The Big Five: United and Arsenal Must Bounce Back: Liverpool And Atletico Will Be Tested

Manchester United fans must currently think the sky is green and the grass is blue; this is the time of year they’re usually celebrating another Premier League title.
But this weekend, everyone in Old Trafford will be on the edge of their seats for an largely meaningless game against Aston Villa. Meaningless for everyone except David Moyes, that is.
After the derby defeat — United’s second 3-0 turnover by close rivals in recent weeks — Moyes is looking anxiously upwards as the guillotine creaks above him. Nothing less than victory will do against Villa — and even that might not be enough in the long-term.
Midtable Villa have nothing to fight for other than the chance to take three points at Old Trafford, a rare treat teams have been eager to take advantage of this season. And after the 1-0 defeat of Chelsea, Moyes will be wary of yet another upset that could have the Stretford End baying for blood.
ARSENAL V MANCHESTER CITY
Perhaps now they can finally admit they are out of the title race, Arsenal will be able to play with a little less anxiety and more of the conviction that saw them top of the Premier League late last year.
And after the crushing defeat to Chelsea and demoralising own-goal draw at home to Swansea, Gunners fans must fear another humiliation at the hands of a City side who look to be playing themselves back into form at just the right time.
If City win all their remaining games, they will be champions — and that stress-free demolition of United midweek will have Manuel Pellegrini’s men in just the right mood for a trip to the nervous Emirates.
WEST BROM V CARDIFF
For all the fireworks at the top of the ladder, the battle at the bottom is still going strong. West Brom are just three points and two places ahead of Cardiff, with that thin dotted line still perilously close.
West Brom haven’t won in their last 10 games; Cardiff can at least point to a 3-1 win over Fulham as a means to suggest they can take points off the teams around them and drag themselves out of the mire.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has found it tough going on his return to the Premier League as a manager — but perhaps all those last-gasp heroics with Manchester United are still with him …

ATHELTIC BILBAO V ATLETICO MADRIDTake a look at the La Liga table — it’s not a sight you’ll often see. Barcelona in third, Real Madrid second — and Atletico Madrid in first, with a one-point lead over their billionaire rivals.
Diego Simeone’s team must be feeling slightly dizzy and continually looking over their shoulder, given the quality of their title rivals. Blink now and they’ll lose it all. They could have had it easier than facing fourth-placed Bilbao but that’s what you have to go through to win the league.
After grinding out a 1-0 win over Granada, Atleti took advantage of Real’s slip-up at Sevilla and have now won four league games without conceding a goal. But Bilbao have been a tough team to beat this year and this will be a massive test of Atletico’s title credentials.
LIVERPOOL V TOTTENHAM
Tottenham defender went public with his claim that Luis Suarez is the only difference between Liverpool and Spurs this season — something 20-goal Daniel Sturridge might not agree with.
The truth is that although Tottenham have recovered from the disastrous AVB era under Tim Sherwood and are in with a genuine shot at fourth place, they have failed to beat any of the big sides this season.
Liverpool have looked imperious at Anfield — other than the last 20 minutes of the midweek win over Sunderland — and are chasing their eighth consecutive Premier League win, something only Manchester City have managed this season.
With games against City and Chelsea coming up, this is a real test of Liverpool’s title hopes.