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Topic: Premier League prepares for D-Day

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AJ
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Premier League prepares for D-Day

The Premier League is preparing for one of the most dramatic days in the history of the competition.

The league title, Uefa Cup placings and the relegation issues will all be decided on the closing weekend of the 2007-08 season.

All 10 games will kick off simultaneously on Sunday at 1500 BST.

Manchester United need a victory at Wigan to clinch the championship, but if they fail to win Chelsea could pip them to the Premier League crown.

It is only the fourth time in the Premier League's history that the title has gone down to the last game of the season.

If Chelsea, who are at home to Bolton, match United's result then it will be the first time since 1989 that the English champions will be decided on goal difference.

Back then Arsenal beat Liverpool 2-0 at Anfield, coming from behind to clinch the league in the most dramatic finish in the 120-year history of the English top flight.

Up to 20,000 United fans are expected to make the short journey to the JJB Stadium, hoping that their side will not suffer the same fate.

An estimated 400m people worldwide will follow the drama at the top and bottom of the table.

We went into the game fully expecting to win because of the type of team we were

Liverpool's John Barnes relives previous final day dramas

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is looking to win his 10th league title and the club's 17th in total, just one behind their rivals Liverpool.

The club lost the title on the final day of the season in 1968 and 1995, but also won it on the last game in 1996 and 1999.

Ferguson said: "I speak to people abroad and they love the Premier League.

"That's why they show it all over the world. When we played Arsenal the match was seen in 200 countries.

"It is the most exciting league in the world. We are all looking forward to a nail-biting Sunday for the fans."

Chelsea manager Avram Grant took over the club in September and overcame a difficult start to take the club to the Champions League final and to within one game of the Premier League crown.

But he added: "Whatever happens on Sunday I will be very proud of what we have done this season.

"Alex said a few months ago it was the best Manchester United side since he's been coaching. We've given them a battle.

"If they take the title, and I'm not sure they will, it will be on goal difference.
"This is the most competitive league all over the world, so to come second here is better than in all the other leagues, with all due respect."

The two sides recently shared a hostile encounter at Stamford Bridge and will meet again in the Champions League final in Moscow on 21 May.

Grant has promised that no matter what happens on Sunday he will remain friends with Ferguson.

"I promised him an Israeli wine and we're going to drink it before the Champions League final," added Grant.

The top four sides all qualify for the Champions League next season and those places have already been sewn up by Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool.

But a place in the Uefa Cup is still to be decided, with Everton needing a point at home to Newcastle to seal fifth place and European football.

Aston Villa go to West Ham waiting to pounce if Everton were to slip up.

Villa or Blackburn are the teams most likely to take the Intertoto Cup place, while Manchester City are in pole position to grab another Uefa Cup through the Fair Play league.

At the bottom things are even tighter with two teams to be relegated on the last day.

Derby are already down with a record low points total for a top flight team, with two from three joining them.

Birmingham and Reading go into the final game occupying the final two slots, on 32 and 33 points respectively.

But Fulham are only above the drop zone on goal difference and face a trip to eighth-placed Portsmouth on Sunday.

Reading look like having the easiest game away to Derby, who have only won once all season.

But the Royals have suffered an almighty slump after looking safe in March and have not even scored a goal in 551 minutes of football.

Reading skipper Graeme Murty summed up what slipping out of the top flight means to the clubs.

"You don't play Manchester United in the Championship. You don't play in front of 78,000 people, you go to Plymouth. Home Park's a lovely stadium, but it ain't Old Trafford," he said.

Birmingham are at home to seventh-placed Blackburn in their final game knowing even a win might not be enough to prevent them slipping back to the Championship after just one season.

There are likely to be ups and downs, winners and losers and you can follow all the action right here.

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