da aviator aposta： The Premier League’s relegation battles are often the most exciting part of a season. With clubs fighting for every point they can scrape, managers on the brink of the sack and players earning themselves the pedigree to build a long top flight career, it is often more exciting than the predictable top few teams.
da bet vitoria： This year is set to be no different, with several different teams already having had their turns wearing the ‘doomed’ tag. Sunderland were the longest running holders of such an unwanted, ugly title, but the Black Cats’ consecutive wins over Bournemouth and Hull have lifted them into the lofty heights of 19th place.
But Sunderland travel to Liverpool this weekend. The Reds were very good last weekend, and unfortunate to draw against Southampton, but Sunderland should have confidence. Their deep, do or die defence has looked resolute in the last two games, supported by the heroic performances of Jordan Pickford. David Moyes has looked less weary as a result and maybe, just maybe, his team nick something from Anfield on Saturday. A following wind can go a long way in the Premier League (just as Claudio Ranieri) and Sunderland must, at the very least, avoid the sort of momentum ending defeat that could see a downward turn in their form.
[ffc_insert title=”The best signings of the season” name=”Money well spent” image=”https://www.footballfancast.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/4848590.jpg?admin” link=”https://www.footballfancast.com/premier-league/football-fancasts-ten-signings-of-the-season” link_text=”Ten of the best” ]
Elsewhere, Sunderland’s relegation rivals face a potentially pivotal weekend. The standout fixture is unquestionably between Crystal Palace and Swansea. Alan Pardew and Bob Bradley are both in treacherous territory regarding their jobs (if the bookies are to be believed, at least), just to add a little extra spice to the occasion. Bradley, however, is yet to guide Swansea to a victory and the Welsh club have only won one Premier League game this season – leaving them on six points in 20th place. A strong run earlier in the season has aided Pardew, but the numbers in 2016 are ugly reading for the Eagles – who are only one point above the relegation zone. Victory for Swansea will not only see Pardew’s future come under serious question, but it would further bunch up the bottom of the Premier League table.
Mike Phelan is another manager feeling the pressure, but Hull’s win against Southampton two games ago may have earned Phelan a little more time, as it brought an end to a long winless streak. The Tigers have the most apparently winnable game of the current relegation contenders, as they host West Bromwich Albion at the KC Stadium. Phelan’s team, until that vital win against Saints, were quickly looking doomed for the drop. Sunderland were the team who looked guaranteed to be playing in the Championship in 2017/18, but Hull are the team who have been struggling most significantly, despite the fact Swansea are at risk of being cut adrift at the bottom of the table.
Another pivotal clash will be at the King Power Stadium, where Leicester City host Middlesbrough. Aitor Karanka’s side have shown significant improvement of late, but need to turn that into points and an away victory would firmly throw Leicester into the mix, as they are only two points above 18th placed Hull. Similarly, defeat for Middlesbrough could even see them drop into the bottom three.
Heartbreaking defeat for West Ham last weekend, too, saw them mess up an opportunity to open up some daylight between themselves and the drop zone. Facing Manchester United this weekend and with challenging fixtures to come, the Irons cannot be ruled out of the conversation despite the obvious quality in their squad.
Whatever happens this weekend, then, the bottom five or six teams will be very, very tight. 2016/17 could yet be remembered as the greatest Premier League season of all time, with such fierce competition at both ends of the table.
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