Manchester City and
Chelsea will play off for the biggest
prize in European club football later this month, but there is plenty on the
line for both clubs when they meet in a prelude to the Champions League final
on Saturday.
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City can wrap up a fifth Premier League title in 10 years
with victory, cementing their place as the dominant force in English football
over the past decade since money began flowing in from Abu Dhabi to build a
dynasty on the field.
Chelsea's transformation under Thomas Tuchel has taken them
to a third Champions League final since their own transformational takeover
when Roman Abramovich bought the Blues in 2003.
However, the Blues are still paying for a slow start to the
season under Frank Lampard with their place in next season's Champions League
far from guaranteed.
Tuchel's men are fourth in the Premier League, three points
clear of surprise top-four challengers West Ham.
But should City seal the title in style and lay down a
marker for Istanbul, Tottenham and Liverpool are also not out of the running
for the top four.
Chelsea ended City's quest for a quadruple of trophies when
they last met just three weeks ago in the FA Cup semi-finals
However, that 1-0 win at Wembley was against a shadow City
side as Pep Guardiola prioritized progressing in the Champions League.
A key to both clubs' success has been their strength in
depth and both managers could make several changes this weekend after the
exertions of seeing off Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid in midweek.
A trip to City is only the start of a tough run in for
Chelsea, who also face Arsenal and third-placed Leicester in their final four
league games of the campaign, with another meeting against Leicester in the FA
Cup final in between.
Gareth Bale gave Tottenham a taste of what they have been
missing with the Wales forward on the bench for most of the campaign under Jose
Mourinho, prior to the Portuguese coach's sacking, as he scored his first
Premier League hat-trick in a 4-0 demolition of already-relegated
Sheffield United last weekend.
Victory for Spurs in Saturday's early game at Leeds would
take Ryan Mason's men to within two points of Chelsea.
Liverpool are seven points off fourth, but have a game in
hand after their clash at Manchester United was called off due to fan protests
last weekend.
Last season's title winners host struggling Southampton at
Anfield on Saturday needing a win to keep their chances of Champions
League football next season alive.
West Ham have arguably the easiest run in of the top-four
contenders, which begins with the visit of Everton to the London Stadium on
Sunday.
"It would be an incredible achievement," said
David Moyes, who succeeded in just keeping the Hammers up last season.
"We're not far away from the Champions League positions. We've got to keep
believing."
The battle to beat the drop is far less competitive and
could be decided this weekend if Fulham and West Brom fail to win.
West Brom boss Sam Allardyce admitted his side need a
"magic miracle and some fairy dust" to avoid the drop as they are 10
points adrift of safety with just 12 left to play for.
Allardyce has never previously been relegated from the
Premier League in spells with Bolton, Newcastle, Blackburn, West Ham, Crystal
Palace, Sunderland and Everton, but the great escape has been beyond him
at the Baggies.
West Brom's fate could be sealed at Arsenal on Sunday, while
Fulham host Burnley on Monday.
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