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Featured Sport News

Focus turns to bottom three

Author: Brandon Barker
Date: 08/05/2009

All eyes will be on the foot of the Premier League table this weekend as Newcastle United and Middlesbrough attempt to outdo each other in a must-win relegation encounter at St James' Park.

Defeat is unthinkable for either of the north-east clubs as they go head-to-head on Monday evening in what has been billed as the biggest game for both teams in the Premier League era.

The two ailing clubs are three points adrift of safety with three games remaining in the season so victory is essential to avoid the ignominy of dropping into the Championship.

Football betting experts make Boro favourites to go down, but Newcastle could survive if they can win the game.

Meanwhile, the title race resumes 48 hours earlier at Upton Park where West Ham United play host to Liverpool on Saturday evening.

The Reds will be hoping to move level on points with Manchester United at the top of the table as the Premier League leaders are not involved in a Manchester derby until Sunday lunchtime.

However, three points are by no means assured for Rafael Benitez's side as they were held to a goalless draw by the Hammers at Anfield in early December.

However, Manchester City would like nothing more than to upset their high-profile neighbours in their own back yard.

United will have their tails up at kick-off after booking their return to the Champions League Final in midweek, but City were 1-0 winners at Old Trafford in the same fixture last season.

Arsenal and Chelsea are involved in a third versus fourth encounter at the Emirates Stadium.

However, with both clubs virtually assured of Champions League football again next season by virtue of top-four finishes, there is little more than pride to play for on Sunday.

Elsewhere, West Bromwich Albion could be relegated should they lose to Wigan Athletic at The Hawthorns on Saturday and other results go against the Premier League's basement club.

Free-falling Hull City will attempt to stop the rot which has seen them slip down to 17th place in the table when they host a Stoke City side which is virtually assured of a second season in the top-flight.

It's a similar story for Sunderland who travel to Bolton Wanderers desperately in search of the points which will ease the doom and gloom surrounding the 16th-placed Wearsiders.

In other games which have implications for the European qualifying places, Everton host Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park, while Aston Villa take on Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Blackburn Rovers and Portsmouth will lock horns at Ewood Park in a meeting of two sides who now are on the cusp of Premier League survival.

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