Published 5/20/2011 12:43:06 AM by William Montero from soccermogul

The title is decided.  The top of the EPL table is pretty much set.  The only drama at the top is the battle for 5th place between Tottenham and Liverpool.  The real battle lies at the lower end of the table as five teams battle to stay out of two relegation spots.

Blackpool, Wigan, Birmingham City, Wolves and Blackburn are all only a single point apart.  It's the first time that one measly point has separated five teams fighting relegation on the final day of a Premier League season. Do the math: There are 81 different outcome scenarios, and that's before you start factoring in goal differential.  

Blackpool must travel to Old Trafford to take on the champions Manchester United needing a result to survive.  Not a fun task at all, but United might have their foot off the pedal a bit with the title in hand and the looming Champions League Final in their sights.  Blackpool might be able to steal.

Wigan travels to Stoke.  Normally a very difficult trip.  Maybe not so much this time as Stoke are looking gutted after falling in the FA Cup final and then slipping 3-0 midweek.  Wigan is the only team never to have been relegated from English football's top division. Expect Wigan to go get the points at Stoke and survive.

Wolves host Blackburn.  A winner take all match here.  Both teams control their own fate and will survive with a win.  My money is on Wolves to get it done through read-hot scorer Steven Fletcher.

Birmingham travel to Tottenham.  Probably the most difficult draw of the relegation teams.  Tottenham still have an importance on this match as they'll finish ahead of Liverpool with a win.  Birmingham are struggling with too many injuries and this is just too tall a task.  Birmingham are going down.

So our money is on Wolves and Wigan to survive the day.  That would leave Blackpool needing a win at Old Trafford as a draw would show them losing out to Blackburn on goal differential.  West Ham, Birmingham and Blackpool to be relegated is our best guess.

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