Three things to watch in the Premier League: Boys in Green in action

With a huge game against Sweden next week, Ireland's internationals take to the field hoping to impress Trapattoni, and can Liverpool break into the Champions League spots?

By Adrian Collins

Are Liverpool's Champions League hopes still alive?

It's not impossible for Liverpool fans to start dreaming about the slim possibility of having a sliver of hope of maybe getting into the Champions League spots. Possibly.

Last week they beat the in form team in the league, stopped the unstoppable Gareth Bale and also scored a slick goal in the process, with Philippe Coutinho and Luis Suarez looking like a potent pairing in attack.

With a run in that heavily features teams in the bottom half of the table, they should be able to put a good run of results together for the first time this season and really push up the table in the last few games.

This week's opponents are Southampton, who haven't won since their improbable 3-1 victory over Manchester City at the beginning of last month.

While they're still a few points clear of the relegation zone, any points they can get their hands on will be much appreciated as they look to put a little bit more distance between themselves and the foot of the table, and will certainly be up for pressing Liverpool's space, a trademark of Mauricio Pochettino's reign in charge.

Against teams who have managed to hustle them and afford them little time on the ball, Liverpool have struggled, so while this should seem an easy win on paper, there won't be anything handed to Liverpool on a plate tomorrow.

Champions and the Champions League

After being comprehensively beaten by Wigan in the FA Cup last weekend, a competition which manager David Moyes would most definitely have been looking to win, Everton might be asking a few questions of some of their key players, in particular Marouane Fellaini, who has been angling for a move more than a fisherman in a dance hall.

He was summarily booed off during that loss, and his gesturing to the fans to come on and play in his place will have done him no favours with the Goodison faithful.

Leapfrogged by their Merseyside neighbours, they're also seeing their local bragging rights falling away, and they have a tough task ahead of them in the shape of Manchester City, who can't afford any more slip ups if manager Roberto Mancini wants to hang on to his job come the summer.

Seamus Coleman should feature for the Toffees, but they will be without goalkeeper Tim Howard, so the defensive display may be less organised than before. Darron Gibson is also down to play, but with a thigh injury giving him trouble he's ruled himself out of international duty for the time being.

Man City are still twelve points behind, but they won't have any real hope of gaining ground on their city rivals and champions-elect Manchester United, who face a manager-less Reading this weekend.

City will push to the last, but any real title ambitions are surely gone at this stage, which may well mean that their players are not at 100%, giving Everton a possible psychological edge this weekend as they look to push a few points further up the table.

Boys in Green

With Ireland's game against Sweden next Friday firmly in focus, a decent showing from both teams in this match will sort us out nicely in preparation for the big clash.

With Wes Hoolahan, John O'Shea and James McClean all likely to start if they're fit, and Keiren Westwood on the bench, there are more than a few names that we should be paying attention to from an Irish perspective.

Although pretty much anything Hoolahan does won't push him further up the ranking in Trapattoni's eyes, we'd still be happy with a hat-trick and a few assists anyway. His class and vision on the ball will make him a real handful for John O'Shea, his compatriot who'll line up in defence opposite him this weekend.

One worry hangs over McClean, who's still attempting to recover from an illness, and may in fact not be fit for this game. Were that to be the case, he might also be missing next week, or at the very least have his game time restricted.

Anthony Pilkington, another great hope for the Ireland squad, missed most of last week's 0-0 draw with Southampton after injuring his hamstring, and will thus miss the game against Sweden too, as he's out for another few weeks yet.

Norwich could find themselves flying up the table with a win should other fixtures fall their way, and put some breathing space between them and the drop zone, but given Sunderland's recent very poor form, they may be more desperate for the win which would see them pull level on points with the Canaries, meaning this can safely be called a six pointer.