The Premier League schedule will be a bit light this weekend as the FA Cup continues. However, there are still a plethora of essential matches going around. Here are the games to watch on Saturday.
West Bromwich Albion vs. Manchester United
The Red Devils have been a disaster all season long but they can salvage hopes of finishing in the top six if they manage to pull off a solid streak in the final months of the season. With 45 points in league, the team is trailing Everton by just three points for the sixth spot in the league.
Of course Everton will hold a game in hand after this weekend because the team is playing an FA Cup match against Arsenal.
Manchester has a mediocre record of seven wins, three draws and four wins at home and has a big chance to improve its fortunes against a bottom dweller.
West Bromwich Albion has 25 points on the year and is only one point ahead of 18th place Sunderland. More importantly, Sunderland has a game in hand on West Bromwich and could push the team to 18th place with a win in the make-up game. West Bromwich has a woeful record of three wins, seven draws and four losses at home this season.
Prediction: Manchester United has been so bad this year that anything is possible. Expect a draw.
Chelsea vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Jose Mourinho's Chelsea is the top team in the league and has built a substantial lead atop the table. However, the team has played two more games than Manchester City and could easily see its six-point lead on the Citizens evaporate if Manuel Pellegrini's side wins the two games it has in hand.
More importantly, Chelsea must fend off Arsenal and Liverpool; while the Gunners are falling apart, the Reds are surging and could easily overtake Liverpool with a good run down the stretch.
Tottenham can still make a run at a top four spot, but needs to put together a strong string of victories and hope that the four teams above it lose some points. This would be the match to accomplish just that as a win in Chelsea would put Tottenham seven points behind first place Chelsea and just three points behind second place Liverpool.
Prediction: Chelsea wins 3-0.
Cardiff City vs. Fulham
The two worst teams in the English Premier League will face off in a game that could help their respective fortunes. Both sides currently occupy relegation spots and in all likeliness, both teams are likely headed to the second division.
Cardiff has 22 points while Fulham has 21. A win for Fulham would put them into a tie with Sunderland for 18th place; they would be just one point behind a "safe" spot as West Bromwich only has 25 points. However, a win for Cardiff would put them into a tie with West Bromwich. A loss for either side, or even a draw for that matter, would propel either side further down the Premier League ladder.
Prediction: The two sides draw 1-1.