The Premier League resumes this weekend with Matchday 37, and Sportsnet will have live coverage of five games:
Saturday, May 7, 2016
• Crystal Palace vs. Stoke City, 9:30 a.m. ET (Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific)
• Leicester City vs. Everton, noon ET (Sportsnet 360) — Includes the Premier League trophy presentation
Sunday, May 8, 2016
• Tottenham vs. Southampton, 8:30 a.m. ET (Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific)
• Manchester City vs. Arsenal, 11:00 a.m. ET (Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific)
• Liverpool vs. Watford, 11:00 a.m. ET (Sportsnet World)
You can also follow all of the Premier League action this weekend online with SPORTSNET’S LIVE MATCH TRACKER
SPORTSNET’S LIVE MATCH TRACKER
Here’s what you need to know ahead of this weekend…
THE BIG GAME
Manchester City hosts Arsenal on Sunday in a contest with major ramifications for both sides.
A win by the Gunners (third in the table with 67 points) would help them secure a top four spot and a berth in next season’s Champions League.
Manchester City currently sits fourth in the table with 64 points, so they control their fate regarding locking down a top four spot. But Manchester United are only four points behind, and they have a game in hand on City, so if the Blues lose on Sunday they’d open the door wide open for the Red Devils going into the final week of the season.
THE PARTY
James Sharman and Craig Forrest discuss the upcoming Premier League championship trophy presentation on Saturday when Leicester City hosts Everton, and look ahead to next season’s challenges for the Foxes.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Harry Kane: The Tottenham star leads the league with 25 goals, two more than Sergio Aguero of Manchester City. Kane has scored 14 goals in his last 15 league appearances, and you have to think if he can pot a couple on Sunday against Southampton that he’d essentially clinch the scoring title with one game remaining on the schedule.
THE RELEGATION BATTLE
This weekend could decide who will join Aston Villa (already relegated) in the Championship next season.
Crystal Palace (39 points) could secure safety on Saturday with a win at home against Stoke City.
Norwich currently sit 19th on 31 points and face a tough task on Saturday when Manchester United pays a visit to Carrow Road.
Likewise, Sunderland (18th, 32 points) host Chelsea in what should be a challenge for the Black Cats. Newcastle United, 17th and 33 points, has the easiest fixture of the teams still involved in the relegation battle—they play away to Aston Villa.
A win by any of the four mentioned teams would be a big boost for their survival hopes, although it’s important to note that both Norwich and Sunderland have a game in hand on Newcastle and Crystal Palace.
Man United still eyeing spot in top four
The Premier League’s penultimate week begins on Saturday with seven matches, including Norwich City hosting Manchester United, who are only four points shy of a Champions League spot.
SHARMAN’S TAKE
Every week, Sportsnet.ca will chat with Sportsnet soccer commentator James Sharman about the big stories and issues in the Premier League, and preview the weekend’s games:
Assuming they can keep the core of the squad in place, what kind of additions, if any, should Leicester make?
It is all about depth, as competing in Europe is exhausting and most first year clubs learn that the hard way and end up struggling. Claudio Ranieri said on Thursday that he doesn’t want the big name players arriving as they can break up a locker room. I absolutely love this attitude, however it will be fascinating to see ownership’s attitude as Leicester slowly becomes a destination club with the lure of the Champions League.
Bigger name players also mean marketability so the suits in the offices may be seduced. Let’s forget about incoming names, though—aside from general depth, the key questions for me are who will replace N’Golo Kante if he leaves as expected, and can Ranieri rely on old campaigners Wes Morgan and Robert Huth to enjoy career years once again late in their careers?
Read the full Q&A by CLICKING HERE
HAVE YOUR SAY
SAY WHAT?
“When you see what we have done against [the] top five, what we have done against [the] bottom five is not a good average. The month of December caused us big damage. We have our own reasons for that because of injuries. You have to cope with that. I always talk about facts, not hypothetical circumstances and activities. I can only say at the end of November we were [in] first position. Then we had the injuries. What would have happened, you can never tell. Leicester are the champions. I have great respect for them and they deserve the championship.” – Louis van Gaal
Spurs’ new quest to secure second spot
Matchday 37 concludes Sunday with three matches, including Tottenham, who’s title aspirations ended last week, hosting Southampton and looking to finish second place.
