United visit West Ham in march towards 20th title

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posted on 11 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Also in the mid-week fixtures, Man City host relegation-threatened Wigan and Chelsea play at neighbours Fulham.

London: With Manchester United and Manchester City set to finish first and second, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have been jostling for the remaining two Champions League spots for the last three months. Three of these teams - United, City and Chelsea - will be involved in mid-week encounters in the Premier League on Wednesday.

United - who need just seven points from their last six matches to win the title - lead the pack with 80 points from 32 games, 15 points clear of City who have 65 from 31. Arsenal have 59 points from 32, followed by Chelsea on 58 from 31, Spurs on 58 from 32 and Everton 55 from 32.

But those numbers will change on Wednesday when runaway leaders Manchester United play at West Ham United, fourth-placed Chelsea play at neighbours Fulham and Manchester City host relegation-threatened Wigan Athletic in an FA Cup final rehearsal.

Manchester United, who brushed aside a toothless Stoke City 2-0 on Sunday, can take another step towards their 20th title if they win at mid-table West Ham who drew 1-1 with Southampton on Saturday.

A last-minute goal from Robin van Persie gave United a 2-2 draw at Upton Park on their last visit there for an FA Cup third-round tie in January. They have a good record at the ground, winning their last three league matches there and outscoring the Hammers 9-2.

In a dress-rehearsal of the FA Cup final on May 11, Manchester City meet Wigan at home with the game of far greater significance to their opponents. Wigan are 18th and in the relegation zone but have two matches in hand on the teams above them.

Chelsea, who relinquished their hold on the FA Cup on Sunday when they lost 2-1 in their semi-final against Manchester City, will be playing their seventh match in 19 days when they make the short trip to Fulham. Fulham's Craven Cottage ground is just two miles from Chelsea's Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea usually do well at Fulham having lost there only once in the Premier League, and interim coach Rafa Benitez will be desperate for all three points to keep their momentum going in the race for Champions League qualification.