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Nine long months, 740 games, and the story of the 2011-12 English Premier League season comes down to the final day. This Sunday, all twenty teams play their final game. For Manchester United and Manchester City, that game will be the difference between winning a title or handing it to your bitter rivals. For others, like Queens Park Rangers and Bolton, it's the small matter of clinging on to your position in the top flight of English soccer.
Ten games, all kicking off at the same time (10 a.m. EST), five of which will decide the title, Champions League qualification, and the relegation battle. Find out everything you need to know in the English Premier League Final Weekend Preview.
Race To The Title
Matches: Manchester City vs. Queens Park Rangers and Sunderland vs. Manchester United
For only the sixth time in Premier League history, the race to the title has gone to the final day. Both City and United are tied on 86 points, but as it stands, City is in pole position thanks to goal difference alone (for those unfamiliar with the intricacies of the EPL, that's the difference between goals scored and goals conceded).
Roberto Mancini's side welcomes the Queens Park Rangers (currently in 17 place) to the Etihad Stadium, where they are unbeaten all season and have conceded just 10 goals, while United travel to Sunderland (currently in 11th place).
Implications: If City matches or betters United's result, they win the title. If United betters City's result, they will be crowned champions.
Champions League Qualification
Matches: Tottenham vs. Fulham, West Brom vs. Arsenal, and Everton vs. Newcastle
Outside of the top two, another race reaches its climax on Sunday. The prize: a money spinning spot in next season's UEFA Champions League.
In any given season, a maximum of four English teams are awarded a place in the Champions League—which usually means the champions, and the teams in second, third, and fourth place. In the case of this season, as it stands, those teams would be Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, and my beloved Tottenham.
However, if an English team wins the Champions League, that team would automatically qualify for the next year's competition as defending champions, replacing the Premier League's fourth placed team. With Chelsea due to play Bayern Munich in the Champions League final on May 19, finishing fourth in the EPL might not be enough for Arsenal (third place, 67 points), Tottenham (fourth place, 66 points) or Newcastle United (fifth place, 65 points).
All of which leaves us with a tense final day of the season with all three sides giving it everything to reach the security of third place, or face an even more uncomfortable wait to see the result on May 19.
Implications: A win for Arsenal and third place is theirs. Anything else and Tottenham or Newcastle could take their spot.
Battle for Survival
Matches: Stoke City vs. Bolton Wanderers and Manchester City vs. Queens Park Rangers
As if all that weren't enough, at the bottom of the table there are still two teams staring down the barrel of relegation from the EPL.
Queens Park Rangers hold the advantage, sitting one place and two points outside the relegation zone. However, their advantage is sketchy to say the least, as they face the daunting task of beating a Manchester City side that needs a win to secure the title. Bolton's task isn't much easier, as they travel to Stoke, a tough team with a strong home record.
Implications: A win and a QPR loss will save Bolton, who's currently in 18th place. Anything less and they'll join Blackburn Rovers and Wolverhampton Wanderers in the lower leagues. It's all fun and games until your favorite team has a chance of being relegated.
