A win over bottom side QPR on Sunday will help Chelsea tighten their grip over the Premier League title.
DPA/London
The title race and the battle for survival are likely to be a little clearer after this weekend’s fixtures as leaders Chelsea take on struggling QPR in a match crucial to both sides.
Seven points clear with eight games to go, a game in hand on their rivals, Chelsea are sitting pretty at the top but know QPR will be fighting for their lives at Loftus Road on Sunday.
“We will have had a week to prepare, which is rare for us, and we’re looking forward to the game after a good performance against Stoke,” Chelsea defender Gary Cahill said.
“They’re fighting for their lives to stay in the league and that’s dangerous for us because they will do anything to win the match.
“We’re away and the atmosphere will be good. We need to go there fully focused and with the same attitude we had against Stoke. Hopefully that will be good enough to get a win.”
A win at West Brom and a 3-3 draw at Aston Villa last time out have lifted QPR to third-bottom and given them hope that they can survive.
And after two good performances on the road, the London side believe they can pull off another great escape.
“It’s another big game and we’re at home. And we believe at home that we can beat anyone,” said QPR’s Matt Phillips.
“We’ve put in good performances against Arsenal and Tottenham at home, even though we lost so we’ll go into the game with confidence. We’ll be looking to keep this run going and get another win. No one’s invincible—this is a tough league to play in.”
Just two points separate Arsenal in second from Manchester City in fourth but it’s the side in between, Manchester United, who could throw a spanner in the works this weekend.
United take on a wounded City side in what promises to be a feisty Manchester derby, with a win for United potentially putting City’s Champions League ambitions under threat.
City sit seven points ahead of Liverpool in fifth but know they can’t afford to give their rivals a glimmer of hope.
Big-spending City have won their last four clashes with United and after defeat at Crystal Palace last time out, captain Vincent Kompany believes the derby match could be exactly what his side need to get back on track.
“If anything, it’s a good moment to go into a derby,” he said.
“I guess the momentum is a little bit with our neighbours at the moment, but it’s the perfect place for us to go and try to rectify what we’ve had.”
Arsenal have not given up hope of becoming champions yet and they can put another nail in second-bottom Burnley’s coffin if they win there tomorrow.
Arsene Wenger’s side have won seven in a row in all competitions and could have Jack Wilshere back for Saturday.
Liverpool can stay in touch by beating Newcastle on Monday night while bottom side Leicester are desperate for a win as they travel to a West Brom side who were humbled at home by QPR last time out.
Hull City, one place above the relegation zone, travel to Southampton while fellow strugglers Aston Villa and Sunderland are away to Tottenham and home to Crystal Palace respectively.
West Ham play Stoke and Swansea take on Everton in the weekend’s other matches.