almost certainly secure their first league title for 44 years.
The Blues find themselves on the same points as traditional adversaries United, but their plus eight goal difference leaves them knowing a win over the relegation-threatened London side will surely see them claim the Premier League crown.
And that goal difference means that effectively they only have to match their bitter rivals’ result to come out on top – a nine goal swing seems, at best, unlikely meaning even a home loss could be enough for Roberto Mancini’s men.
United will therefore have their fingers and toes crossed that Red Devil old boy Mark Hughes can do them a favour and outfox Mancini on Sunday.
Sparky needs a win himself to guarantee safety and former-Blues Joey Barton and Nedum Onuoha will be in the Rangers ranks to help them strive to do that.
United themselves have the tricky task of travelling to the Stadium of Light to face mid-table Sunderland.
While the Black Cats have nothing to play for, no Martin O’Neill side will lie down, and Alex Ferguson’s men will have to be on top of their game to come away with the three points they need to keep City honest.
At the wrong end of the table Bolton Wanderers will be scrapping for their lives if they are to avoid sliding into the Championship alongside fellow strugglers Blackburn Rovers and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The Trotters’ goal difference means their task is relatively straightforward – a win of any kind at Stoke coupled with a Rangers loss will see the London side relegated instead.
After their heroics on Monday night at Blackburn, Wigan Athletic are safe and will be looking to put an exclamation point on their extraordinary end-of-season run as they host doomed Wolves.
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The Latics have picked up an incredible six wins out of their last eight beating United, Arsenal and Liverpool on their way to 37 points and safety.
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