63 SOCCER The New Vision, Monday, May 3, 2010

PREMIER LEAGUE Sunday Liverpool 0 Chelsea 2 Fulham 3 West Ham 2 Sunderland 0 Man United 1

Saturday Birmingham 2 Burnley 1 Man City 3 Aston Villa 1 Portsmouth 3 Wolves 1 Stoke City 0 Everton 0 Tottenham 1 Bolton 0

P W D L F A Pts Chelsea 37 26 5 6 95 32 83 Man Utd 37 26 4 7 82 28 82 Arsenal 36 22 6 8 78 39 72 Spurs 36 20 7 9 64 37 67 Man C 36 18 12 6 72 43 66 A. Villa 37 17 13 7 52 38 64 L’pool 37 18 8 11 61 35 62 Everton 37 15 13 9 59 49 58 B’gham 37 13 11 13 37 45 50 Fulham 36 12 10 14 39 41 46 S‘land 37 11 11 15 47 54 44 Stoke 36 10 14 12 33 44 44 B’burn 36 11 11 14 38 54 44 Bolton 37 9 9 19 40 66 36 Wolves 37 8 11 18 30 55 35 Wigan 36 9 8 19 35 69 35 W. Ham 37 8 10 19 46 65 34 Hull City 36 6 10 20 32 73 28 Burnley 37 7 6 24 38 80 27 Pompey* 37 7 7 23 34 65 19 * Portsmouth were deducted nine points for entering admin- istration. 1-3: Champions League/EC I 4: Champions League prelimi nary round 5-7: Europa League 18-20: Relegation

Today on SS3 Wigan v Hull City 3:30pm Blackburn v Arsenal 7pm

Wednesday Gerrard’s howler pushed Drogba (left) towards the Premiership title as the battle headed to the wire following Rooney and United’s victory Fulham v Stoke Man City v Tottenham May 9 (Last day of the season) LIVERPOOL Arsenal v Fulham Aston Villa v Blackburn Manchester United ensured the Bolton v Birmingham title race will go Burnley v Tottenham down to the wire by beating Chelsea v Wigan Sunderland 1-0 just hours after Everton v Portsmouth leaders Chelsea defeated Hull v Liverpool Liverpool 2-0 at on United take title Man Utd v Stoke Sunday. West Ham v Man City United knew a loss at the Wolves v Sunderland Stadium of Light would have handed Chelsea the title, but Type club name and SMS Nani’s goal means the champions to 8338 for daily updates are just one point behind ’s side heading into the final round of fixtures next fight to the wire Sunday. Chelsea can win the title if they beat Wigan at home, but United under a challenge from Branislav will retain the crown if the Blues Ivanovic in the area but the refe- drop points and Sir Alex ree adjudged there was no foul Ferguson’s team beat Stoke at before Gerrard’s clanger 12 min- Old Trafford. utes before half time brought Chelsea were pushed to the Chelsea within touching distance brink of their first Premier of the title. Gerrard, under no League title in four years after pressure whatsoever, attempted a ’s mistake helped needless back pass that provided Mancini is not taking chances the leaders secure the vital win Drogba with an open invitation at Liverpool. to pounce, round Jose Reina and Gerrard had used his pro- slot home in front of the Kop. gramme notes to insist that the That brought the Ivory Coast hosts would not throw in the striker level with ‘It’s a cup final’ towel against Chelsea, even at the top of the Premier League though a Liverpool victory would scoring charts - more important- MANCHESTER have aided the title aspirations of ly it left Chelsea on the verge of bitter rivals United. their third title in six seasons. Manchester City manager Yet the England midfielder’s Suddenly, Chelsea were going Roberto Mancini has told his horrendous back pass allowed for the kill. It required a superb players to prepare for next to score his 26th challege by Liverpool’s Greek week’s showdown with fellow Premier League goal of the cam- Ancelotti’s clock ticks away to May 9 as Fergie cranks up the pressure defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos to Champions League hopefuls paign before prevented Nicolas Anelka from Tottenham as though it is a cup wrapped up a comfortable victo- would help prevent United from brighter start. Chelsea were making it 2-0, while the visitors final. ry after more lacklustre defend- winning a record 19th title. strangely lethargic considering felt they should have been award- A 3-1 home victory over Aston ing from Rafa Benitez’s team. A banner draped over the the prize that was at stake. ed a penalty in the dying moments Villa on Saturday means City This game had long since been Centenary Stand at Anfield Despite early attempts by of the first half after claiming are just one point behind fourth- earmarked as a must-win for before the game “Cockneys For A Salomon Kalou and Nicolas that Lucas had clipped Kalou. placed Tottenham in the race Chelsea and a match that would Day” did little to dispel that theo- Anelka, it was Liverpool who Liverpool had started the day for the fourth and final test both their title-winning men- r y. came closest to breaking the with an outside chance of secur- Champions League spot. tality and mettle. They delivered But those suggestions should deadlock in the opening exchang- ing a place in the Champions Both sides have two games on both counts. have been laid to rest inside the es as Alberto Aquilani went close League qualifying rounds, but remaining yet meet one another Rumours of a conspiracy had opening three minutes, Javier to delivering a crushing blow to Benitez’s side struggled to recov- at Eastlands on Wednesday in been sweeping Merseyside in the Mascherano’s shot from 25-yards Ancelotti with a cracking 25-yard er from falling behind. what is being dubbed as one of days before that Liverpool would deflecting narrowly wide for a effort that clipped the top of the the most important games in not mind losing to Chelsea as it corner as Liverpool made the bar. Aquilani then crumpled AFP the history of both clubs.