The penultimate Sunday of the Barclays Premier League season throws up some eagerly anticipated matches.
Liverpool’s home encounter with league leaders Chelsea is one key fixture, with the Blues needing victory to be sure of keeping their title hopes in their own hands, while the Reds have an outside chance of finishing in the top four.
Fulham will be in high spirits after reaching the Europa League Final on Thursday when they saw off German outfit Hamburg and they face a West Ham United side now safe from relegation.
The final meeting of the day matches Sunderland with second-placed Manchester United who can keep the heat on Chelsea in the battle for the Barclays Premier League with victory at the Stadium of Light.
Liverpool v Chelsea
Chelsea can stretch their lead at the Barclays Premier League summit to four points with a win over Liverpool as they kick off before rivals United.
Although the Blues have won only eight times in 66 trips to Liverpool, they have gleaned three victories from their last six visits.
They have collected 31 points from their travels this term with only Manchester United (33) and Aston Villa (32) picking up more.
Liverpool have gone five league matches without defeat – 304 minutes without conceding a goal – and have lost on just two occasions at Anfield.
However, Rafa Benitez’s side may be feeling the physical and mental after-effects of a demoralising Europa League exit to Atletico Madrid on Thursday night.
Fulham v West Ham
Fulham go into this match on a high after their brilliant Europa League semi-final victory over Hamburg on Thursday.
Manager Roy Hodgson may decide to rest some of his triumphant stars ahead of next month’s final showdown.
The Cottagers have failed to win their last three Barclays Premier League matches but at have been victorious 10 times and lost just four out of 17 at Craven Cottage, conceding just 12 goals.
West Ham are virtually safe from relegation but they have won just one away match this season – an opening day success at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Sunderland v Manchester United
United can reclaim top spot, if Chelsea fail to win against Liverpool earlier in the day, ahead of next weekend’s final fixture.
The Red Devils have not lost in 15 Barclays Premier League outings against Sunderland. They dropped two points against the Black Cats in October when the match ended 2-2 at Stadium of Light.
Sunderland find themselves in good form with three wins from their last four and are unbeaten at home in their last nine league fixtures.
United have four clean sheets from their last four away outings and 33 points on the road gives them the best away record in the division.
Barclays Premier League fixtures
Liverpool v Chelsea (Referee: Alan Wiley)
Fulham v West Ham (Andre Marriner)
Sunderland v Manchester United (Steve Bennett)
“The penultimate Sunday throws up some eagerly anticipated matches”.
Credits: PremierLeague.com
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