1. Can Tottenham make one final push?
TOTTENHAM HAVE EXCEEDED all expectations this season and back-to-back victories over London rivals in the last two weeks have just about kept Mauricio Pochettino’s side in the title race.
With Chelsea winning at Everton last week and taking a huge step towards the Premier League crown, Spurs know anything less than victory at West Ham on Friday night will all but spell the end of their challenge.
Tottenham have the chance to move within a point of Chelsea at the summit and apply a little pressure on Antonio Conte’s charges ahead of their meeting with Middlesbrough on Monday night.
With three matches to go after this weekend, time is running out for Spurs in their tilt for a first top-flight title but another London derby win tonight will just keep things interesting for another week at least.
2. Last chance saloon for Swansea
Things are getting desperate for Swansea, and their position is likely to be even more precarious by the time they kick off against Everton on Saturday evening.
Despite last weekend’s draw at Old Trafford, the Welsh club are two points from safety and with Hull hosting already relegated Sunderland earlier in the day, the Swans could find themselves five points adrift before kicking a ball this weekend.
With games against Sunderland and West Brom to round off their season, it’s not inconceivable that Swansea could win their final two games but they have entered must-win territory or else they’ll be staring down the barrel of relegation.
3. The battle for Champions League qualification
Man United’s visit to the Emirates on Sunday is the standout fixture of the weekend but there are equally important games before that in the race to finish in the top four.
It’s still all pretty tight between third and sixth and with some having games in hand over others, the Champions League picture isn’t crystal clear just yet.
Man City are first in action in Saturday’s early game and could jump above Liverpool into third and create temporary daylight between themselves and Man United and Arsenal with victory over Crystal Palace.
You’d expect Pep Guardiola’s charges to record three points at home so Liverpool dare not drop points at home again, this time when they welcome Southampton to Anfield on Sunday.
The Reds are currently in third and are in control of their own destiny after taking advantage of Man United’s slip-up at home to Swansea with a win at Watford on Monday.
But seeing as none of these teams have stamped their authority on this top-four race so far, it’s likely we’ll have one more twist and turn yet.
4. Has Mourinho really given up on the top four?
Whether Jose Mourinho is playing mind games or not, it’ll be very interesting to see what changes, if any, he makes for Sunday’s clash with Arsenal.
The Man United manager says last week’s draw with Swansea has ended his side’s hopes of finishing inside the top four and he’ll rest several of his key players at the Emirates on Sunday.
With their Europa League semi-final second leg at Old Trafford next Thursday, it appears Mourinho feels they’ve a better chance of qualifying for the Champions League through that competition rather than the league. He’s probably right, but fielding a weakened team would risk a first-ever league defeat for the Portuguese manager against Arsene Wenger.
If Mourinho does decide to make changes, it opens the door for Arsenal and Wenger to reignite their top four chances after last weekend’s damaging North London derby defeat to Tottenham.
The Gunners are six points off fourth but have a game in hand over Man City and three points on Sunday could just spark a late push.
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She was lucky to be Born in the USA
@Observer: near Atlantic City i think
@Brian Dunne: hopefully the Glory Days aren’t behind her yet.
@Observer: like it
@Conor Egan: as long as she maintains a Hungry Heart she should be ok
@Brian Dunne: She’s a Jersey girl!
@Adam O’Sullivan: My hometown
@Larry Betts: She’s a Nyaaaaaavan girl now hi
Bruce lying again, he said she was born to run!
@Gerry from the Block: She’s mad about tidiness and hygiene. That’s why she wants to visit Co.Kildare. She heard it’s naas and clane there.
@Brian Dunne: nope. She was born on the streets of Philadelphia, down by the river.
@Larry Betts: she sure is prosperous
Strange she is doing the equisterian…. You’d have thought she’d be born to run….
I Believe she Can Fly
I knew she’d be ok, she’s Tougher Than The Rest.
She’s Solid, Solid As A Rock
Ohhhh.oooh..she’s on fire!
I’ll get.me coat.
That Don’t Impress-a-me Much
Everyone racking their brains for the titles of Bruce’s albums and songs so they can come up with atrocious puns! I’m just jealous that I got here late and was beaten to it. ‘Born to pun…’
@William Tallon: I once submitted ten puns for a Funny Pun competition. I thought at least one of them would win,but no pun in ten did.
@Larry Betts: Now that’s an oldie…
@Larry Betts: morto for ya
@Mary Paget: Sad. For you.
Not one comment so far about the actual story! Must be a record even for the Journal…
@William Tallon: people are probably just Waiting on a Sunny Day
@William Tallon: Makes a change I suppose. It’s usually about a girl singer while her daddy’s out riding. Vice versa in this case
@William Tallon: what’s to say about the fact that somebody won a medal in the Olympics in an obscure and relatively elite sport. Well done?
That said, I’d like to point out to the journal that there are other countries in the Olympics as well as Ireland and the US.
@john smith iv: Obscure?? Elite?? Give me patience!
She’s the one. Chasin’ wild horses. Dancing in the dark on the streets of Philadelphia tonight,though there may be a little darkness on the edge of town.
@Larry Betts: she’ll feel like she’s in the Promised Land tonight
@Brian Dunne: I have a reason to believe if there’s an incident on 57th Street it’ll be a long walk home
@Larry Betts: just dont get Lost In The Flood
@Brian Dunne: I’ll try not to get blinded by the light. Even if I do,there will be better days
@Larry Betts: thats what i like about you Larry, its the Human Touch
@Brian Dunne: Don’t be fooled. It’s a brilliant disguise
@Larry Betts: well i guess you are from the Badlands…
He will be happy
He’ll do his crying in the rain
Started taking lessons on the Backstreets if I’m not mistaken?
@Paul Keane: Yeah,Thunder Road. She would drive all night to get there
She’ll drive like A Bat Out Of Hell
Hope they go ” Down to the river “
The’ll go Down To The River To Pray
God almighty you lot, would think that you could do better than that.. a simple congratulations and well done would be great. Maybe she will be dancing in the dark after this. Couldn’t resist that!! just couldn’t..
Sinne Fianna Fáil, a tá fé gheall ag Éirinn.
She was working on a dream for a long time.
@Twitruser2021: She was waiting for a sunny day
Now she’s Walking On Sunshine
Born to ride
True She Rides The Finest Horse …. I’ve Ever Seen
They’ve been waitin’ on that sunny day for a while. Fair play!
She is The Sunshine Of his Life
‘a great leaper ….as Ted would say.
A Lovely Lovely Lovely Horse
She was actually the horse. It was a brilliant disguise.