I love this time of the season! So much to play for ...title race, top 4 finish (or is it now top 3?*), relegation battles and then theres the sub-plots. Will Ferdinand snap JT? Tevez - who has been as popular in Manchester this year as Matthew Newton would be at a Miami hotel - given an opportunity to ride horseback out of Manchester (the blue half anyway) with a winners medal after putting Utd to the sword. Theres only three weeks to go and were in for a big weekend of action...<!--more-->

WBA v Villa

Villa had a real chance to distance themselves from the relegation zone when they took on Bolton at Villa Park. They failed. Bolton took the spoils. Villa are deep in it now, and unlike Bolton, Blackburn, QPR and Wigan they’ve forgotten how to win.

WBA had an excellent win at Anfield that might have carried more kudos in a different season.

Fortune should be back while Dunne has declared himself fit for Villa.

Wigan v Newcastle

Wigan came crashing back down to earth with defeat at Fulham as some of their rivals picked up valuable points. Di Santo and Rodallega could miss but Crusat and Maloney should be available. Cisse is hoping to score for the 7th consecutive game, while his team are looking for their 7th consecutive win in their chase for 4th place (or is it 3rd?*)

Chelsea v QPR

Chelsea will most likely make more heavy changes after a magnificent back to the walls performance midweek against Barca. JT should be fresh after deciding he wanted a one hour rest in Barcelona.

Cahill, Luiz and Ivanovic (suspended) will miss out while Taarabt (suspended) plus Cisse and Diakite could all miss.

With the Terry-Ferdinand subplot, as well as two teams desperate for points in a local derby, this one could be tasty. Pre-match handshakes have been aborted to save JT the embarrassment of even more of his peers snubbing him.

Everton v Fulham

Everton got over their FA Cup disappointment with a sensational draw at Old Trafford. They went to OT and played with real intent and fully deserved their point and four goals. Jelavic scored two of them (6 in 6 games) and seems to be Everton’s missing link. Moyes showing again that he’s an absolute master in the transfer market on a budget.

Stoke v Arsenal

Arsenal must be getting nervous as those pesky Geordies refuse to disappear. The Gunners have lost 3 of their last 4 games at The Britannia. Walcott and Arteta are out for the season which doesn’t help matters.

It should give Oxlade-Chamberlain another opportunity to impress though.

Crouch has been in good goal-scoring form for the Potters.

Spurs v Blackburn

Blackburn posted a massive win against Norwich last time out and now face a Spurs team who’ve won once in 9. Despite this, Spurs are hanging onto the possibility of 3rd/4th place…just.

Bale, to my immense relief, has quietened down in recent weeks but could be buoyed by games against Blackburn and Bolton.

Adebayor and Kaboul should return and possibly the injury prone Lennon. Blackburn have Hanley out for the season.

Norwich v Liverpool

If Norwich win they’ll go equal on points with their opponents, albeit after playing one game extra. The Reds have won 2 out of 11 and it’s hard to say who is actually favourites in this game. Although talisman Gerrard should be back so Liverpool will fancy their chances. Apart from the long-termers they have a full squad to pick from. Ayala and Tierney remain sidelined for the Canaries.

Swansea v Wolves

There should be a few Swans desperate for game time against a relegated and demoralised Wolves side. Swansea have pretty much a full squad while Wolves are suffering badly with injury. Bassong the latest casualty.

In fairness to Wolves they actually played well against Man City last week but the stats are there that they’re not good enough. They might play better with the pressure off but I won’t be backing that claim with hard cash.

Sunderland v Bolton

Richardson and Larsson (season) and Gardner will miss for the Black Cats and maybe Cattermole too. Meanwhile Bolton will possibly miss Eagles and Miyaichi amongst many others. Bolton had a massive win at Villa midweek and sit 3pts behind them now but with a game in hand, despite still sitting in a relegation spot. Plus they’ve won 4 from 7.

In contrast, Sunderland’s form is poor. They’ve gained 11pts from 11games (worse than Blackburn) and haven’t scored for four games. They have little to play for and it’s a great chance for Bolton to keep pressure on the other relegation candidates.

Man City v Man Utd

It was only recently that this game looked like it might’ve been a Utd title winning party but now … well actually it still could be. (If Utd win they could still theoretically lose the title but they won’t). The difference now is if City win they’ll go top and the title will be theirs to lose.

Mancini has said Balotelli could be recalled and a place on the bench does seem a possibility but there’s no way that he’d start…is there? No! Drop Tevez or Aguero??? What about Tevez though? The script could be written for him to become a hero after his shameful disappearing act earlier in the season.

It will take a hell of a performance from City to take 3pts against Fergie’s gluttonous lot, but this is their time to stand up and show they’re here to stay.

* Just to thicken the plot further - if Chelsea win the UCL and finish outside the top 4 (this part at least is pretty likely), then they will be Englands 4th (or 1st?) representatives in the next years UCL. So the 4th placed league team will miss out on qualification for next years UCL which clearly would be a massive kick to the stones for said 4th placed team! 3rd place has got to be the aim for Arsenal, Spurs and Newcastle.