1) Will Liverpool be able to lift themselves?

While Brendan Rodgers’s thoughts may already be turning to how he can fight for the title again next season, the immediate challenge for Liverpool’s manager is to ensure that his players do not let their dismal collapse against Crystal Palace affect them against Newcastle. Letting that 3-0 lead slip in that style will haunt Liverpool throughout the summer and maybe beyond, but it would be dangerous for them to spend too long beating themselves over the way they handed the initiative back to Manchester City. Sure, there are lessons to be learnt from the appalling defending that allowed Palace to score three times in the final 11 minutes, but Rodgers – and Dr Steve Peters – must heal any psychological scars quickly, and that starts with giving the Anfield crowd something to cheer about against Newcastle. This, after all, has still been a season of considerable achievement for Liverpool: they have qualified for the Champions League, they have restored their pride and they have played some of the best attacking football ever seen in English football. Forget about the defensive problems for now and forget about Palace; the title is gone, but Liverpool can still head off on their summer holidays with a spring in their step if they enjoy themselves on Sunday. JS

• Liverpool look to old friends to thwart Manchester City
  

2) Pellegrini does his talking on the training ground

Midfielder

Yaya Toure

Appearances

34

Goals

20

Shots

56

Shots on target

38%

Offsides

3

It was probably inevitable that as soon as writing down what people say superseded actual writing, perception of a manager’s effectiveness would be significantly influenced by press conference performance. As such, much recent fuss has been made over Brendan Rodgers’ bluster and boasts, José Mourinho’s attention seeking wit, and David Moyes’ bland blaming. Of course, these aspects are in some ways telling, but it remains the case that ultimately, managers prove themselves on the training ground, in the dressing room and from the touchline. And in doing precisely this, while abstaining from the formulaic tedium of biscuit begging and tossing, Manuel Pellegrini has shown another way. Meanwhile, Joe Hart is rehabilitated, Samir Nasri reinvented, Martín Demichelis steadied and Yaya Touré somehow improved – clearly, playing for him is a pleasure that manifests on the pitch. DH

• Pellegrini expects to win the title
  

3) Mourinho must blame himself for Chelsea failings

By his own stratospheric standards it’s not been a good season for Mourinho, with Chelsea stuttering in both league and cup. And, for once, Mourinho is directly culpable. It was he who loaned Romelu Lukaku to Everton despite the absence of suitable alternatives, then made clear his disgust for Demba Ba and Fernando Torres. Subsequently and crucially, both Crystal Palace and Aston Villa beat Chelsea to nil, while against Atlético Madrid, a negative approach was deemed the most likely means of progress – a tie in which the exceptional Thibaut Courtois, another loanee, made a decisive save.

To the outside observer, Mourinho has not quite seemed himself; the bronca will always be there, but missing is the heart that defines it. Similarly, old Mourinho did not spend time complaining about that which he did not have, simply creating that which he absolutely needed instead. And though Eden Hazard and Oscar are not the first to baulk at his methods, no longer can he rely on a core of obscenely focused acolytes to compensate while they either submit, like Joe Cole, or depart, like Arjen Robben. His response to the challenge will be fascinating. DH

• Mourinho fined for sarcastic referee comments

4) Cardiff and Fulham have much to ponder

There will be red faces to match the red shirts at Cardiff when they welcome Chelsea to the Welsh capital. Who could have predicted that Vincent Tan’s meddling would have had such a disastrous effect on a side that looked equipped to stay up before their chairman began to undermine Malky Mackay? It will be interesting to see what kind of mood Cardiff’s fans are in, whether tempers will be raised after a thoroughly avoidable relegation or if there will simply be weary resignation in the stands at the sorry state of their club. It may be a similar story at Fulham against Crystal Palace, although Craven Cottage is rarely the sort of ground that produces a febrile atmosphere. Theirs has been a season blighted by indecision in the boardroom, a lack of continuity and nous in the dug-out and an absence of fight on the pitch; Martin Jol’s regime grew tired and flabby, Rene Meulensteen and Felix Magath were always fighting a losing battle after their arrivals. “It’s about four years ago since I played in a European Cup final and, if I’m honest, I don’t recognise anything from what we did back then, which was probably the best Fulham team of all time,” Brede Hangeland said this week. A lot of soul-searching is required at Cardiff and Fulham this summer. JS

5) Can QPR handle the pressure?

It has been another awkward season for Queens Park Rangers, who find themselves in the lottery of the play-offs despite the backing given to Harry Redknapp. Eighteen players have arrived at Loftus Road since last summer, some of them with big reputations, but it has not been enough for QPR to win automatic promotion; now those reputations, and Redknapp’s, are on the line. Instead QPR, whose misfiring strikers have frustrated Redknapp all season, face a play-off semi-final against Uwe Rösler’s Wigan Athletic, who tend to thrive in showpiece occasions. They have the potential to make life extremely uncomfortable for QPR. JS

• Rösler rejects Redknapp's 'pressure bingo'
  
• Brighton 1-2 Derby County
  
• Leeds used CCTV to find Class A drug-users

6) Manchester United v Southampton could be a feast for the eyes

Manchester United’s visit to St Mary’s looks likely to be the most entertaining game of the weekend – a notable oddity in their oddity of a season. Though the ropey trudging did not vanish along with David Moyes, occasional interchanges, enterprise and fast running have since restored some of the conviction the team largely withheld. Against Hull in midweek, Adnan Januzaj – used bafflingly sparingly by Moyes – was superb, while James Wilson – stylistically at least, Van Persie with pace – showed why he is so highly rated. Southampton, meanwhile, are already a proper team, and we should enjoy them solely in that context; the voyeuristic panting that positions their players as pretty-girl plunder for artless plutocrats demeans the extent of their achievements. DH

• Ferdinand concerned by loss of Vidic
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7) Dismissing the FA Cup nearly cost Sunderland dear

Gus Poyet has performed superbly in recent weeks, revitalising his team to avoid the relegation that he very nearly inspired. His arrival at Sunderland prompted immediate improvement; Fabio Borini’s brilliant late decider against Newcastle remains one of the moments of the season, and there followed league victories over Southampton, Manchester City and Everton, along with League Cup dismissals of Chelsea and Manchester United. But, after a creditable defeat at Wembley, Poyet picked a weakened team for the FA Cup quarter-final at Hull, and Sunderland were thrashed 3-0. This triggered a miserable run of seven winless games – including defeats away to Norwich and at home to West Ham – that seemed certain to cause their relegation. But, at the last, Sunderland were saved by a combination of fortune and form: the lack of any suitable January bids for Lee Cattermole, allied to injuries sustained by Ki Sung-yueng and Liam Bridcutt, allowed the formation of a functioning midfield, while Connor Wickham remembered that he is footballer as well as ftbllr. But, though they could now finish as high as 11th, the lesson remains: momentum and confidence are more important than freshness in determining success. Disregard the Cup at your peril. DH

8) Away fans will not miss the trudge to Norwich

It’d be a hard person who wished ill on Norwich simply by virtue of the geography and infrastructure that makes visiting Carrow Road an aggravation. But more gentle types will celebrate their relegation nonetheless, because £50 is not an acceptable sum to charge away supporters, forced to help pay for the summer transfer splurge that was such an rampant success. They’ll not be filling that section at that price in the Championship. DH

• James Riach: Norwich face a summer of regret

9) All still to play for in Spain …

After all the usual gabbling, gibbering, dribbling hyperbole, the Premier League phuts to its accustomed climax with nothing of note likely to be decided on the final day. Oh the drama! But in Spain, things are different. Barcelona, despite doing everything within their power to divest themselves of their title, are still in with a chance of retaining it – all they need do is beat Atlético in both teams’ final game. On the other hand, if Atlético can first hang on, and then win the European Cup, they will achieve one of the greatest footballing feats of all-time. Shame about their tax situation, but nonetheless. DH

• Sid Lowe: La Liga poised for delicious finish

10) … and much to play for at the bottom in Scotland too

Though relegation in the English Premier League has been settled without much commotion, there have been spectacular goings on at the bottom of the Scottish version. Though Hearts have been doon since the start of April, just three points separated five teams prior to the penultimate roond of fixtures, during which occupancy of the second bottom slot changed four times. Now, though, the equation is simple: if Hibernian win at home to Kilmarnock, Killie will play in the relegation-promotion play-off; a draw or a Killie win, and it’s Hibs. Or, put another way, Easter Road is the place to be this Saturday lunchtime. DH