English Premier League Power Rankings: Week 34
This week in the Premier League, all 20 teams scored a goal, including Liverpool's five against Fulham.
In the relegation battle, all teams involved got one point from the weekend, except for Wolves who won against West Brom to jump out of the relegation zone into 17th and drop Blackpool down to 18th to join Wigan and West Ham in the relegation zone.
Manchester United are one point away from clinching the Premier League title after beating Chelsea. While over on the other side of Manchester, Manchester City clinched a spot in the Champions League after beating Tottenham on Tuesday.
20. Birmingham (17)
1 of 20
Birmingham's comeback fell short on Saturday as they fell to Newcastle by a score of 2-1.
Lee Bowyer scored in the 45th minute to give the Blues hope, but they could not find the back of the net again at St. James' Park.
The loss dropped the club down to 16th place in the table with 39 points; that means the Blues will have to get points from at least one of their last two games to be safe in the Premier League for next season.
19. West Ham (20)
2 of 20
Thomas Hitzlsperger gave all of Upton Park something to cheer about on Saturday as his 78th-minute equalizer secured a point for the Hammers.
The Hammers could have gotten another goal but a few late chances did not find the back of the net, and left the club still in last place at 33 points, three points behind 19th place Wigan.
The biggest game of West Ham's season happens on Sunday as they travel to Wigan in a match that will help determine their relegation fate for certain.
18. Blackpool (19)
3 of 20
Charlie Adam's 76th-minute penalty gave Blackpool their only goal of the day on Saturday at White Hart Lane as they drew with Tottenham.
Adam could have scored two penalties within two minutes if his first spot kick was not saved by Heurelho Gomes.
The draw did push the Tangerines down into the relegation zone after Wolves' win on Sunday.
A win against Bolton in the home finale at Bloomfield Road on Saturday may be enough for the club to avoid relegation.
17. Wigan (18)
4 of 20
Charles N'Zogbia's 10th-minute goal gave Wigan an early lead away at Aston Villa, but the lead was taken away within seven minutes, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Sitting in 19th with 36 points, Wigan are still a tough relegation battle and they host 20th-place West Ham on Sunday at the DW Stadium in a match that will have a huge impact on the relegation race.
16. Blackburn (15)
5 of 20
Blackburn could not fully escape the relegation battle on Saturday as they drew with West Ham by a score of 1-1.
Jason Roberts scored the opener for Rovers in the 12th minute before West Ham equalized.
With two games left—a home match with Manchester United on Saturday and an away match at Wolves next Sunday—Steve Kean's club should be able to get one point and be safe and sound in the Premier League for another season.
15. West Brom (10)
6 of 20
One of the hottest clubs in England, West Brom, were shocked by Wolves on Sunday as they lost 3-1.
The good news for the club is that they have 43 points and are nowhere near the relegation battle that they were in a month ago.
Peter Odemwingie did score his 15th goal of the season on a second-half penalty.
14. Wolverhampton (16)
7 of 20
Wolves got the result of the weekend in the relegation battle as they beat West Brom 3-1.
While all the other teams in the relegation fight got one point out of the weekend, Mick McCarthy's club got three points and jumped up to 17th place with 37 points.
Left on the schedule now is a trip to Sunderland on Saturday and then a home match with Blackburn next Sunday. Wolves need at least another win to guarantee their safety from relegation.
13. Fulham (6)
8 of 20
Fulham's defense decided not to show up on Monday from the first minute, as they were destroyed by Liverpool.
The 5-2 loss ended a three-game unbeaten streak for the Cottagers.
A trip to Birmingham on Sunday is up next for the 10th-place club, who are looking to finish in the top half of the table after their miserable start to the season.
12. Bolton (11)
9 of 20
Three minutes after Ivan Klasnic equalized Saturday's clash with Sunderland, defender Zat Knight scored an own goal to hand Bolton a 2-1 loss.
The loss is the club's third straight and are now in ninth place in the table.
If Owen Coyle's club want to keep a top-half finish, they will have to back on the winning side of their results starting with their trip to Blackpool on Saturday.
11. Aston Villa (12)
10 of 20
Ashley Young gave Villa a 1-1 draw thanks to his 17th-minute equalizer against Wigan on Saturday.
As they sit in 14th place, Villa have a tough end to the season as they visit Arsenal on Sunday and then a week after that, the Villains play host to Liverpool at Villa Park.
10. Sunderland (13)
11 of 20
Sunderland won a dramatic game away at the Reebok Stadium against Bolton on Saturday.
Sulley Muntari's shot in the 90th minute went off of Bolton defender Zat Knight and into the net to give the Black Cats their second win in 12 games by a score of 2-1.
After a few weeks of fear of relegation, Steve Bruce has guided his club back up to 12th place as they head into their final home game of the season against Wolves on Saturday.
9. Newcastle (14)
12 of 20
Shola Ameobi and Steven Taylor scored first-half goals for Newcastle as they defeated Birmingham on Saturday.
Last year's winners of the Championship will not be back down at the second level of English football next season as they have 44 points and sit comfortably in 11th place.
A visit to Chelsea awaits Alan Pardew and Company on Sunday.
8. Tottenham (9)
13 of 20
Tottenham's dreams of competing in next year's Champions League were crushed on Tuesday as they suffered a 1-0 loss to Manchester City.
Peter Crouch's own goal was the only scoring in the loss, which occurred three days after Jermaine Defoe had to save a point at home against Blackpool.
Spurs are now in danger of not playing in any European competitions next season as they sit two points behind Liverpool for fifth.
Harry Redknapp's club will get a chance to get back into the Europa League spot as the play Liverpool on Sunday at Anfield.
7. Arsenal (3)
14 of 20
Arsenal were taken down by Stoke on Sunday in a surprising 3-1 result.
Robin van Persie had the only goal for the Gunners, as he scored his 16th goal of the season in the 81st minute.
The Gunners will look to secure third place with a win over Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
6. Everton (8)
15 of 20
Sylvain Distin and Leon Osman led a second-half comeback on Saturday as Everton defeated Manchester City, 2-1.
The home crowd at Goodison Park were treated to a spectacular header by Osman in the 72nd minute to put the Toffees on top for good.
The seventh-place club will travel to The Hawthorns to face West Brom on Saturday.
5. Stoke (7)
16 of 20
Stoke's final game before the FA Cup final was a success as the Potters took down Arsenal at home, 3-1.
Kenwyne Jones opened the scoring in the 28th minute while Jermaine Pennant and Jonathan Walters also found the back of the net in the win.
All eyes are on Wembley now as the Potters face Manchester City in the FA Cup final on Saturday, before the two clubs face each other at the City of Manchester Stadium in league play on Tuesday.
4. Chelsea (1)
17 of 20
Chelsea were unable to recover from a quick start by Manchester United on Sunday.
After giving up two first-half goals, Frank Lampard was able to pull a goal back for the Blues in 68th minute but it was not enough to come back in the 2-1 loss.
The loss pretty much puts Chelsea in second place to end the season. With any points against Newcastle on Sunday, Carlo Ancelotti's club will solidify second place.
3. Manchester City (2)
18 of 20
After suffering defeat at Goodison Park to Everton on Saturday, City turned around and beat Spurs at home on Tuesday thanks to an own goal from Peter Crouch.
The win over Spurs guaranteed that City will be playing in the Champions League next season, which was the main goal for manager Roberto Mancini and owner Sheikh Mansour.
City will now look for their first trophy under new ownership as they face Stoke in the FA Cup final on Saturday at Wembley.
2. Liverpool (4)
19 of 20
Maxi Rodriguez continued his impressive form as he scored a hat trick in Liverpool's 5-2 win over Fulham on Monday.
Rodriguez scored in the first, seventh and 70th minutes to record the hat trick.
The Reds also got goals from Luis Suarez and Dirk Kuyt in the rout that put them in fifth place in the table ahead of their match with sixth-place Tottenham at Anfield on Sunday.
1. Manchester United (5)
20 of 20
Manchester United all but clinched their 19th top-flight title as they beat Chelsea on Sunday by a score of 2-1.
Chicharito opened the scoring in the first minute, while Nemanja Vidic added to the United scoring as he headed home a 23rd-minute goal.
United now need one point against either Blackburn at Ewood Park on Saturday or against Blackpool at home at Old Trafford next Sunday to clinch the Premier League title.
