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With the Premier League drawing towards an end, nothing is certain yet. The title race is still going strong, the final Champions League spot is still up for grabs and nobody knows who is going down yet.With the thrilling finale almost upon us, here are the five major talking points from the weekend.
#1 Many bad teams are unfortunately going to stay up
Fortunately or unfortunately, only three teams can go down every year. And in a year that has more than half a dozen teams looking like they don’t belong in the League, that certainly does look like a shame. Like a drowning man to driftwood, most clubs near the bottom have merely changed the manager and hoped it will get better.
Unfortunately for some, that hasn’t proved to be of too much help. With a five point gap to the last relegation place, it looks as though, the current bottom three might just go down. But in an up-and-down season, that has seen its fair share of thrills and spills, you wouldn’t bet on that happening. But, whoever goes, there is certain to be at least a few very bad teams that stay up.
#2 Merseyside paradise revisited?
There was a time in the mid-80s when Merseyside reigned supreme. A time when Everton and Liverpool dominated the English game. And it looks as though, after decades of being dormant, the volcano that is Merseyside has finally erupted. And whilst it is true that it is just one season - and not even a complete one yet - it does feel as though Merseyside has its mojo back.
Under Roberto Martinez, Everton are currently in pole position to clinch the final Champions League spot. And with Ross Barkley, Gareth Barry (on loan), James McCarthy, Kevin Mirallas and Leon Osman - the club boasts of real talent in midfield.
Whilst Liverpool have the most eye-catching front line in the League and captain marvel Steven Gerrard leading them through to what looks to be their first Premier League title. All in all, it looks like the times surely are a changing in Merseyside.
#3 Newcastle are becoming everyones favorite opposition
After three successive defeats, in which they have conceded 11 goals and scored none, the Magpies are starting to resemble everybody’s favourite opponent. Since the start of February, Newcastle have lost three matches 4-0 and another three 3-0. And they are only in ninth place thanks to a strong spell between October and Christmas, when Yohan Cabaye and Loic Remy helped them secure a string of victories and ease the pressure on Pardew.
Now with Cabaye sold and Remy injured, the squad just looks as though it couldn’t be bothered. And with trips to Arsenal and Liverpool and home games with relegation threatened Swansea and Cardiff coming up, it looks like the Magpies might well have a big impact on both the title race and the race to beat the drop.
And, whilst it is true that there are no easy games in the Premier League, on current form Newcastle seem intent on proving that statement wrong.
#4 One mans pain is another mans gain
With 17 goals for Southampton this season, Jay Rodriguez looked like a shoe-in for Brazil. But after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, the 24-year-old is set to miss at least six months. And whilst that isn’t what Roy Hodgson would have come to see, the form of Rickie Lambert means that he doesn’t have too much to worry about.
If the forward's penalty prowess hadn't already struck a chord with Roy Hodgson, it certainly would have after he stroked in his 34th penalty (in all competitions) nonchalantly. The forward exuded confidence and has all the requisite skills to complement the national side’s front line. And whilst Rodriguez’s injury is certainly a blow, it just makes Hodgson’s decision to pick Lambert a lot easier.
#5 Goodison Park holds the key in more ways than one
Sunday’s devastating counter-attacking display from Everton was their sixth successive Premier League win and was also their ninth in all competitions at Goodison Park. Victory over Arsenal showed that although Roberto Martínez may not possess the experience of Arsène Wenger at the moment, he has a team that is far better than the Gunners.
And with their Champions League destiny in their own hands now, the Toffees can dare to dream. Even though their run-in is more demanding than Arsenal's, they still look favourites in the race for fourth spot. And that is because their biggest tests are at Goodison, where they face the much-improved Crystal Palace and the two Manchester clubs.
The Toffees have transformed Goodison into a fortress and it looks as though the stadium, might just have an impact on not just the Champions League places and relegation places, but the destiny of the Premier League title as well.
