Soccer

Burnley on the brink as relegation issues come to a head in the Premier League

Celtic can close in on the cinch Premiership title with victory over Rangers.

Rob Edwards, left, and Vincent Kompany are on the brink of relegation while Brendan Rodgers, right, and Celtic can strike a near-decisive blow in the title race
Rob Edwards, left, and Vincent Kompany are on the brink of relegation while Brendan Rodgers, right, and Celtic can strike a near-decisive blow in the title race
By PA Sport Staff

The remaining Premier League relegation places could be decided on Saturday while in Scotland, Celtic can move to the brink of the title.

Here, the PA news agency looks at the permutations.

Premier League

Burnley go into the weekend five points adrift of safety with six to play for in 19th and will be relegated unless they beat Tottenham and Nottingham Forest then fail to win against Chelsea later on Saturday.

Even a win coupled with a Forest draw would leave the Clarets as good as down, with their goal difference currently inferior by 17. The two teams meet on the final day of the season.

Luton, three points behind as they face West Ham, need to at least match Forest’s result to take it to the final day – though they too are 11 goals worse off and surely need to gain at least a point on Nuno Espirito Santo’s men.

Should both be relegated, joining Sheffield United, it will be only the second time in the Premier League era that all three promoted teams have gone straight back down. Bolton, Barnsley and Crystal Palace suffered that fate in the 1997-98 season.

The title fight between Arsenal and Manchester City will extend until, at the earliest, City’s midweek game in hand against Tottenham.

Liverpool will be officially out of contention unless the top two both drop points, against Manchester United and Fulham respectively, and the Reds then win on Monday against Aston Villa – who will secure fourth place if they match Spurs’ result.

cinch Premiership

While Saturday’s Old Firm derby cannot mathematically decide the title, victory for hosts Celtic would all but clinch top spot.

The Hoops would then be six points ahead of Rangers with only two games remaining, while their goal difference would be superior by at least seven.

A Rangers win would leave them level on points and within three goals at worst, while they will move top if they win by three or more.

Livingston are down and the relegation play-off place cannot be decided this weekend, though Ross County have the opportunity to move five points clear of St Johnstone with only six to play for.