English Premier League Power Rankings: Week 31
This week the Premier League saw two exciting matches that featured Arsenal, while the relegation battle found a new club join the mix and another that is close to escaping the drop weeks after being mired in the bottom three.
Arsenal drew with Liverpool and Tottenham this week, and they were two of the most talked about matches all season. A controversial late penalty call given to Liverpool angered the Arsenal bench, while the Gunners failed to hold a two-goal lead against their London rivals in Tottenham.
The relegation battle got more interesting, as Blackpool slipped down to the bottom three and Sunderland may be in a fight for survival after both teams have been in miserable form lately.
Wigan look to be safe, as they are now up to 17th and look to be safe if they beat Sunderland this weekend.
20. Blackpool (20)
1 of 20
Blackpool continued their slide down the table as they fell to Wigan at home on Saturday.
The 3-1 loss is the fifth in the last six games for the Tangerines, as they have now fallen into the relegation zone in 18th place.
With five games left, Ian Holloway and company need to get back on track immediately, starting with a win over Newcastle United on Saturday at home.
19. West Ham (18)
2 of 20
West Ham's early one-goal lead turned into a one-goal defeat at Upton Park on Saturday.
Robbie Keane opened the scoring in the second minute against Aston Villa, but the Hammers could not hold the lead and gave up a last-minute goal.
The Hammers' momentum has been falling quickly since their tough loss to Manchester United a few weeks back.
Things do not look too much better for the 19th-place club, as trips to Chelsea and Manchester City are next up on the schedule.
18. Sunderland (17)
3 of 20
Sunderland's slide continues to get worse as the Black Cats have dropped eight games and have had one draw in their past nine games.
This Saturday's home game with Wigan at the Stadium of Light now has a ton of importance, as both teams are sitting near the bottom of the table with Sunderland down to 14th, and the winner could possibly be safe from relegation.
17. Wolverhampton (19)
4 of 20
Wolves were off this weekend and still sit at the bottom of the EPL table.
Mick McCarthy and company will now play two games next week, as they face Fulham on Saturday at home and then visit Stoke on Tuesday.
16. Blackburn (14)
5 of 20
Blackburn's trip to Goodison Park was not a good one, as they lost 2-0 to Everton on Saturday.
After a string of three straight draws, the loss put Rovers down to 16th in the table as they head into their Monday night game at home against Manchester City.
15. Newcastle (15)
6 of 20
Newcastle hosted Manchester United on Tuesday and were able to hold them to a scoreless draw at St James' Park.
The Magpies got their 40th point of the season and stayed ninth in the table after the draw.
A trip to Bloomfield Road to face Blackpool on Saturday is up next for the squad.
14. Wigan (16)
7 of 20
Wigan's chances of survival got better on Saturday as they took down Blackpool 3-1.
Hugo Rodallega and Charles N'Zogbia both scored, as well as an own goal from Blackpool to give the Latics the win.
The Latics are now up to 17th in the table and will visit Sunderland on Saturday.
13. West Brom (10)
8 of 20
An early 17th-minute strike from Peter Odemwingie was all the Baggies could muster in a losing effort against Chelsea on Saturday.
The 3-1 loss broke the Baggies' seven-game unbeaten run that has propelled them up to 11th in the table.
12. Birmingham (13)
9 of 20
Birmingham got goals from Sebastien Larsson and Craig Gardner on Saturday to beat Sunderland, and then on Wednesday they were handed defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues will now take a trip to Anfield on Saturday to face Liverpool as the club looks to maintain their spot above the relegation zone, as they currently sit 15th.
11. Bolton (7)
10 of 20
Bolton got smacked around at Wembley on Sunday, as they were taken down 5-0 by Stoke.
The performance knocked the club out of the FA Cup a step before the final, and now the Trotters must focus on the rest of the EPL season.
Owen Coyle's club will host Arsenal at the Reebok Stadium on Sunday.
10. Aston Villa (12)
11 of 20
Gabriel Agbonlahor was the hero for the Villains on their trip to Upton Park on Saturday.
The out-of-favor forward scored on a header in extra time to down West Ham, 2-1.
Gerard Houllier and company are now at 40 points on the season as they sit 10th in the table.
9. Fulham (9)
12 of 20
Fulham had the week off, as their match with Bolton has been rescheduled for this Wednesday.
Before Bolton visit Craven Cottage, Mark Hughes and company will travel to Molineux Stadium to face Wolves on Saturday.
8. Liverpool (6)
13 of 20
Liverpool took part in one of the craziest games of the season, as they scored 11 minutes into stoppage time thanks to a Dirk Kuyt penalty.
The controversial penalty gave the Reds a 1-1 draw with Arsenal at the Emirates.
Liverpool's chase for a European spot continues Saturday as they host Birmingham at Anfield, as the club sit five points back of Tottenham for fifth place.
7. Arsenal (5)
14 of 20
Arsenal got tough luck on Sunday at the Emirates, as they were on the bad end of a controversial penalty call by referee Andre Marriner that ended the game in a 1-1 draw with Liverpool.
On Wednesday, the Gunners played an exciting 3-3 draw with rivals Tottenham that saw the club give away a two-goal lead.
Arsene Wenger's club are now in third, as they have a worse goal differential than Chelsea, who also have 64 points.
6. Tottenham (4)
15 of 20
After being knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid, Tottenham put in a spirited effort at home against Arsenal on Wednesday.
Down by two goals, Spurs got contributions from Tom Huddlestone and Rafael van der Vaart to bring the game back to its final result, a 3-3 draw.
Spurs are now only two points behind Manchester City for fourth place, and they will host West Brom on Saturday to try to close the gap even more.
5. Manchester United (1)
16 of 20
United suffered two slip-ups over the course of the last week.
First, United were taken down by rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup semifinals, and then on Tuesday, the Red Devils' trip to St James' Park ended in a scoreless draw with Newcastle.
United remain atop the table, six points ahead of Chelsea and Arsenal, and they will look to expand that lead as they host Everton on Saturday.
4. Stoke (11)
17 of 20
Stoke had the performance of the week as they thrashed Bolton by five goals in the FA Cup semifinals.
The 5-0 win was the biggest semifinal win in 74, years and Tony Pulis' club deserved all five of those goals.
Matthew Etherington, Robert Huth and Kenwyne Jones scored once, while Jonathan Walters scored twice to give the Potters a berth in the final against Manchester City.
Stoke now visit Aston Villa on Saturday and then host Wolves on Tuesday as they get back into EPL action.
3. Manchester City (8)
18 of 20
Yaya Toure's 52nd-minute goal gave Manchester City a 1-0 triumph over rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup semifinal on Saturday at Wembley.
City will now face Stoke in the final on May 14th at Wembley.
Next up on the EPL schedule is a trip to Ewood Park on Monday night to take on Blackburn.
2. Everton (3)
19 of 20
Leon Osman and Leighton Baines handed Everton their fifth win in seven games as they took down Blackburn 2-0.
The Toffees have taken points out of their last seven games and are only two points behind rivals Liverpool for sixth place.
David Moyes and company will look to continue their excellent form as they travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on Saturday.
1. Chelsea (2)
20 of 20
Chelsea recorded a pair of 3-1 wins this week by beating West Brom on Saturday and Birmingham on Wednesday.
The six points earned from the games catapulted the Blues into second place ahead of Arsenal on goal differential and only six points behind Manchester United.
Next up for the Blues will be a home match at Stamford Bridge on Saturday against West Ham.
