Promotion, relegation and play-offs: The Premier League and English Football League permutations ahead of this weekend
The final promotion and relegation places will be decided in the English Football League this week, while Manchester City may have the first chance to wrap up the Premier League title
The final English Football League promotion and relegation places will be decided this week, while Manchester City could even wrap up the Premier League title.
Here, we at marvelbet369.com look at what is at stake in this weekend's fixtures, highlighted by a relegation battle in League One.
Premier League
A tense title race could be settled this weekend, but only if Liverpool suffer a shock defeat at Newcastle on Saturday. Manchester City would then have the chance to seal the deal by beating Leicester at the Etihad Stadium on Monday.
Cardiff need a win over Crystal Palace on Saturday to stand any chance of avoiding relegation. They would be relegated regardless of their result were Brighton to beat Arsenal.
There is also a pretty intriguing top four race going on in the top flight.
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Championship
With Norwich and Sheffield United promoted and Ipswich, Bolton and Rotherham relegated, the promotion and relegation spots are already decided.
The Canaries are in pole position to be champions too, with the Blades needing a win at Stoke while also hoping Norwich lose to Aston Villa to take the title to Brammall Lane.
The play-off spots is where the big excitement lies even though Leeds, West Brom and Villa are confirmed in the top six, with Leeds needing a point to secure third place ahead of the Baggies while Villa will definitely finish fifth.
Derby currently occupy the final place as they go into their game against West Brom ahead of Middlesbrough by a point.
Boro face Rotherham on Sunday, while Bristol City are still in with an outside chance but will need to win at Hull and hope Boro fail to win and Derby lose.
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talkSPORT is your home of live football! Here's what's coming up on talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2...
- Eintracht Frankfurt vs Chelsea (Thursday, 8pm) – talkSPORT 2
- West Ham vs Southampton (Saturday, 3pm) – talkSPORT 2
- Cardiff vs Crystal Palace (Saturday 5:30pm) – talkSPORT
- Derby vs West Brom (Sunday, 12:30pm) - talkSPORT 2
League One
Defeats for Portsmouth and Sunderland on Tuesday saw Luton and Barnsley promoted. They will battle for the title on Saturday, with the Tykes at Bristol Rovers while Luton host Oxford.
Portsmouth, Sunderland and Charlton are secure in the play-offs while Doncaster lie sixth. Should Rovers drop points against Coventry, Peterborough can take advantage by beating Burton.
Bradford are down but Scunthorpe, Walsall, Plymouth and Southend are separated by only a point - Argyle and the Iron meet in a key fixture.
Meanwhile, Walsall to Shrewsbury and Southend host Sunderland.
AFC Wimbledon are still not mathematically safe if three of those four teams win.
League Two
With Lincoln and Bury promoted, attention shifts to the winner-takes-all clash between MK Dons and Mansfield. The winners will be promoted, while the draw benefits Mansfield due to their superior goal difference.
The unsuccessful team will join Forest Green and Tranmere in the play-offs, with Newport occupying the final spot after Tuesday's win over Oldham. They must still win at Morecambe to avoid opening the door for Exeter, a point behind ahead of their clash with Forest Green.
Colchester, Carlisle and Stevenage retain an outside chance should both slip up.
Yeovil are relegated and Notts County will join them unless they beat Swindon and Macclesfield lose to Cambridge - a draw for Sol Campbell's men would leave County needing at least an eight-goal win.