The Hindu : It's crunch time in the English Premier League

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 19, 2002

Sport

Sport - Football

It's crunch time in the English Premier League

LONDON, April 18. Crunch, crunch, crunch.

That's the sound of the English Premier League coming down the final stretch, with all 20 teams playing Saturday.

Nobody is in better shape than Arsenal. The Gunners not only have a one-point lead at the top of the standings over three-time defending champion Manchester United, but they have played one fewer match than Man United, Liverpool or Newcastle — and two fewer than Chelsea and Leeds.

Moreover, the Gunners have made it to the May 4 F.A. Cup final against Chelsea as they try to repeat their '98 league-cup double.

On paper, Arsenal should have three points in the bag Saturday at home against relegation-bound Ipswich. But striker Dennis Bergkamp has warned against complacency.

``It's simple,'' said the Dutchman. ``We haven't won anything yet and we have to be careful. ... We have to stay focused on the next few games now.''

Arsenal has 72 points with five games to play. Next comes Man United (71), Liverpool (70), Newcastle (64), Chelsea (61) and Leeds (60).

The most hotly-contested game Saturday is surely Man United at Chelsea. United, favoured against Leverkusen in next week's first-leg semifinal of Europe's Champions Cup, could be distracted.

Chelsea has no excuse.

The Blues, with coach Claudio Ranieri having committed to stay at Chelsea, must pick up the three points to have any chance to overtaking Newcastle for England's final place next season in the cash-rich Champions League.

The Magpies are at home on Saturday to Charlton and captain Alan Shearer is promising to get his side back into Europe's top club competition.

``We want to do it for the club, we want to do it for ourselves and we want to do it for Bobby (Robson), obviously,'' Shearer said. ``The sooner we do it, the better.''

French teammate Laurent Robert echoed Shearer. ``With a game in hand over both Leeds and Chelsea, we are in a good position,'' he said. ``But we still have to be careful as there is still a lot to do ... to take that fourth spot in the league.''

At the bottom of the standings, Leicester has been relegated (23 points). Teetering above are Derby (29/35 games), Ipswich (33/34), Blackburn (33/36), Fulham (34/37), Sunderland (35/38), Bolton (34/39), Everton (35/40).

Saturday's full schedule: Arsenal vs Ipswich, Bolton vs Tottenham, Chelsea vs Man United, Leeds vs Fulham, Leicester vs Aston Villa, Liverpool vs Derby, Middlesbrough vs Blackburn, Newcastle vs Charlton, Southampton vs Everton, West Ham vs Sunderland.

Tuesday's schedule: Blackburn vs Newcastle, Fulham vs Bolton. Wednesday's schedule: Arsenal vs West Ham, Ipswich vs Middlesbrough.

This is rare, but two first-division matches may attract as much attention as Saturday's Premier League calendar.

Regular-season play ends on Sunday in the first division, and either West Bromwich Albion or Wolverhampton Wanders — bitter rivals in central England — will grab the second automatic promotion spot to the Premier League.

Kevin Keegan's Man City has already won the league and the first promotion place.

West Brom has the best shot. The Baggies lead Wolves by a point and are at home to mid-standings Crystal Palace. Wolves are away to Sheffield Wednesday, with Wednesday needing just one point to guarantee safety from relegation.

If the Baggies win, they advance. They also advance if they match Wolves' result. If Wolves and West Brom tie on points, Wolves will go through on superior goal difference.

West Brom was relegated from the top flight of English soccer in 1986. Wolves left the top flight in 1984 and were relegated all the way down to the old fourth division with drops in three straight seasons.

West Brom coach Gary Megson refused to let three of his players — Darren Moore, Russell Hoult and Neil Clement — pick up awards last weekend at a lavish dinner in London.

``They weren't allowed to go down because this week is so important for them and the club,'' Megson said. ``Once the season's over, they can go to as many functions as they like.''

The loser of the West Brom-Wolves lottery will still have a chance to gain promotion with the third-, fourth-, fifth and sixth-place clubs playing off for the third and final promotion spot.

Sunday's full first-division schedule: Birmingham vs Sheffield United, Burnley vs Coventry, Crewe vs Rotherham, Manchester City vs Portsmouth, Millwall vs Grimsby, Norwich vs Stockport, Preston vs Nottingham Forest, Sheffield Wednesday vs Wolves, Walsall vs Bradford, Watford vs Gillingham, West Brom vs Crystal Palace, Wimbledon vs Barnsley.

In Scotland, it's yet another Celtic vs Rangers ``Old Firm'' derby on Sunday. That will be followed by the May 4 Scottish Cup final where — you guessed it — it's Rangers vs Celtic.

The repeated Rangers vs Celtic showdowns could become even more frequent after 10 of the 12 clubs in Scotland's Premier League said this week they would quit the league and form a new one in 2004-2005 in a dispute with Rangers and Celtic over TV money.

That would leave Rangers and Celtic without a league.

Saturday's schedule: Aberdeen vs Livingston, Dundee vs Dundee United, Hearts vs Dunfermline, St. Johnstone vs Kilmarnock. On Sunday, it's Celtic vs Rangers and Hibernian vs Motherwell.

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