For me, this weekend is all about the big final day of the Premier League season. A match that will end my first full season presenting the Premier League on Sky Sports. What a ride it has been and what a finish we have in store.
I will be travelling up to Manchester on Saturday afternoon to present the final Super Sunday of the season from the Etihad Stadium on Sky Sports 1HD and Sky 3D from 2pm with Manchester United’s game at Sunderland on 2HD from 3pm. It promises to be the most amazing afternoon with the title to be decided, Champions League qualification up for grabs and one relegation spot still to be filled. I have spent the week working out all the permutations! It’s going to be a roller coaster ride for everyone involved.
Betdaq Title odds:
Manchester City 1.12/1.13
Manchester United 8.4/8.8
For only the second time in the Premier League era the top two go in to the final day level on points (2007/08 Man Utd led Chelsea on goal difference), while the Premier League title race has gone to final day five times and the team leading in to the last day has won every time.
On paper and on Betdaq QPR (available to back at 21) appear to have no chance. They have the worst away record in the Premier League and have lost their last six on the road, conceding 17 goals.
Their only top division win at City was 3-2, ironically on the final day of the 1994-95 season, when two of my Sky Sports colleagues were involved – Ray Wilkins as manager and Niall Quinn, who scored for City.
City have been unbeatable at home. They have the best home record (points-per-game) in all four English League divisions and can equal the all-time best Premier League home record of 18 wins and one draw, set by Chelsea in 2005-06 and equalled by Man Utd in 2010-11. They are also close to going an entire League season unbeaten at home for first time since 1965-66 in the old Division Two. Man City last went an entire top division season unbeaten at home in 1920-21 and still finished second to Burnley.
It all points to City winning the title BUT with the way this season has gone you can’t rule out yet another unexpected twist.
For that to happen Manchester United have to win at Sunderland, which is no easy task. However, after a brilliant run in the New Year Sunderland have been able to coast of late and have not won in seven. Further, United have never lost a PL game at the Stadium of Light (nine visits, six wins) and won four of last five. United have conceded only three goals in last ten Premier League meetings, keeping a clean sheet in each of the last four. Sunderland have not scored against United for six hours and 32 minutes).
I fancy another double this weekend. I think Norwich (2.22 on Betdaq) can end a brilliant campaign with a win against Aston Villa, who have had a nightmare. I also like Liverpool (2.18) at Swansea. Liverpool have been solid away from home all season and arrive here on a high after Tuesday’s 4-1 win against Chelsea plus will be desperate to finish above Everton in the table, while Swansea seem to have run out of steam after a sensational campaign.
With this awful weather it’s hard to believe that the Test match summer begins at Lord’s next Thursday. I can’t see the West Indies (9 on Betdaq) offering up much resistance and I expect England (1.6) and their superb bowling attack to make light work of the tourists. The draw is available to lay at 3.5 and I reckon it would have to rain solidly for two-and-a-half days to stop you collecting. Surely there will be no more rain left soon!
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