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Five talking points ahead of this weekend's Premier League action

:Headline: Five talking points ahead of this weekend's Premier League action:
City can claim the title this weekend, while opponents Chelsea need the points for their top-four push.
Sports Mole

Things are heating up as the Premier League edges closer to a conclusion.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at some of the main talking points heading into gameweek 35.

Will Tottenham keep up top-four push?

Interim boss Ryan Mason has won both Premier League matches in charge (Justin Setterfield/PA)

Amid widespread rage against the Super League that Spurs and five other Premier League clubs signed up for, the north Londoners took the bold decision to sack Jose Mourinho. Gone was the artist formerly known as 'the Special One' to be replaced by temporarily replaced by untested 29-year-old academy graduate Ryan Mason, whose side may have lost the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City but have won back-to-back Premier League games against Southampton and Sheffield United. Saturday's trip to Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds should provide a sterner test but Spurs need to maintain their top-four tilt.

Can Liverpool put pressure on Chelsea?

Jurgen Klopp has endured a challenging campaign (Lee Smith/PA)

Sixth-placed Spurs head into the weekend five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, with Liverpool a place worse off and two points further adrift albeit with a game in hand. Jurgen Klopp's men have got nowhere near defending their title and will play their first match in a fortnight when Southampton arrive at Anfield on Saturday evening. Whether the unexpected extra break brought by last weekend's postponed clash at rivals Manchester United is a help or hindrance remains to be seen, but it is clear they cannot afford any more slip-ups if they want Champions League football.

Can City clinch title in final dress rehearsal?

Neighbours Manchester United are also through to a continental final, having overcome Roma in a goal-filled Europa League semi-final to set up a shot at glory against Villarreal in Gdansk. But the main talking point after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reached his first final at the Old Trafford helm was about schedules rather than success. Last Sunday's postponed match against Liverpool due to anti-Glazer protests has been moved to next Thursday, leaving Solskjaer raging about a run of four matches in eight days. The 3-2 second leg loss to Roma kicked off that mini-marathon, with Sunday's trip to Aston Villa to come before hosting Leicester and then Liverpool. Solskjaer, whose side are second, has some big selection decisions to make in the coming days.

How will Arsenal respond to European exit?

While United rage about their calendar, at least they have a final to look forward to it at the end of it. Arsenal arguably got the kinder-looking Europa League semi-final draw against Villarreal yet followed last week's 2-1 loss in Spain with a toothless 0-0 home draw as their former manager Unai Emery progressed to the final at their expense. A gut punch for Mikel Arteta and the Gunners, they face the very real prospect of missing out on European football for the first time this millennium. Sat on just 49 points after 34 matches, a win against West Brom – a result which would relegate the Baggies – may well be too little too late.

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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal34245582265677
2Manchester CityMan City33237380324876
3Liverpool34228475344174
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd33165125150153
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle331551369541550
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Bournemouth34129134960-1145
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton331111115254-244
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34127154654-843
13Fulham34126165054-442
14Crystal Palace34109154456-1239
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton34118153648-1233
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3437243392-5916
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