Wayne Rooney scored two first half goals to help send Manchester United to a 4-1 win over a spirited Aston Villa on Saturday, temporarily lifting the gloom surrounding David Moyes' dismal first term in charge.
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal believes his side has a "big chance" of securing a top four finish to qualify for the Champions League next season after defeating neighbours Manchester City on Sunday. United, who claimed a 1-0 win at the Etihad, are sixth in the Premier League, a point behind their fourth-placed city rivals with eight games remaining. "The gap would have been too big if we had drawn or lost. It would have been very difficult," Van Gaal told British media "Now it is in our own hands but we have to win our games. We have more home matches than away and we don't lose so much at Old Trafford... so we have a big chance." United welcome 12th-placed Everton after the international break, followed by a trip to second-placed Tottenham Hotspur. They also host current leaders Leicester City on May 1.
Steven Gerrard will play for Liverpool in Saturday's FA Cup third-round game at Preston North End, manager Rafa Benitez said on Friday.
Arsenal are not only hoping to win a first European trophy since 1994, but know their hopes of qualifying for next year's Champions League depend on winning the Europa League in the French city of Lyon next month.
Manchester United scored five goals in 22 second-half minutes to surge back from 2-0 down and beat visitors Tottenham Hotspur 5-2 in the Premier League on Saturday. After Liverpool had earlier won 3-1 at Hull City to move top on goal difference, United's grip on the title was looking shaky as they trailed to goals from Darren Bent and Luka Modric with almost an hour gone at Old Trafford.
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Rediff.com brings you the previews of the main matches scheduled for this weekend in the English Premier League.
Chelsea's rapid improvement under coach Guus Hiddink continued on Sunday when Michael Essien's goal earned a 1-0 home win over Manchester City which moved them back into second place in the Premier League. Essien, recently back from a long layoff with a knee injury, beat City keeper Shay Given in the 18th minute to seal the victory that left Chelsea four points behind leaders Manchester United who lost 4-1 at home to Liverpool on Saturday.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte hates not being in the Champions League and has made it his mission to ensure the Premier League leaders consistently qualify for Europe's elite competition.
Striker Julio Cruz headed in 10 minutes from time to spare defender Nicolas Burdisso's blushes and give Inter Milan a 3-3 draw at Anorthosis Famagusta in Champions League Group B on Tuesday. A win would have put the Serie A champions through to the last 16 but instead the group leaders gifted Anorthosis three goals.
Following is a match by match look at the English Premier League's weekend fixtures:
Chelsea kept their title hopes alive of winning the Premier League when they beat Everton 1-0 at Goodison Park on Thursday with a first-half goal from Michael Essien. The victory lifted Chelsea, who have three matches to play, on to 78 points, two behind leaders Manchester United who have a game in hand.
Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool switch their attention away from European glory and back to the English title race at the weekend.
Alex Ferguson, the most successful manager in Manchester United's history, underwent emergency surgery on Saturday for a brain haemorrhage, the club said.
Ever the perfectionist, Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is still chasing the complete performance despite a run of six straight victories that have propelled his side to third in the Premier League table.
Manchester United and Chelsea, who meet in next month's Champions League final in Moscow, will focus on matters much closer to home this weekend when they renew their battle for the Premier League title. Chelsea travel to face a revitalised Newcastle United on Monday while United host West Ham United on Saturday.
Late goals from William Gallas and Tomas Rosicky gave Premier League leaders Arsenal a 2-0 win over Wigan Athletic on Saturday as champions Manchester United slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Bolton Wanderers. In another match, Steven Gerrard inspired fifth-placed Liverpool to a 3-0 victory at Newcastle United.
For the second time in a week Manchester City threw away a 2-0 lead against a Premier League struggler but this time they hit back as Frank Lampard came off the bench to secure a 3-2 win over Sunderland on Thursday.
Knee injuries have sidelined him for large parts of this season, however, and the Belgium international has started only four Premier League games.
Chelsea closed the gap on leaders Manchester United to two points by winning 2-0 at Manchester City on Saturday. The victory gave them 74 points from 33 matches and means the pressure will be on United when they travel to Middlesbrough for their game in hand on Sunday.
Barcelona look well set to wrap up the La Liga title.
Leaders Chelsea have seen their lead reduced to just three points after a shock defeat, and a revival from defending champions Manchester City. Manchester United are back in third after a run of five straight wins. If Chelsea slip agains, City continue to pile on the pressure and United keep the winning momentum it will make EPL battle further interesting.
Luis Suarez picked up a hamstring strain in Tuesday's Champions League match at Bayern Munich.
Olympique de Marseille were the fall guys on a hectic opening night of Europa League group stage action as German club Eintracht Frankfurt returned from the south of France with a surprise 2-1 victory on Thursday.
Chelsea have been accused of being boring but they will not mind one bit if they beat Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Sunday to win the Premier League title for the first time in five years.
Sterling has scored six goals in five starts for City this season and has impressed with his overall contribution to Guardiola's prolific attack which has struck 29 goals in eight Premier League games.
LeicesterCity went level on points with Premier League leaders Arsenal after drawing 0-0 with title rivals ManchesterCity at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday.
Manchester City came from behind to beat Bolton Wanderers 4-2 to keep their 100 percent home record and go fourth in the English Premier League.
Champions Barcelona moved five points clear at the top of La Liga with a 2-1 win at Getafe, while Real Madrid fell to a 2-0 defeat by Real Sociedad.
Images from Sunday's action in the Premier League.
The Bernabeu faithful have never taken Gareth Bale to their hearts with injury problems and a perceived lack of integration into the side often used as sticks to beat him with.
Ryan Giggs is optimistic about Manchester United's chances of beating derby rivals Manchester City to the final Champions League spot by ending the Premier League season in fourth place. United, who are sixth in the table, travel to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday looking to close the gap on their neighbours, who are four points and two places ahead of them. "It's not a big gap," Giggs told the Times. "Especially when you look at the league this season, teams are going to drop points. "It's been a freak season. It's a very tough league where nothing is guaranteed and crazy things have happened. "We have a lot of players back so if you win games the momentum starts and the confidence builds."
Bolton Wanderers squandered a chance to leap into the Champions League places when they were held 1-1 at home by Everton while fourth-placed Arsenal drew 0-0 at Newcastle United in the Premier League on Monday.
Manchester United are likely to welcome back captain Wayne Rooney from suspension for their visit to Premier League champions Manchester City on Sunday, hoping the striker can add to his record scoring tally in the derby.
Here are five talking points from the weekend in La Liga:
Arsenal host EPL leaders Manchester United on Sunday.
Tottenham Hotspur sacked coach Andre Villas-Boas on Monday, a day after the London club were thrashed 5-0 at home by Liverpool, the Premier League club said on their website (www.tottenhamhotspur.com).
Meanwhile, France outclassed Ukraine 2-0 and Portugal beat Belgium 2-1 in the other Euro qualifiers.
Arsenal's improbable late run at the Premier League title gained momentum with a 1-0 victory at struggling Burnley on Saturday, an eighth straight triumph that moved them within four points of leaders Chelsea.
Though the draw gave United a four-point lead over Chelsea, that gap could be slashed to a single point on Sunday when the champions take on Newcastle United at St James' Park.
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