Spurs aim higher as Reds battle the Citizens

—Barclays Premier League week 34 preview:

Tottenham will aim to close the gap on Everton when they travel to take on West Brom at the Hawthorns. The Lilywhites climbed back to 6th on the log after a 5-1 demolition of Sunderland. Key to their form has been the dynamic Christan Eriksen, the only summer signing to have lived up to expectations. They are five points behind the Toffees, and Tim Sherwood is looking to change that. West Brom are only five points clear of the relegation zone and victory over Spurs could pull them closer to safety. Defeat, however, will spell doom for the Baggies.

Fulham will be targeting a second victory on the bounce when they host Norwich City at Craven Cottage, while Sunderland are on the wings of desperation to keep their fading survival hopes alive when they entertain Everton at Goodison Park. Following the crushing defeat to Tottenham, they are rock bottom of the table and as if things couldn’t get any worse, they still have games against the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United to come. Gus Poyet’s side are now almost certain to be relegated, though mathematically they still have a chance.

Everton are within touching distance of Champions League football, thanks to the huge win over Arsenal and will need to string together wins to get there.
Crystal Palace and Aston Villa both face off at Selhurst Park. And Jay Rodriguezless Southampton will play host to survival hopefuls Cardiff City at ST. Mary’s Stadium.
Newcastle will hope to avoid a third straight 4-0 defeat when they travel to the Britannia Stadium to play Stoke City.

On Sunday, Liverpool will lock horns with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in what will have a big effect in the outcome of the title race. The Reds are closing in on a first ever Premier League title but they will have to go past an in -form City side.
Penalties have been quite influential for them in recent weeks with two spot kicks seeing them to a 2-1 win over West Ham. The duo of Suarez and Sturridge will hope to get back amongst the goals again, with the latter coming up against his former club. Sergio Aguero is unlikely to feature for City who are the main favorites to win the title. City prevailed 2-1 at the Etihad earlier in the season and there is no better time to get closer to their possible second Premier League title in three years.

Swansea City will nervously await Chelsea at the Liberty Stadium. The Swans are pulling well clear of the relegation zone but they come up against the Blues who have been on a roll. Mourinho’s boys followed up their 3-0 drubbing of Stoke with a 2 – 0 win over PSG which sent the French club out of the Champions League. The injury to Eden Hazard is a cause for concern, however, as he is set to miss the encounter. They haven’t been dominant away from home and a slip up here will prove costly.