EPL: Ranking the 20 Most Significant Matches Left in the Season
The English Premier League is heating up.
Like, seriously heating up.
With just two points between the top two, eight points between five teams with Champions League dreams and two points between the five relegation battlers, the remaining 13 weeks of the championship will be some of the most dramatic football we've seen all season.
Whether your club has title aspirations, UEFA Champions League dreams or simply just wants to avoid the relegation zone, there are some big games left in the Premier League—here are the hottest 20.
20. Sunderland vs. Liverpool
1 of 20Sunday, 13th of May, 2012.
With Liverpool hoping to finish in the top four and qualify for another Champions League berth, it may come down to needing points in the final week of the league.
And an away trip to an ever-improving Sunderland will be no easy place to do that.
Hot rating: 6/10
19. Newcastle United vs. Stoke City
2 of 20Saturday, 21st of April, 2012
Newcastle are another side with Champions League hopes, and need to keep pace with the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham if they are to do so.
Demba Ba is back for the hosts after the Africans Cup, and after his scintillating hat trick last time these two met, this one could be a special game.
Hot rating: 6.2/10
18. Chelsea vs. Newcastle United
3 of 20Saturday, 14th of April, 2012
Chelsea flogged Newcastle at home 3-0 last time, and traveling to Stamford Bridge is no mean feat—especially with Champions League implications on the line.
If it wasn't so far out from the end of the year, this would certainly be higher, but it will still be interesting to see how much the outcome of this match matters at the end of the season.
Hot rating: 6.5/10
17. Sunderland vs. Tottenham
4 of 20Saturday, 7th of April, 2012
Sure, there's a Champions League argument to make, but Tottenham appear safe for now.
This one makes the list because it should be a cracking game. Spurs only just got home 1-0 against the Black Cats earlier in the year and now that they are at home, Sunderland might just be able to take some valuable points here.
Hot rating: 6.6/10
16. Stoke City vs. Wolverhampton
5 of 20Saturday, 7th of April, 2012
If Wolves are to avoid relegation, they need to start winning the close games, and teams like Stoke are matches they should be getting points out of.
They blew an early lead to lose 2-1 at home last time, but with the imminent threat of the drop zone, Wolves should be an inspired outfit later in the year and make this one close.
Hot rating: 6.7/10
15. Stoke City vs. Arsenal
6 of 20Saturday, 28th of April, 2012
Stoke are a surprisingly difficult team to take all three points off at home, and this late in the season, with Arsenal's hopes of the Champions League ahead of them, they must not lose any here.
Expect van Persie to light up the score sheet late again as the Gunners win a thriller.
Hot rating: 7/10
14. Newcastle United vs. Liverpool
7 of 20Sunday, 1st of April, 2012
By this stage, the table will be getting seriously close and dropped points could be the difference between playing in the Champions League and watching from home.
After Newcastle were convincingly beaten by Liverpool at the end of 2011, this one may have some feeling in it—especially in front of the Newcastle faithful.
Hot rating: 7.3/10
13. Wolverhampton vs. Bolton
8 of 20Saturday, 31st of March, 2012
Sometimes, relegation battles can be just as good as the top class because there's so much to lose if they do go down a division.
A gritty 1-1 draw between these two last time and goals could be of a premium in this closely fought encounter.
Hot rating: 7/10
12. Aston Villa vs. Bolton
9 of 20Sunday, 18th of March, 2012
When you're coming last, every point counts.
And an away game to a struggling Aston Villa may see Bolton play to their full potential and put up a real fight.
Hot rating: 7.1/10
11. Manchester City vs. Chelsea
10 of 20Monday, 19th of March, 2012
Chelsea managed to win against City last time, and the rematch looks just as good for both clubs.
The Citizens will need all three points to stay clear of United, whilst Chelsea need to win for Champions League reasons. Closer to the end of the season, and this would be higher, but it should still be a cracking match.
Hot rating: 7.5/10
10. Blackburn Rovers vs. Wigan Athletic
11 of 20Saturday, 5th of May, 2012
It's the second-last week of the Premier League and you've got two sides playing in a match that will most likely see one drop in to the relegation zone.
This one is big.
Hot rating: 8.2/10
9. Wolverhampton vs. Blackburn
12 of 20Saturday, 10th of March, 2012
These two met in the opening round of the Premier League, and Wolves walked away with a 2-1 victory on the road.
The real reason why this one matters so much is that a win to either club would likely see them jump out of the bottom three, and could nearly give them enough spark to hang on for the rest of the season.
Hot rating: 8.3/10
8. Liverpool vs. Arsenal
13 of 20Saturday, 3rd of March, 2012
This one is huge simply because if Liverpool lose, it makes it nearly impossible for them to make the Champions League.
They were lucky to beat the Gunners on the road earlier in the year, and will need to play their best if they are to not drop the points at home.
Hot rating: 8.8/10
7. Arsenal vs. Manchester City
14 of 20Saturday, 7th of April, 2012
Take two of England's best clubs late in the season.
Give one of them a title dream and one of them a Champions League dream and tell them to fight.
That's this match played out in full.
Hot rating: 9/10
6. Tottenham vs. Manchester United
15 of 20Sunday, 4th of March, 2012
Meeting in the second round of the league is far different to meeting this late in the season, and United's title hopes must see them at least take a point here.
City have two easy games either side of this match, and if the Red Devils are to keep pace for another championship, they need to not lose this one.
Hot rating: 9.3/10
5. Sunderland vs. Manchester United
16 of 20Sunday, 13th of May, 2012
It's the last week of the season and Manchester may well need to win to take the title.
Any game, therefore, is a big game.
Make it against Sunderland, who are no pushovers at home, and this one could have some feeling and passion, and could reflect that on the scoreboard.
Hot rating: 9.5/10
4. Newcastle United vs. Manchester City
17 of 20Saturday, 5th of May, 2012
The second last round of the season sees a City side that struggles on the road against a Newcastle side that may still be in with a shot for the a Champions League spot.
Two penalties occurred in their feisty encounter last time; expect more of the same in this do-or-die clash.
Hot rating: 9.7/10
3. Arsenal vs. Tottenham
18 of 20Sunday, 26th February, 2012
Whilst a Week 26 match might not seem like the third biggest encounter left for the season, there's a lot at stake in this one.
Should Tottenham win, they all but secure a Champions League spot—going 10 points clear with 12 weeks left.
And if that happens, Arsenal could potentially drop down from fourth to seventh and their Champions League dreams would seem so much tougher to achieve.
Hot rating: 9.8/10
2. Wigan Athletic vs. Wolverhampton
19 of 20Sunday, 13th of May, 2012
Two relegation teams playing on the final day of the season and the winner may well end up staying in the Premier League for another year.
So much at stake means there's so much to gain, but an awful lot to potentially lose as well.
Hot rating: 9.9/10
1. Manchester City vs. Manchester United
20 of 20Saturday, 28th of April, 2012
With the winner of this one is probably going to win the title, you'd be forgiven for thinking it doesn't come any bigger.
But throw in a crosstown rivalry, the best strikers in the world, a 6-1 flogging at Old Trafford and some good old hostilities, I think it just got even bigger.
Hot rating: 10/10
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