Monumental weekend

Manchester United and Chelsea meet on Sunday in what is being billed as a title decider

So much of the focus for this weekend is on the title showdown between Manchester United and Chelsea, but there are several other issues which can be sorted out.

At the bottom of the table, one defeat could cast teams adrift and one win could see some teams confirm safety.

Most of the games genuinely mean something and that is a blessing at this stage of the season, where most games usually result in damp squibs.

Here are my previews and predictions for what is a vital weekend in the Premier League.

Aston Villa v Wigan (1500 Saturday)

Gabriel Agbonlahor was among the scorers as Aston Villa won at Wigan 2-1 earlier this season

Villa have stuttered in the two games since Gerard Houllier was struck down with health issues, and surely cannot wait for this season to end now.

It has been an utter failure for them - even if they make the top ten - as the players they have at their disposal should be challenging for Europe.

Villa have never beaten Wigan at home in the Premier League and that is something of a remarkable statistic.

It should fill the Latics with confidence in a game they surely must get something out of.

They have been in and around the bottom three all season and have always lacked consistency, although they have played well in patches.

They are in the relegation zone on goal difference so anything they pick up at Villa Park could prove crucial, and it is the stability of the club which stands them in good stead.

Dave Whelan has publicly backed manager Roberto Martinez despite the club's plight, whereas rival owner David Sullivan at West Ham has blasted his players.

The stability should give them an advantage over their rivals but that said I'm still backing Villa to triumph at Villa Park.

Prediction: 2-1

Bolton v Sunderland (1500 Saturday)

Danny Welbeck scored the only goal as Sunderland beat Bolton 1-0 in December

Both these sides are stuttering at the end of a season which promised so much.

Bolton are the more solid of the two sides, comfortably in the top ten and with an FA Cup semi-final appearance under their belts, but Owen Coyle will want to ensure they finish the season with something of a flourish.

They have missed Stuart Holden since he broke his leg but it is the 5-0 FA Cup semi-final defeat against Stoke which has affected their confidence.

Both teams have very little to play for so this game is one of the few this weekend that means little.

Sunderland have no fit strikers and 11 first-team players out injured, so it is difficult to see where their next goal is coming from, never mind points.

Despite their terrible form and run of bad luck, though, a win could move them back into the top ten and that would present a good season.

They will need to replace Darren Bent in the summer and push on next season, so this term cannot come to an end quickly enough for them.

Bolton played well in their last home game to beat Arsenal and Sunderland's lack of strikers should be enough to see the Trotters to victory here.

Prediction: 1-0

Everton v Manchester City (1500 Saturday)

Leighton Baines' goal helped Everton win 2-1 at Eastlands in the reverse fixture

Everton's injury problems are lessening by the week and that has resulted in a good run of form, although they will have been disappointed to only draw with Wigan last weekend.

Their only unavailable senior players now are Marouane Fellaini and Louis Saha, and the freedom they have of being comfortably in the top half could spell trouble for City.

Despite having relatively little to play for, David Moyes will have his team up for this game as he is still upset at City's actions over the transfer of Joleon Lescott.

They may have their work cut out though as City have a tremendous defensive record and don't seem the sort of team to roll over any more.

You get the sense their FA Cup semi-final win over Manchester United has given them a lot of belief and they feel almost invincible now.

They are all but in the Champions League now after last Sunday's win over West Ham but Roberto Mancini must ensure his side don't take their foot off the gas in the lead-up to the FA Cup final.

Goodison Park is never an easy place to go to and City have struggled against Everton in the past, most recently in a 2-1 home defeat in November.

City should be fine for getting in the top four but they will find it hard to get anything here.

Prediction: 2-1

Newcastle v Birmingham (1500 Saturday)

Mike Williamson and Obafemi Martins will both miss this game after being ruled out for the rest of the season

Newcastle should be fine on 41 points and thoughts are already turning to who they will look to sign in the summer.

Their side isn't bad, they just need a couple of strikers to fill the gap left by Andy Carroll and perhaps a winger or two, but the £35million gained by the Carroll sale must be spent.

They played decently last week at Liverpool but their lack of firepower and cutting edge up front cost them severely.

That said, their front-line are good enough to trouble the likes of Birmingham, as they proved in their 4-1 win over Wolves recently.

Birmingham just need a point or two to ensure survival after last Sunday's draw with Wolves, and should stave off the threat of relegation quite easily.

If they do that, the season should be seen as a roaring success as their Carling Cup triumph will be remembered for years to come.

They just need one more push now and the determination of the likes of Craig Gardner - who will miss this game with suspension - has been key to their recent upturn in fortunes.

Newcastle should have enough to win this game though, with Alan Pardew looking to finish the season on a high.

Prediction: 3-1

West Ham v Blackburn (1500 Saturday)

Junior Stanislas' late strike earned West Ham a 1-1 draw at Ewood Park in December

'Must-win' is a statement over-used in football but is entirely appropriate in this case for West Ham.

The return of talisman Scott Parker from injury will be crucial for the Hammers, with five straight losses meaning they are now propping up the table.

They have three very winnable games, with a trip to Wigan and home game against Sunderland following this, and probably need points from all those games to have a chance of staying up.

They still seem to have too much quality in their squad but the fact is they have been down there all season and showed little signs of getting away from danger.

This game is also crucial for Blackburn though, who are still just three points clear of the bottom three despite last weekend's victory over Bolton.

As Steve Kean has said in the lead up to this game, they still need one more win and would love to do it here with a game against Manchester United and an away game at Wolves to follow this.

I'm still not convinced they will stay up, despite their recent improvement, and although it may not seem like it now this may be the biggest game of their season.

West Ham are due a big performance and the threat of relegation should just about see them through this game.

Prediction: 1-0

Tottenham v Blackpool (1730 Saturday)

Blackpool haven't won a league game since DJ Campbell's goal helped them to a 3-1 win over Spurs in February

Tottenham should be relatively pleased with their performance this season, with a Champions League quarter-final place and top-six finish, but they will be disappointed by their league form.

They have now slipped behind Liverpool into sixth and that could be a blessing for next season as Harry Redknapp does not want to be bogged down by the Europa League next season.

They have dropped far too many points at home to stand a chance of a winning a place in the top four and this is exactly the type of game they haven't been winning.

The likes of Gareth Bale and Rafael van der Vaart should have too much for Blackpool though.

The Seasiders leak lots of goals and with Tottenham's attacking style, there should be plenty of goals here.

Blackpool are just one goal ahead of the bottom three and know they probably need one win from their last three games to stand a chance of staying up.

They will find it extremely difficult to get that here and indeed against Manchester United on the final day, so already next week's home clash with Bolton is looking like a must-win.

Tottenham should have far too much quality for them so anything Blackpool get at White Hart Lane will be a bonus.

Prediction: 4-1

Wolves v West Brom (1200 Sunday)

Carlos Vela's stoppage-time equaliser earned West Brom a point against Wolves earlier this season

This is possibly the worst possible game Wolves could face right now.

This is one of the fiercest local derbies in England and a defeat for Wolves would make their survival task extremely difficult.

Mick McCarthy says if his side wins this game he has no doubts they will stay up, but winning this game will be extremely difficult.

West Brom have been very impressive under Roy Hodgson and won another derby last weekend against Aston Villa, and are looking good for a top-half finish.

The Baggies are playing with confidence again now and it is great to see them with no relegation worries, a situation they have never been in in the Premier League.

Make no mistake, they will be right up for this game and nothing would give the Baggies' fans more pleasure than getting a result to all but condemn their nearest rivals to relegation.

Wolves are running out of chances now but this game, coupled with fixtures against Sunderland and Blackburn, gives them a real chance of pulling off a miraculous escape.

The pressure is really on them now but they may just be able to sneak a priceless victory here.

Prediction: 1-0

Stoke v Arsenal (1405 Sunday)

Managers Tony Pulis and Arsene Wenger have had several high-profile disagreements in the past

Stoke are in very good form and this should surely be seen as one of the best seasons in their history.

They have an FA Cup final to look forward to and are currently in the top-half of the Premier League, something which was unimaginable a couple of years ago.

Now is when they may think about protecting players for the FA Cup final but even so they will give Arsenal an extremely tough game.

Arsene Wenger has complained at the tactics of Tony Pulis' side in the past but the Potters only play to their strengths in the same way Arsenal do.

The Gunners were fantastic in beating Manchester United last Sunday but it has come far too late for their title challenge.

They should have had the league wrapped up and this season will always be remembered for what might have been.

Robin van Persie is the key player for them at the moment but if Stoke can keep him quiet, they will feel confident of getting something out of the game.

It could be a poignant return for Aaron Ramsey to the ground where his leg was broken, but expect Stoke to ruffle a few feathers again and overpower Arsenal.

Prediction: 2-1

Manchester United v Chelsea (1610 Sunday)

Frank Lampard's late penalty earned Chelsea a 2-1 win over Man Utd in March

This game doesn't need any more hyping up.

The winner will take a massive step towards winning the title and it is set up for a fantastic game of football.

Chelsea, in particular, have to go for it.

Them retaining their title would have been unthinkable a matter of weeks ago, but this is their big opportunity to complete the comeback and win one of the most remarkable titles ever.

They were 15 points behind at one stage so for them to even be in contention is unbelievable, never mind just being a win away from taking top spot.

United lost at Arsenal last weekend and that was a major blow to them, although their midweek progression to the Champions League final should have filled them with confidence.

Sir Alex Ferguson will point towards the easy style in which his side dispatched Chelsea in the Champions League, but he knows they will present a real threat here.

Didier Drogba is likely to start rather than Fernando Torres and that will give Chelsea their best chance of winning.

They have a good record at Old Trafford but know that only a win will keep their title flame burning.

All the pressure is on United now but they have the experience to deal with it and they know a point should be enough to edge them towards the title.

It's hard to see the Red Devils losing at home, however good Chelsea's form is, and that could lead to the sides cancelling each other out here.

Prediction: 1-1

Fulham v Liverpool (2000 Sunday)

John Pantsil's own goal gave Liverpool a 1-0 win over Fulham in the reverse fixture

Fulham are one of a number of sides enjoying a strong end to the season and that is testament to the steady job Mark Hughes has done there.

Their win at Sunderland last weekend moved them into the top half and proved they are ready to turn the corner with their away form.

They have lost just three times at Craven Cottage this season and this has been the major reason for their upturn in fortunes.

It seems Kenny Dalglish can do no wrong at Liverpool and Europa League qualification would be a remarkable achievement.

Unlike Tottenham, Liverpool seem to genuinely want to qualify for the tournament and so deserve their place.

Dalglish must be given a permanent contract as soon as possible as there is no-one else the owners could turn to now the fans have tasted life under Kenny again.

It is quite ridiculous it is taking so long to give him the job he clearly deserves, there really is no alternative for the owners.

Despite Fulham's good form, Liverpool are on a good run themselves and should pick up the three points here as they continue their quest for Europe.

Prediction: 0-2

The title is the issue highest on the agenda this weekend and this is one Sunday which can truly be described as 'Super'.

Wolves v West Brom and Stoke v Arsenal are the perfect curtain-raisers for the game of the season, which has something of a cup final feel to it.

The relegation battle is also nearing its conclusion and any win for one of the sides down there will be absolutely crucial.

Defeats are simply not an option now for the teams in the biggest peril, with just two games left after this weekend.

Sides must give their absolute all to the cause and leave no stone unturned, or they will regret it for the rest of their lives.

There are no second-chances now.