As the football season heads towards an exciting climax, the 10 domestic fixtures you must watch

As the football season heads towards an exciting climax, the 10 domestic fixtures you must watch
It's building to a big finish - and these are matches you should watch Credit: Getty Images

With another international break heading into the rear-view mirror, we're now heading into what should be an exciting finale to the domestic season.

It's not all about the Premier League, either, as Dylan Terry explains. Here are 10 matches to get excited about before the season ends in May.

1) Portsmouth vs Sunderland (March 31)

As far as EFL Trophy (aka Checkatrade Trophy) finals go, this is a humdinger. Portsmouth and Sunderland are expected to break the record for the highest attendance for an EFL final, which currently still stands at 80,841 when Wolves beat Burnley 2-0 at Wembley in 1988. The two former Premier League clubs, who sit third and fourth in League One, will meet for the second time this season after Portsmouth comfortably saw off the Black Cats 3-1 last December.

Pompey have more vivid memories of cup wins at Wembley having beaten Cardiff in the FA Cup final in 2008. For a Sunderland Wembley win, you have to go back to 1973 when they defeated Leeds for the FA Cup. Both of these sides have a golden chance of not just silverware, but the chance to build momentum towards their respective promotion pushes.

2) Liverpool vs Tottenham (March 31)

Both Liverpool and Tottenham come into their game on Sunday knowing it could go a long way to shaping their season. Liverpool have responded to the rather flat performance at Goodison Park at the beginning of March with three victories, most notably against Bayern Munich, but will need to keep winning if they are to see off Man City's title challenge. The stakes are just as high for Spurs who have not won in the league since February 10 and face a difficult couple of months in pursuit of a top-four finish. For this weekend's game, the omens are not good: Mauricio Pochettino has not won at Anfield before and and where Spurs have won just one league game in 25 years.  

Tottenham Manager Mauricio Pochettino is seen during the U18 Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on March 24, 2019
New stadium to finish the season, but can Tottenham secure a top-four spot? Credit: Getty Images

3) Burnley vs Cardiff (April 13)

This game looks to be most crucial between now and the end of the season in the fight to avoid the drop. Burnley sit two points above Cardiff having lost their previous four Premier League games. They play Bournemouth and Wolves between now and this big match, while Cardiff have the daunting task of facing Chelsea and Man City. It could be the teams are still separated by two points come April 13. If that is the reality, it will be a must-win game for Neil Warnock’s side if they are to avoid the drop. It is also a hugely-important game in Burnley’s season as their final four matches are tricky: Chelsea (a), Man City (h), Everton (a), Arsenal (h). Cardiff still have to play Brighton, Fulham and Crystal Palace after this game.    

4) Liverpool vs Chelsea (April 14)

This is the final of the top-six fixtures Liverpool have during the run-in. The history between the two sides is rich: Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea went to Anfield in April 2014 and won 2-0 to ultimately destabilise Liverpool’s title bid. At least this time Liverpool know it's unlikely Maurizio Sarri will go there and play 10 men behind the ball as Mourinho did five years ago. Indeed, Sarri’s Chelsea may well play into Jurgen Klopp’s hands. Liverpool will be confident they can beat Chelsea on their own patch but if the league is in their hands once this game comes around then Anfield is sure to be full of nervous excitement.

James Alabi of Leyton Orient and Jobi McAnuff of Leyton Orient celebrates following their side's victory in the Vanarama National League match between Leyton Orient and AFC Flyde at Brisbane Road on March 26, 2019 in London, England
Leyton Orient are looking for a return to the Football League Credit: Getty Images

5) Walsall vs Southend (April 19)

Chris Powell was sacked by Southend after 11 games without a win, a run stretching back to January 19. At that point, Southend were 10th and just nine points from a play-off place. Since then though they have fallen like a stone and are now down in 20th with only goal difference keeping them out of the relegation places. The side below Southend are Walsall, who have only won two from 11 games themselves. Both sides are level on points as things stand so this game on April 19th could well decide which turns their season around to stay in League One. Harry Bunn scored twice as Southend comfortably beat Walsall 3-0 at Roots Hall in October. But Walsall will be fighting for survival and it promises to be a hotly-contested affair just three games from the end of the season.

6) Man City vs Tottenham (April 20)

Spurs’ record at the Etihad Stadium over the last decade has not been too strong. They have won just once there since that famous Peter Crouch goal which gave them Champions League football back in 2010. In the eight times since then, they have conceded 23 goals. The intriguing part about this fixture is it comes off the back of a two-legged Champions League tie between the sides, something which could have a huge psychological impact. It also comes in the middle of a pivotal week for City as they host Spurs twice and then travel to Old Trafford. So can one of the teams claim three victories? If Tottenham are taken apart in the Champions League, they may be on the end of a similar City performance to the one that put six past Chelsea in February.

7) Leyton Orient vs Solihull Moors (April 22nd)

The biggest game outside of the English Football League by a mile. The penultimate day of the season in the National League sees current table toppers Leyton Orient take on the team currently level on points and in second place on goal difference, Solihull Moors. Orient are bidding to get back into League Two at the second time of asking while Solihull have yet to reach England’s fourth tier since they were founded 11 years ago. With three teams going up, both sides are in line for automatic promotion but Wrexham and Salford City are both within earshot of top spot. There are many permutations that could be in play when April 22nd rolls around, but it's likely both teams will be in the mix.

8) Manchester United vs Man City (24th April)

This is likely to be one of the games that decides the title. City will come into the Manchester derby having played six games in 17 days including an FA Cup semi-final and a two-legged Champions League quarter-final against Spurs. They can take solace in the fact that United will also have played five games in three weeks, though Solskjaer's side are growing into a season after some incredibly sluggish displays under Mourinho pre-Christmas. But City have only lost once at Old Trafford in the league since 2011 and beat their fierce rivals convincingly 3-1 at the Etihad back in November. Meanwhile, United should still be in top four contention and would love to beat City on the way to achieving that, even if it did mean handing Liverpool the title.

9) Championship Play-Off Final (27th April)

It is estimated that Fulham’s Championship Play-Off Final win last season made them £160m in revenue and the number only increases every season. But it isn’t just the money. If you look at the teams in the play-off positions at present - Leeds, West Brom, Middlesbrough, Aston Villa - all of those sides have tasted Premier League football in the past and their fans will be hungrier than anyone to get back there. It is often more of a tense, emotional affair than a platform for exciting football - only six goals have been scored in the last six Championship Play-Off finals - but it is one that is captivating in its own way. In an era where Premier League football is everything, the Championship Play-Off final showcases just what it means to both players and fans. Despite most people’s belief that finishing third is a curse, it is actually the position that produces the most winners - 11 out of 30 Championship play-offs have been won by the side which finished third in the table.

10) FA Cup Final (18th May)

Perhaps the FA Cup Final is no longer the biggest game of the domestic season given the importance and money that is now behind the Premier League. But this year’s FA Cup semi-finals involve three teams which have not won the competition since 1960, and another other side who are going for an unprecedented quadruple, of which this could be the completion of the domestic treble (which has also never been done before in England). If Brighton beat City then the final will be an exhilarating atmosphere between two unlikely trophy contenders. If City do get there, it will be David vs Goliath and that in itself provides a captivating spectacle. Whatever the make-up of the final, for most it will always be one of the biggest games of the season and a perfect curtain-closer to what has been a tremendously compelling campaign.

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