Liverpool already controls its title destiny, but with a win at Carrow Road on Sunday, the Premier League leaders canย tighten its grip on the 2013-14 crown. In the wake of last weekโs win over Manchester City,ย the Redsโ upcoming visit from Chelseaย looked set to define the title race, but after both the Citizens and Blues were tripped up by Sunderland, Brendan Rodgersโ team can forge some breathing room. Beat Norwich City, and Liverpool will be five points clear at the top.
In the dayโs two other games, the leagueโs final Champions League spotย will be in focus. The most difficult match of Arsenalโs run-in, Sundayโs trip to Hull, coincides with one of Evertonโs two biggest remaining challenges, a visit from Manchester United. After the Toffees were upset by Crystal Palace midweek, Arsenal has already reclaimed fourth place, but if Everton stumbles again, Gooners can stop worrying their club will follow Manchester United out of the top four.
Withย each game to be broadcast on NBCSN (and streamed via NBC Sports Live Extra), here is quick look at the three-match Sunday in the Premier League:
Norwich City vs. Liverpool, 7:00 a.m. Eastern, NBCSN and NBC Sports Live Extra
- Norwich City only two points above the drop.
- Liverpool has won 10 league matches in a row.
- Luis Suรกrez (29) has more goals than the Canaries have scored this seasonย (26).
With three losses in a row, thereโs an increased feeling of doom around the Canaries, particularly with the three teams in the drop starting to pick up points. All of Cardiff City (18th), Fulham (19th), and Sunderland (20th) could pass Norwich with a win next week, provided the Canaries donโt get a result on Sunday.
Given Chelsea and Manchester Cityโs stumbles, we should be mindful of a potential Liverpool slip, particularly with Daniel Sturridge out. The Reds will also be without Jordan Henderson, who begins aย three-match suspension. Still, with the likes of Suรกrez, Steven Gerrard, and Raheem Sterling set to play, it will take an upset of Chelsea-Sunderland proportions to keep the Reds from their 11th straightย win.
Hull City vs. Arsenal, 9:05 a.m. Eastern, NBCSN and NBC Sports Live Extra
- Arsenalโs won the teamsโ last five meetings.
- With 40 goals allowed, Hull has conceded one fewer time than Arsenal.
- No Hull player has scored more than four goals this season (Nikica Jelavic).
Spirits were raised around Arsenal after the teamโs mid-week win over West Ham. Not only did the victory end a near-month-long winless run, but the result allowed the Gunners to reclaim fourth. Coming into Sundayโs game one point ahead of Everton, Arsenal controls itsย own Champions League 2014-15 destiny.
For Hull City, relegation is still a concern, though six points above the drop, you can forgive the Tigers for looking at this as a pure FA Cup Final preview. Set to meet the Gunners atย Wembley next month, Hull will be measuring itself against the last team that stands between it and the clubโs first major honor. Sundayโs result is more likely to be seen through that lens than relegationโs.
Everton vs. Manchester United, 11:10 a.m. Eastern, NBCSN and NBC Sports Live Extra
- David Moyes makes his first visit to Goodison Park since leaving Everton.
- Toffees one-point back of Arsenal for fourth place.
- Wayne Rooney expected to be available after toe injury.
Whatโs the bigger surprise: That Manchester United, on Moyesโ return to Goodison, have no chance to make Champions League? That Evertonย does? Or that Moyesโs Red Devils, riding a two-match winning streak, could play a major part in keeping his old club out of Champions League? Given what we saw mid-week from Everton, a United win at Goodison isnโt difficult to imagine.
For Roberto Martรญnezโs men, theย Crystal Palace game may serve as a wake-up call.ย Not sufficiently scared by their close call against Sunderland, the Toffees went out and gave up three goals to what used to be the ย leagueโs worst attack (the Eaglesโ explosion in Liverpool changed that). A similar performance against Rooney and Juan Mata could end theirย top-four dream.
For most of this season, Evertonโsย been the better of these teams, but as United has shown all season, playing with expectations can have a debilitating effect. After defeating Arsenal two weeks ago, Evertonโs transcended plucky upstart.ย Theyโre now expected to maintain aย challenge for fourth.
