English Premier League Power Rankings: Week 33
This week in the Premier League, the title race heated up, Liverpool moved back into European contention, and everyone except West Ham helped their relegation cause.
Manchester United slipped up against Arsenal and are now only three points ahead of Chelsea, who they face Sunday at Old Trafford.
Liverpool are continuing their amazing finish to the season, as they leapfrogged over Tottenham for fifth place after defeating Newcastle.
In the relegation battle, all the teams stayed in their position from last week, as everyone except West Ham earned a point from draws.
20. West Ham (20)
1 of 20
West Ham failed to complete their comeback at the City of Manchester Stadium on Sunday and fell further behind their relegation rivals.
Demba Ba struck with a goal in the 33rd minute, but the Hammers could not find a second goal to earn a point out of match.
The next two games are crucial for Avram Grant and company if they want any chance of survival, as they face Blackburn at home on Saturday and then visit Wigan on May 15th.
19. Blackpool (16)
2 of 20
Blackpool held red-hot Stoke to a goal-less draw at Bloomfield Road on Saturday and gave the Tangerines a much-needed point.
The draw keeps Ian Holloway's club in 17th place thanks to a goal differential that is one goal better than Wigan.
The rest of the season will be a tough stretch, as the Tangerines visit both Tottenham and Manchester United and host Bolton.
18. Wigan (18)
3 of 20
Wigan could not secure a full three points at home versus Everton thanks to a penalty given away by Hugo Rodallega.
The penalty given up by Rodallega gave Everton the opportunity to draw with the Latics at 1-1 after Charles N'Zogbia had scored in the 21st minute to give Wigan the early lead.
Still sitting in 18th place, the Latics will look to beat struggling Aston Villa on Saturday to jump over Blackpool in the table.
17. Birmingham (17)
4 of 20
Sebastian Larsson scored a 27th-minute equalizer to give Birmingham a 1-1 draw with Wolves on Sunday.
The Blues should be clear of the relegation battle, as they are sitting 15th in the table on 39 points and should be able to get at least a point out of their final three games to reach the 40-point mark that is a benchmark for survival.
16. Wolverhampton (15)
5 of 20
Wolves were unable to hold on to an early lead against Birmingham and lost a great opportunity to leap out of the relegation zone.
Steven Fletcher scored in the seventh minute to give Wolves the lead before Wolves gave up the equalizer.
The point from the 1-1 draw did keep Mick McCarthy's club on pace with their relegation rivals, but they do need to get three points from a match to escape the drop to the Championship.
15. Blackburn (19)
6 of 20
Martin Olsson scored one of Blackburn's most important goals of the season in the 20th minute against Bolton.
Olsson's goal gave Rovers a 1-0 win that boosted them to 38 points, three ahead of the four main relegation fighters.
The win was the first in 11 games for Steve Kean and company, and with games ahead against West Ham and Wolves, Rovers should come out of the season safely above the relegation zone if they win one or both of those games.
14. Newcastle (13)
7 of 20
Newcastle's brief two-game unbeaten streak was ended by Liverpool on Sunday.
The 3-0 loss dropped the Magpies down to 12th place in the table as they battle to finish in the top half of the table.
Alan Pardew and company get a visit from Birmingham on Saturday.
13. Sunderland (12)
8 of 20
A week after breaking their slump and ending any possibility of relegation, Sunderland were blanked at home by Fulham.
Although they sit in 14th place and are safe from relegation, fans of the club must be very frustrated with the lack of points that the Black Cats have earned since the new year.
Whether it be the addition of new signings or possibly the addition of a new manager to replace Steve Bruce, Sunderland have to fix something for the start of next season.
12. Aston Villa (11)
9 of 20
Villa got help from their opponents on Saturday, West Brom, as they netted an own goal, but that would be the only goal on the board for the Villains.
The game resulted in a 2-1 loss by the Villains, as they could not get any offensive support for the rest of the game.
The 13th-placed club will look to get back on track, as they host Wigan on Saturday at Villa Park.
11. Bolton (7)
10 of 20
Bolton fell to Blackburn on Saturday on their travels by a 1-0 score.
Owen Coyle's club stayed in eighth place after the loss and will host Sunderland on Saturday at the Reebok Stadium.
10. West Brom (14)
11 of 20
Youssuf Mulumbu was the hero at The Hawthorns on Saturday.
The midfielder's 84th-minute strike kept the Baggies' impressive streak of form going, as they are now up to 11th place in the table.
With three games left, it is hard to believe that Roy Hodgson may have the club into the top half of the table with a win over Wolves on Sunday.
9. Tottenham (8)
12 of 20
A spectacular 19th-minute goal from Sandro was not enough for Spurs to gain points against Chelsea.
The London derby match ended in a 2-1 result with Spurs on the losing side.
Harry Redknapp's club are now out of the European spots, as they have fallen behind Liverpool for fifth place on goal differential.
Before their crucial games away at Manchester City and Liverpool next week, Spurs will host Blackpool on Saturday.
8. Everton (6)
13 of 20
Leighton Baines' 78th-minute penalty equalized the game for Everton against Wigan to give the Toffees a 1-1 draw.
David Moyes' club look like they will finish in seventh place if they get points from one of their games left.
A tough task at home at Goodison Park is ahead for the Toffees, as they play Manchester City on Saturday.
7. Stoke (5)
14 of 20
Stoke were held to a goal-less draw away at Blackpool on Saturday.
After scoring 16 goals in seven games, the Potters were held to their first shutout since March 5th.
Up next for the Potters is a clash at home with Arsenal on Sunday.
6. Fulham (10)
15 of 20
Fulham's three-goal outburst over Sunderland boosted the club to ninth in the EPL table.
Gael Kakuta opened the scoring, and then Simon Davies scored twice in the second half to give the Cottagers the 3-0 win.
Mark Hughes' club have a tough challenge ahead of them on Monday night, as they host Liverpool at Craven Cottage.
5. Manchester United (2)
16 of 20
Just as Manchester United thought they had the title clinched, they fell to Arsenal and let their lead slip to only three points.
United will now face their most crucial league game of the season, as they host Chelsea on Sunday, four days after they host Schalke in the Champions League.
4. Liverpool (4)
17 of 20
Maxi Rodriguez, Dirk Kuyt and Luis Suarez all found the back of the net in a huge 3-0 win over Newcastle on Sunday.
The win catapulted the club up to fifth place over Tottenham.
Kenny Dalglish is about to give Liverpool fans something that they could barely dream of at the beginning of the season, and that is a possible spot in the Europa League if they hold on to fifth place.
3. Arsenal (9)
18 of 20
Aaron Ramsey's first goal since January 2010 propelled the Gunners to a 1-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday.
Arsenal's title hopes are still very small, as they are still six points behind United with three games left. It is possible, though, to take second place away from Chelsea, and with a win over Stoke on the road and a Chelsea loss to United next week, the Gunners could be back in second.
2. Manchester City (3)
19 of 20
Nigel de Jong and Pablo Zabaleta scored early goals for City in their 2-1 win over West Ham to all but secure fourth place.
Sitting seven points ahead of Liverpool and Spurs, Roberto Mancini has brought City to their goal, and that is qualifying for the Champions League.
A trip to Goodison Park on Saturday is up next before a visit from Spurs in midweek.
1. Chelsea (1)
20 of 20
Goals from Frank Lampard and Salomon Kalou completed the comeback Saturday for Chelsea against Tottenham.
The 2-1 win, coupled with Manchester United's loss, gives Chelsea a chance to win the title if they beat United on Sunday and then beat Newcastle and Everton after that.
