Sunday 26 April 2015 14:06, UK
With another huge round of Premier League contests ahead of us, we ponder 10 questions that will be answered by the end of Sunday…
Can Arsene Wenger finally end his Jose Mourinho hoodoo? (Arsenal v Chelsea, Super Sunday, 4pm, Sky Sports 1 HD)
It is a stat Arsene Wenger would like to forget but there is absolutely no escaping the fact he has never tasted victory against a Jose Mourinho team.
On the 12 occasions the Chelsea boss has been in the dugout alongside the Frenchman he has never lost and, with the Premier League title within reach, he will be hoping that run continues.
However, Wenger will never have a better chance to get one over on his old adversary. The Gunners are in fine fettle heading into this crunch clash having won eight successive Premier League matches.
They have also extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to nine games - sealing a place in the FA Cup final in process - so they will be in confident mood when Mourinho brings his team to the Emirates.
If Wenger can finally outwit Mourinho, the gap at the top will be cut to seven points and then we may have a title race on our hands.
Will Everton continue their revival against a wounded United? (Everton v Man Utd, Super Sunday, 1:30pm, Sky Sports 1 HD)
After a disappointing start to the campaign all-but ended their chances of building on the success of Roberto Martinez’s first season, Everton have the chance to continue their recent revival when Manchester United head to Merseyside.
The Toffees haven’t tasted defeat in the Premier League since the start of March and have embarked on a five-game unbeaten run which has seen them begin to claw themselves back up the table. They will be confident of extending their impressive recent for against the Reds, having won three of the last five games.
United, meanwhile, head to Goodison smarting after last week’s defeat to Chelsea. Having dominated large swathes of the game at Stamford Bridge, Louis van Gaal’s side will be looking for a more clinical approach from his players to convert possession into points.
Despite the setback, United can take comfort from the position they find themselves in ahead of the game. Rewind a year and, in David Moyes’ last game as manager, United produced an uncharacteristically timid display as they were beaten 2-0. Fast forward 12 months and victory would seal a drastic turnaround in their fortunes.
Can Villa continue resurgence at City? (Man City v Aston Villa, Saturday Night Football, 4:45pm, Sky Sports 1 HD)
Having booked their place in the FA Cup final for the first time in 15 years, Aston Villa have the opportunity to take a giant stride towards Premier League safety when they travel to the champions on Saturday night.
While Villa have enjoyed a decent record against Liverpool over recent seasons, their form against City has left much to be desired.
Manchester City have won 20 league games and scored 65 goals against Aston Villa in the Premier League era – more than they have against any other side in the division.
Similarly, Yaya Toure brings out the best when Villa are the opposition. He has scored in his last three appearances against Tim Sherwood’s side, a run he will be out to extend after a turbulent week off the pitch threw his City future into doubt.
Will Liverpool’s season have end on a positive note? (West Brom v Liverpool, Saturday, 3pm)
From a group-stage exit in the Champions League, penalty shoot-out heartache in the Europa League, handing Manchester United the initiative in the race for the top four to being knocked out of the FA Cup at the semi-finals, it’s fair to say Liverpool’s season has had its fair share of setbacks.
But, with just six games to play, it’s not all doom and gloom for Brendan Rodgers’s side – one lucrative prize could be achieved before the curtain falls on the season.
With defending champions Manchester City faltering in fourth position, victory at the Hawthorns for Liverpool, who have a game in hand on City, would close the gap to four points while heaping the pressure on Manuel Pellegrini’s men.
Defeat to Manchester United in March all-but ended Liverpool’s hopes of an instant return to Europe’s elite-club competition, but a resurgent Villa side could open the door up the door to Liverpool just a week after dashing their FA Cup hopes.
Will anybody turn up to watch Newcastle at St James’ Park? (Newcastle v Swansea, Saturday, 3pm)
Newcastle are in free-fall at the moment after six straight defeats in the league and they are in grave danger of slipping into the fight for survival if they are not careful.
St James’ Park has not been a happy hunting ground for John Carver’s men in recent weeks after three straight defeats, meanwhile Swansea have an excellent record on Tyneside.
Newcastle have not won in three attempts against the Swans on home soil and, with their recent form in mind, the wait could go on even longer.
Perhaps more worrying for those associated with Newcastle will be the growing air of discontent surrounding the club.
Carver himself has admitted last week’s boycott against Spurs had a detrimental effect on the players and, with more set to take place, another abject performance may well be on the cards.
Who will claim a spot in next season's Europa League? (Southampton v Tottenham, Saturday, 12:45pm)
The clash between Southampton and Tottenham is being billed as the a winner-takes-all clash for qualification to next season's Europa League.
They meet at St Mary's with Spurs currently sit sixth, one point ahead of Saints and level with Liverpool having played a game more than Brendan Rodgers' side.
Spurs have won only two of their 10 Premier League lunchtime clashes as Mauricio Pochettino returns to the south coast for the first time since moving to White Hart Lane in the summer.
The Londoners' form is good having lost just one of their last four away fixtures but the home side will be looking to get back to winning ways following defeat at Stoke City last weekend and both clubs are not ruling out hope for a top-four finish.
Can QPR make Loftus Road a fortress once again and reignite their survival bid? (QPR v West Ham, Saturday, 3pm)
It has got to that point of the season where it’s now or never or never for those sides hoping to avoid the dreaded drop, and QPR have to start winning games to avoid an instant return to the Championship.
A brief revival was painfully dashed last time out as Cesc Fabregas’ late strike denied Rangers what would have been a vital point.
The first five of QPR’s seven wins this season came at Loftus Road and, with just two games on home soil remaining, the visit of West Ham provides the penultimate chance for them to rekindle their home form and stay in the division.
Are Hull doomed for the drop? (Crystal Palace v Hull, Saturday, 3pm)
Hull are fourth-bottom of the Premier League with one of the toughest run-ins of the teams down fighting the drop and take on Stoke away on Saturday, which is never easy.
City have not won for two months, their last win being a 2-1 victory over QPR, and desperately need to end the run with matches against Liverpool and Arsenal to come.
The stats don't look great for the Tigers, who have only ever won one of their 14 Premier League games in the month of April, although Palace have kept just one clean sheet in 13 Premier League games since Alan Pardew took charge so three points could prove vital to the visitors.
Can Danny Ings end his goal drought and fire Burnley to a much-needed win? (Burnley v Leicester, Saturday, 3pm)
Three weeks ago it was Leicester staring down the barrel of relegation but three straight wins later they are only in the relegation zone on goal difference.
Now it’s Burnley propping up the Premier League table, but all is not lost as victory at home to Leicester could take them out of the drop zone depending on other results.
But to do that they will need to improve a record which has seen them score just one goal in their last 10 hours and 39 minutes of league football.
They will certainly need Danny Ings, who has now gone eight games without a goal, back to something like his best if they are to start their own great escape.
Can Sunderland stop the rot on the road? (Stoke v Sunderland, Saturday, 3pm)
While Jermain Defoe’s stunning volley in the Wear-Tyne derby produced momentary respite for a beleaguered Sunderland side, it did little to inspire their hopes of beating the drop as defeat at home to Crystal Palace in the following game erased the positivity of a fifth-straight victory over Newcastle.
With just one win in their last nine Premier League games and just two wins on the road this season, the Black Cats’ trip to the Britannia presents them with the chance to rediscover their form away from ahead of a defining part of the season.
Having had a hard time at the Stadium of Light this term, an away day could alleviate some of the pressure on Dick Advocaat’s squad.
And a timely win away from home, while claiming a vital three points, would set them in good stead ahead of their remaining games, with three of the last five games played out of the North East.
