English Premier League Power Rankings: Week 35
This week in the Premier League, Manchester United took home their 19th top flight title, West Ham were relegated and the fiercest relegation battle in years intensified.
Manchester United drew with Blackburn 1-1 to give United the title ahead of the final home game against Blackpool.
West Ham were the first team relegated this season after they lost a key relegation bout with Wigan.
Wigan, along with Blackpool, Blackburn, Wolves and Birmingham are in the battle to stay up with Survival Sunday on the horizon.
Manchester City also made headlines as they defeated fellow EPL club, Stoke to win the FA Cup.
20. West Ham (19)
1 of 20
Two first-half goals from Demba Ba were not enough to keep the Hammers in the Premier League.
The early two-goal lead was eliminated by Wigan in the second half as Robert Green let in three second-half goals.
The Hammers will spend their first year in the Championship since 2004-05 and will do so with a new manager as Avram Grant has been sacked and with new faces on the pitch with stars like Scott Parker and Carlton Cole being rumored to leave Upton Park next season.
19. Birmingham (20)
2 of 20
Birmingham's tough stretch towards the end of the season continued with their loss to Fulham on Sunday.
The loss continues the Blues' five-game winless streak and the trip to White Hart Lane on Sunday will be crucial as the club needs a win and few goals to secure their spot in the Premier League next season.
18. Blackburn (16)
3 of 20
Blackburn got an early first-half goal from Brett Emerton in the 20th minute but were equalized late on a controversial Manchester United penalty to end the match at 1-1.
Even though they sit in 15th place with the best chance of survival, Rovers still need to beat Wolves at the Molineux Stadium in the biggest relegation clash of the weekend to be fully safe.
17. Blackpool (18)
4 of 20
A four-goal outburst from the Tangerines continued their impressive survival fight.
Two goals from DJ Campbell and one each from Jason Puncheon and Charlie Adam, with Adam's goal being the game winner, gave Ian Holloway's club a lot of hope to stay afloat.
Still in 18th place, Blackpool do need a result at Old Trafford against Manchester United to stay alive and will have to score a couple goals to jump over Birmingham on goal difference if both clubs win.
16. Wigan (17)
5 of 20
Charles N'Zogbia's double powered Wigan's three-goal comeback at home against West Ham on Sunday to give the Latics another chance at survival.
A visit to Stoke awaits Roberto Martinez's club on Sunday, and the club need a win and help to beat the odds of relegation.
15. Wolverhampton (14)
6 of 20
Wolves strong run towards the end of the season continued as they took down Sunderland on their road trip to the Stadium of Light.
Jody Craddock, Steven Fletcher and George Elokobi scored for Wolves as they won 3-1.
Mick McCarthy's club are now out of the relegation zone into 16th place on 40 points after taking seven out of nine possible points in the last three games.
Wolves finish up the season at home against 15th place Blackburn in a game where both teams need a win to safely secure survival.
14. Bolton (12)
7 of 20
Bolton scored three goals at Bloomfield Road on Saturday but their hosts, Blackpool put one more goal in the net.
Daniel Sturridge and Kevin Davies both scored their eighth goals of the season in the loss as well as Matthew Taylor netting a goal in the first half.
But three goals were not enough as they lost 4-3.
Owen Coyle's club will host Manchester City on Sunday as the club looks to secure a spot in the top half of the table, as they are 10th right now.
13. Sunderland (10)
8 of 20
Sunderland suffered their sixth loss in eight games as they were brought down by Wolves in their home final at the Stadium of Light.
Despite their poor form, the Black Cats are safe for next season as they head into the final match of the season against West Ham.
12. West Brom (15)
9 of 20
Youssuf Mulumbu's 10th minute goal gave West Brom another chance to stake their claim to most impressive club in the second half of the season.
As the club chases a top-half finish, a month after being involved in the relegation discussion, the Baggies could finish as high as eighth place if they beat Newcastle on the road on Sunday.
11. Fulham (13)
10 of 20
Brede Hangeland's double against Birmingham on Sunday revived Fulham's spirits after being thrashed by Liverpool six days before.
The win moved Mark Hughes' club up to eighth place in the table, and the Cottagers may be awarded a Europa League spot thanks to the Fair Play rankings if Tottenham qualifies automatically for the competition.
The final match of the season for the club will be a London derby at Arsenal on Sunday.
10. Newcastle (9)
11 of 20
Newcastle were able equalize Chelsea twice at Stamford Bridge, with the second equalizer coming from Steven Taylor in the 90th minute.
The Magpies, sitting 12th in the table, will host West Brom in their season finale at St. James' Park.
9. Stoke (5)
12 of 20
Stoke suffered two defeats to Manchester City this week, and while one loss hurt more than the other, Stoke will look to keep going in a positive manner towards the end of the season.
The 1-0 loss at Wembley on Saturday in the FA Cup Final was followed by a 3-0 loss at the City of Manchester Stadium.
The Potters will look to rebound from the losses and end the season on a good note against Wigan at the Brittania Stadium on Sunday.
8. Arsenal (7)
13 of 20
Robin van Persie's 89th minute goal was enough for Arsenal as they fell to Aston Villa in their home finale at the Emirates on Sunday.
The loss dropped the Gunners down to fourth place, and if they do not overtake Manchester City for third, they could see themselves starting their European campaign early as they will enter the Champions League in the third round, the stage before the group stage.
7. Everton (6)
14 of 20
Everton suffered a loss at The Hawthorns to West Brom on Saturday.
The 1-0 defeat did not affect the Toffees' spot in the table as they are almost guaranteed to finish in seventh place no matter what they do at home against Chelsea on Sunday.
6. Aston Villa (11)
15 of 20
Darren Bent scored in the 11th and 15th minute to power Aston Villa to victory in London against Arsenal.
The Villains could still finish in the top half of the table from their current position in 13th place if they take down Liverpool at home in a game that could be Ashley Young's last at Villa Park as part of the home club.
5. Liverpool (2)
16 of 20
Liverpool's five-game unbeaten streak was halted by Tottenham on Sunday.
The 2-0 loss flip flopped the two clubs in their places in the table, as the Reds were dropped to sixth place, one point behind Tottenham.
Kenny Dalglish and company will look to take the fifth place spot from Spurs as they travel to Villa Park to take on Aston Villa.
4. Chelsea (4)
17 of 20
Unusual goal scorers Branislav Ivanovic and Alex both put Chelsea ahead at Stamford Bridge on Sunday against Newcastle, but the defenders could not hold off the Newcastle attack as they equalized late.
The 2-2 draw secured Chelsea's second-place finish as they sit three points and 12 goals ahead of third place Manchester City.
In what could be Carlo Ancelotti's last match with Chelsea, the Blues travel to Goodison Park to face Everton on Sunday.
3. Tottenham (8)
18 of 20
Rafael van der Vaart and Luka Modric contributed to Spurs' 2-0 win at Anfield over Liverpool.
The win was the first in six games for Spurs and will give the club momentum into their match with Birmingham at White Hart Lane on Sunday.
Whether or not manager Harry Redknapp likes it or not, the club will qualify for the Europa League with a win, draw or Liverpool loss.
2. Manchester City (3)
19 of 20
The 35-year trophy drought on the light blue side of Manchester was ended by Yaya Toure as he powered home a 74th minute goal to beat Stoke 1-0 at Wembley in the FA Cup Final.
Three days later, the same two clubs met at the City of Manchester Stadium, and City won again, this time 3-0 thanks to Carlos Tevez's double.
Heading into their season finale at the Reebok Stadium with Bolton, speculation is running wild on who will be on the pitch next season for City as they look to spend more and with rumors that Carlos Tevez is off to Italy.
1. Manchester United (1)
20 of 20
Manchester United earned their 19th top flight title on Saturday after a 1-1 draw with Blackburn away at Ewood Park.
Wayne Rooney scored a controversial 73rd minute penalty to give Sir Alex Ferguson's club the title.
United will now get to celebrate their title on Sunday at Old Trafford against Blackpool in a match that is getting a ton of speculation on who Ferguson will put on the pitch ahead of next weekend's Champions League final with Barcelona at Wembley.
