Premier League reaches final furlong

Every team still has something to play for

On Grand National weekend, it seems fitting the Premier League has hit the final furlong.

Most teams have just seven games left and it really is a case of do or die now for some of them.

Every team in the league is still fighting for something and it promises to be another intriguing weekend.

Here I will analyse some games and give my predictions (hopefully I'll be a bit more successful than last week).

Wolves v Everton (1245 Saturday)

The sides played out a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park earlier this season

The first game of the weekend could well be the best one.

Wolves need to start winning now or risk being cast adrift at the bottom, while Everton have been almost impossible to predict all season.

Wolves were decent going forward at Newcastle last weekend, but their defending let them down badly.

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Matt Jarvis and Jamie O'Hara were all real threats at St James' Park and will need to be again if Wolves can pull themselves out of the bottom three.

They are a better side than their position of 19th suggests but that will count for nothing if they're playing Championship football next season.

The return of Michael Kightly from a catalogue of injuries should be a major boost to their survival chances, but it is a lot to ask of him to come straight back into the team and make an immediate impact.

Everton will be seriously weakened by the loss of Mikel Arteta, Marouane Fellaini and Louis Saha, while Seamus Coleman, Tim Cahill and Jack Rodwell are serious doubts, so this game could be a struggle for them.

I can see plenty of goals in this game but Everton usually come up with something when their backs are against the wall and may well pick up a win.

Prediction: 2-3

Blackburn v Birmingham (1500 Saturday)

Prediction: 0-0

Bolton v West Ham (1500 Saturday)

Prediction: 3-1

Chelsea v Wigan (1500 Saturday)

Prediction: 3-0

Manchester United v Fulham (1500 Saturday)

Prediction: 2-0

Sunderland v West Brom (1500 Saturday)

Peter Odemwingie's goal separated the sides at The Hawthorns this season

Sunderland need to win one more game to be almost sure of survival, but they need that win sooner rather than later to avoid any late-season relegation nerves.

Mid-season, relegation would have been unthinkable for the Black Cats, who looked good for a European place after beating Chelsea away, drawing at Liverpool, drawing at home to Manchester United and Arsenal and drawing at Tottenham.

But the loss of Darren Bent to Aston Villa seems to have seriously affected them and they are on a slippery slope.

They must be relieved they already have 38 points on the board, because if they were on a similar tally to those in the bottom three now, it would be seriously difficult for them to stay up.

They have seven very winnable games coming up, though, so should stay up comfortably and aim for a top-half finish.

As for West Brom, Roy Hodgson has steadied the ship brilliantly since taking over from Roberto di Matteo.

The decision to sack di Matteo still seems a strange one, but Hodgson is unbeaten so far and it seems a real coup for the Baggies to have appointed him.

They are another team who should be all right and avoid relegation, but with how tight it is down there, no-one can count their chickens just yet.

They were excellent in beating Hodgson's former club Liverpool last week, but Sunderland are due a win and should get one here to banish those relegation fears.

Prediction: 2-0

Tottenham v Stoke (1500 Saturday)

Gareth Bale scord a wonder goal as Spurs won at the Brittania Stadium in August

Tottenham will want to bounce back from their Champions League mauling against Real Madrid but will not have it all their own way against Stoke.

Spurs have struggled a bit in the league over recent weeks, and really need to hit form now to have any chance of another season in Europe's premier competition.

Rafael van der Vaart has struggled for form and fitness since the turn of the year, and really needs to hit his straps if Spurs are to reach the top four.

Similarly, fellow PFA Player of the Year contender Gareth Bale has battled against injuries in 2011, but a strong end to the season for him could make all the difference.

Stoke are a tricky side for them to face though, and will make sure any tiredness Tottenham players are feeling will be maximised.

They won at White Hart Lane last season and are a better side now.

Matty Etherington and Jermaine Pennant will cause no end of problems, while Jonathan Walters is in great form after his magnificent goal against Chelsea last weekend.

Spurs have struggled at home against some of the so-called 'smaller' clubs at home this season - losing to Wigan, drawing with Sunderland, drawing with Everton and drawing with West Ham - while the likes of Stoke and Wolves won there last season, and I can see the Potters coming away with something again.

They have been very impressive this season and Spurs may be suffering the effects of burnout, so Tony Pulis' side look good for a point.

Prediction: 1-1

Blackpool v Arsenal (1330 Sunday)

Theo Walcott scored a hat-trick as Arsenal thrashed Blackpool 6-0 earlier this season

Blackpool look to be really struggling now and it would be a real achievement if Ian Holloway could keep them up.

They looked tired and bereft of ideas last weekend at Fulham, but Holloway has had a week to prepare them for this game and surely they will come back with their colour and enthusiasm.

It would be a real shame if they went down after all the hard work and magnificent wins of earlier in the season, but the writing seems to be on the wall for them now.

Sides seem to have worked out how to play against them and are no longer intimidated by their gung-ho style, so the remainder of this season could be a hard slog for the Seasiders.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger this week said it would not be a disaster if his side finished second and went trophyless again, but Gunners fans are no longer buying his excuses.

They need to be winning trophies as six years without silverware is far too long for a club of Arsenal's stature.

The title is slipping away from them now, largely due to home losses to the likes of Newcastle and West Brom and home draws to the likes of Sunderland and Blackburn, and they are just not consistent enough to launch a serious challenge.

It should be an entertaining game though, with both sides attractive to watch, and there promises to be plenty of goals.

The home side need to show a bit of Blackpool rock if they are to have a chance of staying up this season, and will surely improve for this game, but Arsenal should just be too strong for them.

Prediction: 2-3

Aston Villa v Newcastle (1600 Sunday)

Aston Villa fans taunted Newcastle's fans after their relegation in 2009

When Newcastle were relegated after losing at Villa Park in 2009, Aston Villa fans revelled in their misfortune and welcomed the Toon Army's tears.

It seems fitting it has now come full circle and Villa now find themselves in a similar situation to the Magpies back then, and Newcastle fans would love to see them suffer a similar fate.

Banners such as "Who's your next messiah, Ant or Dec" cropped up around Villa Park on that fateful day, and revenge will feel sweet for Newcastle fans if they can win there and push the home side closer to the Championship.

Gerard Houllier seems out-of-date in his methods and man-management techniques, and this is emphasised by the treatment of Stephen Warnock.

He was one of the best left-backs in the Premier League last season and went to the World Cup with England, yet is third or fourth-choice for Houllier.

Villa should sack him regardless of whether they stay up or not. His appointment has been a disaster.

He has some excellent players - Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Richard Dunne, Marc Albrighton, Darren Bent - but just can't get the best out of them and none of them seem to want to play for him.

It seems unthinkable to consider a side like that may go down, but as Newcastle's relegation of 2009 proved, you are never too good to go down.

The Magpies won the reverse fixture 6-0 at St James' Park in August and derided Villa fans with chants of "You're not laughing any more", and would love nothing more than to be singing the very same thing at six o'clock on Sunday evening.

They are just about safe from relegation but will still want one more win to make absolutely sure.

Villa should be OK, too, but this game will be a real challenge for them.

I will be going to the game, though, and as my record suggests with Newcastle away games, there will only be one outcome.

Prediction: 1-0

Liverpool v Manchester City (2000 Monday)

City beat Liverpool 3-0 at Eastlands in August

This is a game Liverpool have to win if they are to harbour hopes of a top five finish and European football next season.

Tottenham are looking shaky and need to watch over their shoulders as Liverpool are looking decent, but as their defeat at West Brom last week showed they are still vulnerable.

City will be another real test for them and will not let them have it all their own way.

Roberto Mancini's side were very impressive in demolishing Sunderland 5-0 last week, but it remains to be seen whether the Italian will stick with his 4-4-2 formation.

He will probably go back to his defensive system and recall Gareth Barry, but that would be to the detriment of the team.

They need to be given the freedom to express themselves and will go nowhere unless given this licence.

Andy Carroll has yet to ignite for Liverpool since his £35million signing from Newcastle, but he is young and will only improve.

Luis Suarez has been impressive and he seems to relish the big games, and this is certainly one of those for the Reds.

With the Anfield crowd behind Kenny Dalglish's side, they will be a threat to anyone, but these sides are likely to cancel each other out.

Prediction: 0-0

This weekend could prove crucial, with the number of teams fighting relegation set to decrease with every passing week.

Any win for a side down near the bottom at this stage of the season could prove crucial and push them up a number of places.

The title race is also drawing to a close and Arsenal really need to go on a good run of form now to stand any chance.

A tip for the Grand National? Oscar Time or King Fontaine.