LONDON, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The battle for a place in next season's Champions League is likely to heat up as the Premier League returns to a full round of fixtures this weekend after its staggered winter break.
UEFA's decision to suspend Manchester City for two seasons for breaching financial fair play rules means that the team that finishes fifth in the Premier League will now qualify for the competition next season if City's appeal fails.
That means that teams such as Manchester United, Tottenham, Wolverhampton, Sheffield United, Everton and even Arsenal now have a real chance of a place in next season's Champions League if they can produce a strong finish to the campaign.
Saturday's first game sees Jose Mourinho take Tottenham to face Chelsea with both teams in the doldrums: the Spurs were outplayed by Leipzig in the Champions League in midweek and are without strikers Harry Kane and Son Heung-min until the end of April at least.
Chelsea meanwhile lost at home to Manchester United on Monday and have just one win in their last six games to see the first questions raised against coach Frank Lampard. A Tottenham win at Stamford Bridge would see them leapfrog Chelsea into fourth place and no doubt give Mourinho some satisfaction against one of his former clubs.
Manchester United don't play until Sunday when they host second from bottom Watford, who have failed to win in their last four games as the Nigel Pearson 'bounce' appears to have abandoned them.
Nevertheless Watford are tough to beat and given Manchester United's irregular form this season, so they will travel believing they can take at least a point.
Three wins and two draws in five games have seen Everton climb to within five places of Chelsea as Carlo Ancelotti continues to work his magic. Everton host Arsenal, who sit two points behind them despite managing just one win in their last five league matches.
Mikel Arteta's team won in Greece in the Europa League on Thursday night and needs to win in Goodison Park to keep their top-four hopes alive.
Recently promoted Sheffield United would be perhaps the biggest surprise if they qualified for the Champions League, but after winning their last two games, they will be clear favorites against a Brighton side that has slipped into the relegation dogfight after a run of six games without a win.
Second place Manchester City face third place Leicester in another interesting game, although Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola, who has vowed to stay whatever happens with UEFA, will have one eye on next week's Champions League tie away to Real Madrid.
Expect Guardiola to rest key players as he prepares for what could be City's last shot at European glory for a couple of years.
League leaders Liverpool suffered a slightly surprising defeat to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night, but need just five wins to assure this season's title. Supporters at Anfield will expect one of those to come at home to struggling West Ham on Monday night.
Other games this weekend see an in-form Burnley at home to Bournemouth, who need points to climb away from the danger zone, while Crystal Palace look to end a run without a win that stretches back to Boxing day when they entertain Newcastle United.
Southampton entertain Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon, while Wolves will expect to give their top-four hopes a boost when they entertain bottom of the table Norwich on Sunday afternoon.
