So here we are – the last weekend of the Premiership with Manchester City just needing to avoid defeat at the Etihad to lift their second title in recent years. Liverpool face Newcastle at Anfield hoping City slip up.
We think it unlikely and this weekend will see the title move east across the city from Old Trafford to their Blue rivals. Cardiff and Fulham are already relegated and Norwich, home to Arsenal look odds-on to join them.
Sunday 11 May 2014
Cardiff 0 v Chelsea 1
Fulham 1 v Crystal Palace 1
Hull 3 v Everton 2
Liverpool 2 v Newcastle 1
Man City 3 v West Ham 1
Norwich 0 v Arsenal 1
Southampton 2 v Man Utd 1
Sunderland 1 v Swansea 0
Tottenham 1 v Aston Villa 1
West Brom 2 v Stoke 2
Relegated Trio 25/1 For An Instant Return To Premier League
The Canaries are all but relegated to the Championship after Sunderland’s result on Wednesday night and bet365 are betting on how many of the trio of Cardiff, Fulham and Norwich make an instant return to the Premier League.
2014/15 Championship
Number Of Cardiff/Fulham/Norwich To Be Promoted
None 7/4 One Evs
Two 7/2 Three 25/1 (Stakes returned if Norwich avoid 2013/14 relegation!)
Soccer – Cattermole aims for brighter future
Lee Cattermole hopes Sunderland can learn from this season’s mistakes and enjoy a much better 2014-15 campaign. The Black Cats were seven points adrift poker pulsa of safety with just six games to go, but have confirmed their place in next season’s top-flight by taking 13 points from their last five matches. After drawing 2-2 at Manchester City, they beat Chelsea, Cardiff City and Manchester United, before sealing their spot in the 2014-15 Premier League by cruising to a 2-0 victory against West Brom. Former Middlesbrough midfielder Cattermole said: “I think there’ll be a day in the summer when we wake up and think ‘that was some achievement’. “We’ve pulled it off and we’ve got to be looking at pushing at the other end of the table next year. That’s what we’ve got to aim to do.” Sunderland face Swansea City in the final game of their Premier League campaign on Sunday. Gus Poyet’s side are available at 17/2 with bet365 to win the match 2-1 with Cattermole 10/1 to score at any time.
Soccer – Rosler has faith in experienced Latics
Wigan Athletic boss Uwe Rosler thinks his side’s big-match experience will help them beat QPR in the semi-finals of the Championship play-offs. The Latics will host the first leg at the DW Stadium and will be keen to win through to Wembley yet again. Wigan, 17/2 with bet365 to beat QPR 2-0 on Friday and 11/4 to win promotion from the Championship, have played at Wembley three times in just over 12 months, having featured in two FA Cup semi-finals as well as beating Manchester City in last year’s final. Former Brentford manager Rosler insists: “The players have plenty of experience in these situations. This squad knows all about big games at Wembley and that can only be a positive. “We will be physically and mentally prepared. It will be important we use the right players at the right time.”
Soccer – Zabaleta refusing to take anything for granted
Pablo Zabaleta insists Manchester City’s players have the ‘know-how’ to cope with any final-day title nerves. The Citizens’ 4-0 victory over Aston Villa on Wednesday leaves Manuel Pellegrini’s side on the verge of a second Premier League crown in three seasons. City will host West Ham United on Sunday, knowing a point will be good enough to send the Etihad Stadium into raptures. A 1-1 draw can be backed at 20/1 with bet365. Zabaleta, 15/2 to score at any time against Sam Allardyce’s side, insists: “We know that things are not over and that we have to go again against West Ham. “We still have many members of the team that were here on the final day two seasons ago. We know we cannot take anything for granted.”
