EMMET RYAN: If you think Chelsea winning the title has taken the excitement out of the English Premier League run-in you’re way off. Even the Special One has a reason to care this weekend. Let’s pick some winners.
We begin with the Special One himself as Chelsea host a Liverpool team that is in a desperate position now. The Reds need to win and keep winning if they are to somehow pull off a stunning run into the Champions League places. Brendan Rodgers knows his side will be taking on the team that ended last season’s title bid but can they possibly get some retribution and save their hopes of returning to the top table?
Come on, this is Jose Mourinho we’re talking about. If he can find a way reason to care in any game, he’ll use it. The title belongs to Chelsea, now Mourinho gets to play the spoiler and he would love nothing more than to end Liverpool’s hopes and condemn them to the Europa League. I’m only going one way here. It’s going to be a blue day. Bet on Chelsea at 2.12.
Arsenal can move to within touching distance of locking up second place with a win over Swansea on Monday night. Should Man City drop points at the weekend, the Gunners will be all but assured of the runners-up spot which would be a fine return after a season that stuttered at times and came with the mandatory early exit from the Champions League. The Swans haven’t given up all hope of making it into the Europa League but I can’t see them being all that competitive here. Right now, Arsenal are the best team in Europe. Form may be temporary but I don’t see them slipping up here. I like the Gunners to take care of business and do so early. Bet on Arsenal/Arsenal at 1.9 on the Half-time/Full-time.
And finally, given the week that’s in it, we really have to take a look at the David Cameron derby. Aston Villa, the team Cameron is meant to have supported since he was a kid, host West Ham, the team he inadvertently said he was a fan of, in a game that is awfully important to the Villains. Given Cameron upset the odds on election day perhaps some of his good fortune will pass on to the team full of players he is unquestionably on a first name basis with. All jokes aside, the Hammers seem to be finishing the season on auto-pilot. I’m going with a home win. Bet on Aston Villa at 1.95.
