Perfect 10 for United
Manchester United have been crowned Premier League champions for the 10th time after defeating Wigan 2-0 at the JJB Stadium. Is the best side that Sir Alex Ferguson has assembled in all his years at Old Trafford? Will Cristiano Ronaldo be able to continue his phenomenal form next season and beyond?
Chelsea finished in second place after drawing 1-1 at home to Bolton on the final day. Will Avram Grant's side be able to gain revenge in the UEFA Champions League final on 21st May, or can United claim the double? Is the Israeli the right man to stay at the helm at Stamford Bridge, or do you expect a change of management this summer?
Fulham's dramatic great escape was completed with a 1-0 win over Portsmouth at Fratton Park, meaning Reading and Birmingham went down. Will the Royals and the Blues be able to bounce straight back from the Championship, or are they set to lose their best players this summer?
Everton held off the challenge of Aston Villa to secure Uefa Cup football for next season. Will David Moyes' men be able to challenge at home and abroad next season, and do you think Gareth Barry has played his last game for Martin O'Neill's men?
Arsenal faded in the closing stages of the season and Liverpool ended the campaign well adrift. Do you think either club can mount a sustained title challenge next season, and where do you think it went wrong this time out?
2008 Sky Sports BSkyB
Rooney ready for United return
Manchester United FC manager Sir Alex Ferguson says striker Wayne Rooney will be fit for the UEFA Champions League final and could even feature in Sunday's Premier League title decider at Wigan Athletic FC.
Rooney return
Rooney has not played since scoring in the 2-1 loss to title rivals and UEFA Champions League final opponents Chelsea FC two weeks ago. Doubts had been raised over whether he would figure again this season following the recurrence of a hip injury, picked up against Blackburn Rovers FC on 19 April. But Sir Alex has moved to ease supporters' fears by revealing the 22-year-old could even make an appearance against Wigan. "He may be on the bench," Sir Alex said. "He'll certainly be fit for the Champions League final."
Vidic recovery
United go into Sunday's game locked on 84 points with Chelsea, who are at home to Bolton Wanderers FC, but with a vastly superior goal difference. They will almost certainly win the tenth Premier League crown of Sir Alex's reign should they prevail at the JJB Stadium. United's morale has received a further boost with the news that Serbia defender Nemanja Vidić is also close to returning to action.
United upbeat
Vidic sat out last Saturday's 4-1 victory over West Ham United FC after suffering concussion in an accidental clash with Chelsea forward Didier Drogba on 26 April. "I'm hopeful of having Vida," Sir Alex said. "We'll have had eight days to prepare by the time the game comes round on Sunday, which is a bonus. The training sessions have been quite light and all the little niggles have cleared up. The mood is very good in the camp."
Carvalho faith
Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho, meanwhile, says the pressure could tell on United as the last day of the season approaches. "They will have more pressure on them than us because nearly everyone believes the title is already United's," he said. "Cristiano (Ronaldo) is their big star but he is human too and he could fail under all the expectation. Miracles do happen. It has been a sensational race and for us to go into the final day level on points is incredible. Many people wrote us off after two months and now we have the chance to win an amazing double. The whole squad believes we can do it."
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Europe first for Chelsea goalkeeper
The Blues face Manchester United in the Moscow final later this month whilst both sides are tied at the top of the league table, yet faced with a choice, Cech would rather take European glory.
"I don't see a difference, but if I take it purely personally, I already have two titles with Chelsea and I have not won the Champions League. So it is clear," he told idnes.cz.
"We are back in the title race in the Premier League and Avram Grant is the first coach to have taken Chelsea into the Champions League final. After the match it was obvious how much he was happy."
What about you Chelsea fans if you had the choice, would you rather win the league or the UEFA Champions League?
www. fansfc.com
Title showdown
Sir Alex Ferguson takes his Manchester United side to Stamford Bridge on Saturday for a clash which is likely to decide the destiny of the Premier League crown and we would like your thoughts ahead of this heavyweight encounter.
Is the only result that would keep the title race alive a Chelsea win? Is the momentum with the Blues after their Champions League draw at Anfield? Should Avram Grant's side come out on top, will they still be able to haul in Ronaldo and co in the remaining two games? Who will be the key figures when the sides line-up?
Will either manager have one eye on the UEFA Champions League semi-finals when they name their teams.
Do you think the two could meet again in Moscow in the Champions League final?
Sky Sports 2008 BSkyB
Essien sets sights on Moscow
Michael Essien is disappointed to be missing a UEFA Champions League tie at Anfield, but is already looking ahead to a final date.
The Chelsea midfielder picked up a second booking in the knock-out stages during the Blues' 2-0 quarter-final victory over Fenerbahce on Tuesday, and as a result will now be forced to sit out the first leg of their last four meeting with Liverpool. While admitting that he would have preferred to be available for the Anfield encounter, the Ghanaian international is relieved to have avoided a situation which could have potentially ruled him out of a trip to Moscow.
Annoyed
"I was annoyed when I got booked against Fenerbahce but now I think maybe it helps a little bit because imagine if I was booked in the second leg of the semi-final and I missed the final," Essien told The Sun.
"I would rather play in Moscow. So maybe it is worth it, though I love playing at Anfield. It's a very special place to play but I will just have to wait to play in the home leg."
Hurt
Essien was part of the Blues side which was eliminated by Liverpool in the semi-finals of the competition last season. However, he is determined to put the pain of that penalty shoot-out defeat firmly behind and will be doing his utmost to ensure that Chelsea reach their first Champions League final.
"It hurt a lot," he said.
"To lose at the last match before what could be the biggest game of your career, a Champions League final, is very, very painful."
2008 Skysports BSkyB
Arsenal vs Liverpool
After meeting in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Quarter Finals, Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC meet up again, at Emirates Stadium, in the English Premier League. UEFA play on April 2nd saw Arsenal and Liverpool end in a 1-1 draw at Emirates Stadium, Kuyt scored for Liverpool and Adebayor scored for Arsenal. They meet for the second leg of UEFA Champion play on April 8, at Anfield. Oddsmakers at Bookmaker.com have Arsenal as -105 odds favorite over Liverpool who is listed as +255 roaddogs. Get your soccer pick in now at Bookmaker.com, where the actions always hot!
If Arsenal wants any chance of winning the Barclays Premier League title they need to start winning all of their remaining six games. They sit in third place, one point back from second place Chelsea, and six points back from first place Man United. After 32 games played they are 20-10-2. In their last ten games they are 3-6-1 SU where they've outscored their opponents 13-9. On home pitch they are 5-5-0 in their last ten. With the over/under listed at 2 and half Arsenal is 7-3. Emmanuel Adebayor leads his team with 19 goals. Arsenal has had two games where they haven't been able to score a goal, Wigan and AC Milan. Striker Robin van Persie is a major doubt for tomorrow because of a thigh problem. With leading scorer Emmanuel Adebayor (ankle) also a slight concern, there could be a start for England squad man Theo Walcott.
Liverpool sits in fourth place in the English Premier League, eight points back from Arsenal. During 32 games they are 17-11-4. Though they don't have a chance at the Barclays Premier League title, they are thinking of bigger wins, like being UEFA Champs. The combination of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres has combined for 31 goals. Dirk Kuyt has been playing great lately; despite only three EPL goals his play in the UEFA Champions League has been stellar with four goals. In their last ten games Liverpool has a record of 8-1-1 SU and they've outscored their opponents 20-8. When the over/under is set at 2 and half goals they are 4-6. They've only had one game where they haven't scored a goal, which was a 0-3 loss to Man United. Liverpool lost at home 3-1 to Arsenal in the knockout competition in the FA Cup, followed by an embarrassing 6-3 thrashing in the Carling Cup days later.
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Chelsea keen to avoid all-English tie
Having lost to Liverpool FC in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in two of the last three seasons it is perhaps unsurprising that Chelsea FC's players spoke as one in their hope that next week's draw for the last eight keeps them apart from their Premier League rivals.
Kalou optimistic
A 3-0 defeat of Olympiacos CFP left Avram Grant's men looking ahead with confidence and Salomon Kalou, who scored his first-ever UEFA Champions League goal in tapping home the third, believes they have the team to go on and lift the trophy for the first time. "It's no point talking about it, we have to deliver on the pitch, but if we can do that then we can go through to the final," said the Ivory Coast striker. "I think it would be better to keep the English teams for later in the competition, it's better to meet another opponent at the next stage."
Lampard resolute
Frank Lampard, who laid on the night's early opener for Michael Ballack before slotting home the second himself, believes the quality of Chelsea's performance as they extended their run of unbeaten games at Stamford Bridge to 60 in all competitons, should enhance their belief that they can take on any of the remaining seven contenders. Lampard said: "All the games in the quarter-finals will be tough so we'll have to sit back and wait for the draw and hope that whoever we get we are able to perform like we did tonight because on that form we can beat anyone."
Useful pairing
The ease with which Lampard and Ballack dovetailed was the perfect response to those who say the pair of outstanding midfielders cannot operate in tandem. "I think that's three times we've played together this season and every time it's worked pretty well," added the England international. "Any talk like that is just people trying to make an issue when there isn't one. I feel great, my form has been good all season and I've come back very fresh after the two injuries I've had. Now I'm looking forward to the last part of the season."
English success
John Terry believes that the appearance of three Premier League sides, it will become four should Liverpool FC successfully defend their 2-0 advantage away to FC Internazionale Milano next week, is testament to the calibre of the English game. "They are all great sides who can pass the ball and mix and match it with any team in the world," he said. "Hopefully we can avoid them next time but if we are drawn together we have to beat them. We've missed out in this competition on a few occasions and we want to make the final step and get our hands on the trophy."
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