Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

speakup

For the first time in nine years, the English Premier League title will be decided in the final 90 minutes of the season.

Manchester United and Chelsea both won their games last weekend, which means they go into the last game of the 2007-2008 soccer season level on points.

The only thing that separates them is Manchester United's superior goal difference.

Despite having a man sent off, Manchester United easily overcame West Ham United 4-1, leaving Chelsea needing to win at Newcastle United. Chelsea rose to the challenge, coming away with a 2-0 win and are still in with a chance of claiming the Premiership crown.

This week also saw the top two sides win through to the final of the European Champions' League, with United beating Barcelona, while Chelsea saw off Liverpool. So, the rivalry is set to continue even after next Sunday's showdown.

Arsenal will finish third after their unconvincing 1-0 win over Everton, while the fourth spot - and the final European Champion's League place for next season - will go to Liverpool, after their 1-0 win over Manchester City. It's been a disappointing season for both Arsenal and Liverpool.

Next Sunday will also be a nail-biting time for supporters of the four teams at the other end of the table that are still involved in the fight to avoid relegation to the Championship.

The only side definitely relegated is Derby County; they lost yet again, this time to Blackburn Rovers with a scoreline of 3-1.

The big relegation battle took place at Craven Cottage, where Fulham took on Birmingham City. Fulham's 2-0 win was huge for them, boosting them up two places and out of the relegation zone for the first time since Boxing Day.

The result leaves Birmingham second-from-bottom and staring relegation in the face. Meanwhile, Reading dropped into the bottom three thanks thanks to a 1-0 defeat at home to Tottenham Hotspur.

Fifth-from-bottom Bolton Wanderers won their game against Sunderland 2-0, gaining them valuable points as they seek to stay in the Premiership.

Come Sunday evening, two out of four teams - Birmingham, Reading, Fulham and Bolton - will be relegated to the Championship League, so they have everything to play for.

Wigan Athletic and Middlesborough both guaranteed themselves another season of Premiership soccer by winning their games: Wigan won 2-0 at Aston Villa, while Middlesborough beat Portsmouth by the same score.

The Championship season finished last weekend: League Champions West Bromwich Albion (yay!) will be promoted next season, along with Premiership first-timers Stoke City.

The final promotion spot will go to one of four teams - Hull City, Bristol City, Crystal Palace or Watford - who will battle it out in the playoffs later this month.

Catch all the end of season Premiership action in a live TV special, set for next Sunday from 11 a.m. local time.