Three Lions might have as well just have three tails between their six hind legs or whatever amount they are supposed to have with represent...
Three Lions might have as well just have three tails between their six hind legs or whatever amount they are supposed to have with representing clubs failing in this last round of the UCL.
Man City lost to Barcelona at the Etihad and Arsenal falling to Bayern Munich also at their home ground, Emirates.
Now it is week 27 and it is getting really testing at the top- 7 points separates the first and the fifth on the log, so there is really much to fight for up there but it would not be coming easy as those respective teams have some pretty tough games this weekend.
With no further ado, here are the 5 things to expect from the Premier League this weekend.
CITY RIVALRY
It might not be as ferocious as the Stoke City and Man Utd game, but in recent years the Potters have proved to be a thorn in this Man City side, who can forget Peter Crouch and Joe Hart?
The Citizens would have the chance to put things right after failing to get a positive result midweek against Barcelona.
Former Man City manager Mark Hughes would almost be preparing for a backlash. While the Potters have been fairly inconsistent this season they are still in the relegation mix and with Pellegrini's men back on winning ways at home in the Premier League, Stoke would need to throw not just the long balls, but buckets and knives at City to come away with something given that the last time they won at City's ground was in 1997.
I wonder what Man City was like then.
BLUE IS THE COLOR
Definitely the pick of the weekend, Chelsea vs Everton. Chelsea do not have enough leg room to be flexible in this game and their inability to see the game through at the Hawthorns has increased the importance of winning this game.
With their respective title rivals playing struggling but resurging sides, a win for Everton could see Chelsea dropping to third. It has been 18 years since Everton last won at Stamford Bridge and Jose Mourinho is unbeaten in 73 top flight home games in the Premier League also with Chelsea on an 11 game unbeaten run in the league might just seem impossible for the Toffees?
Given that Martinez's men came out on top at Goodison Park last year and with a Champions League game in mind for Mou, it could just be a blue day for the Blues at Stamford.
DARK HORSES TROTTING ALONE
They sing they would never walk alone but Liverpool have galloped to where they are on their own terms with little or no help from other teams. They have been the architect of their own success this year and have become the title's dark horses.
Impeccable when it comes to playing teams below them and going pound for pound against the big teams, Liverpool have gone from looking for the fourth spot to possible title winners. The Reds welcome struggling Swansea City as Brendan Rodgers would look to inflict more misery on his former side who even in 10th position are just 8 points above Fulham in 20th, talk about a relegation battle?
Liverpool would have the upper hand in terms of freshness as the Swans were in a Europa League game on Thursday against Napoli, a game which ended in a stalemate; but little would be expected from the Welsh side against a dominating Liverpool. Reds' win undoubtedly.
MAKE OR BREAK UNITED
Just the irony, that United have been broken time and time without number this season and after their weeklong trip to Dubai to help with warm weather trainings and team bonding the Red Devils travel to London to face Crystal Palace who currently lie in 15th.
The Eagles are beginning to soar under Tony Pulis, truth be told, Tony is one of the last of the dying breeds of managers- ability to dig victories from nowhere and perform well in the worst of environments and could dent Moyes' ambitions (if there are any) further.
Man Utd are two points above the 40 points threshold meaning Moyes can't do another miracle with relegation but could find themselves in 8th position if they lose to Crystal Palace, all that would do would be removing themselves farther from Europe and closer to Manchester.
With a game during the midweek coming, one has to see how Moyes would do in picking his team for this Saturday's encounter after all the Chosen One has surprised almost everyone with his team sheet week in, week out. But tongue-in-cheek, sticking my head out, I'd say Man Utd can win this one. COMFORTABLY.
CHAMPIONS AT THE FOOT OF THE TABLE
Honestly if I was in charge of the Premier League Strategy and Marketing, I'd probably be using Ludacris' HOW LOW CAN YOU GO? or Timbaland&Magoo's DROP for the relegation theme song this year. Eleven, let that sink in, ELEVEN teams face the possibility of relegation this year.
Not the best of years to guess who could be relegated or not. Swansea, West Ham, Aston Villa, Hull City, Stoke City, Crystal Palace, Norwich, West Brom, Sunderland, Cardiff and Fulham all face the drop in descending order (no pun intended).
Newcastle, not included here, have gone over six hours without finding the back of the net and face the Villains at home; Hull City want a name change, Cardiff got a kit change, changes that would/did not go down too well with their supporters but if there is any change to be welcome is a change of fortunes for both teams who lock horns this weekend.
While the biggest of the English relegation battle would be Fulham traveling to West Brom- a match that would definitely impact how the relegation table would look like next week. 8 points separate Swansea and Fulham, good news to the latter given that former occupies 10th position and new manager, Felix Magath would have it all to do and there is no window period for him to get used to the hang of things there at Craven Cottage.
Written By: ChukaMVP. You can follow him on twitter Follow @chukamvp
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