City, Liverpool and Arsenal in Champs League showdown

WITH THE title and relegation issues decided, three teams will scrap for the two remaining Champions League places on the final day of the Premier League season on Sunday.

Three points separate Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal, with each hoping to join champions Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in next season’s premier European club competition.

City travel to Watford knowing a win would guarantee them third spot and automatic qualification. Should fourth-placed Liverpool beat Middlesbrough, they would at least secure entry into the Champions League qualifying round.

But if either team fail to win, and Arsenal beat Everton, a playoff on a neutral ground could yet decide positions because goal difference and goals scored are very tight.

City (75 points, 36 goal difference, 75 goals scored) have the edge over Liverpool (73, 33, 75) and Arsenal (72, 31, 74). Put simply, Liverpool must equal Arsenal’s result and could even afford to lose to Middlesbrough by a single goal and still finish fourth if the Gunners draw.

Last season Arsenal pipped rivals Spurs to an unlikely second place on the final day. Manager Arsene Wenger will hope Liverpool’s habit of slipping up against the league’s worst teams resurfaces, although relegated Boro have not won away since August.

City have impressed with three successive victories and should see off Watford. Third is a minimum requirement from a campaign when many people’s pre-season favourites have impressed in patches.

The champions sign off their league campaign at home to Sunderland when captain John Terry is expected to make his final appearance for the club.

Old Trafford may also witness a farewell with British media speculating that Wayne Rooney could sign off after 13 years and a record 253 goals for Manchester United, who play Crystal Palace.