Final curtain call for the Premiership

Birmingham City v West Ham Utd

Will Paolo keep his shirt on? Will Trevor perform a David Pleat jig across the turf at St Andrew's? The Hammers travel to Birmingham with their pretty bubbles inflated with hope and with the momentum of three wins. They need another vibrant attacking display today – and a little bit more. They need Bolton to drop at least a point at the Reebok and they could do with the Blues being a little off colour too. But Birmingham still have much to play for: their highest top-flight placing since 1978 and, more importantly, their first finish ahead of Aston Villa since 1975.

Key player: Christophe Dugarry. Another vintage display by the Bordeaux man could leave West Ham drowning their sorrows.

Bolton Wanderers v Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough have long been the agoraphobics of the Premiership. It is six years now since they famously failed to turn up at Blackburn. This season they have been near-invincible at home (only Arsenal and Aston Villa have won at the Riverside) but near-invisible on the road (only Sunderland and West Brom have suffered more than their 12 defeats). The worry for Bolton is that Boro will turn up at the Reebok in the goalscoring groove, having put five past Spurs last week. Big Sam's boys will need to keep their nerve if they are to hold on to their Premiership place.

Key player: Jay-Jay Okocha. Now needs another hammer blow to bury West Ham.

Charlton Athletic v Fulham

Memo to Mohamed: look, listen and learn. Charlton have everything Fulham's millions have failed to buy: a shrewd manager, a team secure in the Premiership and a place to call home. Their European dream might have disappeared in an end-of-season fog, but the Addicks remain a shining beacon for the supposed lesser lights of the Premiership. With just the one victory in nine matches, Alan Curbishley will be anxious to finish the season on a winning note at the Valley. Fulham, though, have the better form, Chris Coleman having presided over wins against Newcastle and Everton and a draw at Chelsea since taking charge of the team.

Key player: Scott Parker. Might need a wheelbarrow to take home his haul of player-of-the-season awards.

Chelsea v Liverpool

It has been billed as the £15m match, but you wouldn't bank on Chelsea or Liverpool surviving a Champions' League qualifier against the cream of Andorra. The only consistency both clubs have found in recent years is in the frustrating art of deceptive flattering. Still, Liverpool do have the Worthington Cup on display in the Anfield trophy cabinet (and nobody would dismiss that as a second-class exhibit in Newcastle, where they haven't seen a major prize since 1969). It's Chelsea, though, who start in pole position for the final Champions' League berth – with home advantage and with a goal difference that means they only need a draw.

Key player: Carlo Cudicini. Liverpool need to beat the gymnastic Italian to have hope.

Everton v Manchester United

Having made such a fuss about not wanting the champions to poop their end-of-season party, Everton now have to make sure they actually have something to celebrate. Nine months of impressive toil by their manager, David Moyes, and his boys will count for nought should they fall at the final hurdle on the European trail. Thanks to their faltering against Fulham last weekend, they have no margin for error against Sir Alex Ferguson's rampant side. With Blackburn Rovers two points behind but boasting a better goal difference, Everton need to win to be sure of securing sixth place and Uefa Cup qualification.

Key player: Ruud van Nistelrooy. Everton will have to put a spanner in the works of the goalscoring machine.

Leeds United v Aston Villa

Peter Reid has been this way before. Last season his downwardly-mobile Sunderland side were taken right to the wire in the scramble to avoid finishing in the Premiership mire. Twelve months on, his £500,000 survival bonus at Elland Road is not absolutely secure. For all the celebrating at Highbury a week ago, it is still possible for Leeds to make the drop into the First Division. They would have to lose and West Ham and Bolton would not only have to win but also overturn goal differences inferior by 16 and 10 in the process. The prospect is too scary to contemplate, much like Leeds' future fate.

Key player: Harry Kewell. One last piece of sparkle from the next jewel in line for removal from the Elland Road crown.

Manchester City v Southampton

It is sure to be an emotional day as Manchester bids farewell to what has become an institution, a much-loved local landmark. But so much for Peter Schmeichel. It's the end of the road for the Maine Road stadium too. It was built in 1923 and was supposed to become "the Wembley of the North." It never quite happened, which, come to think of it, would make a rather apposite club motto for Manchester City. Legend has it that the ground was built on a gypsy settlement and that the evicted travellers put a curse on the place and its future occupants. It would explain the form of Steve Daley, if nothing else.

Key player: Peter Schmeichel. A final fling for the great goalkeeping Dane.

Sunderland v Arsenal

It could be a day of celebration after all at the Stadium of Light. There will be no championship party for the visitors, of course, but a draw or a win for Sunderland would give the hosts good reason to crack open a bottle of the sweet stuff as a send-off to the nether regions of the Nationwide. It was on 11 January, 17 weeks ago, that Sunderland last secured a point – from a goalless draw at home to Blackburn Rovers. After 14 defeats, a point against even a half-strength Arsenal team would give the Black Cats a little pride to cling to.

Key player: Kevin Phillips. Goodbye to an all-time Sunderland great.

Tottenham Hotspur v Blackburn

It was always going to be a big week for Graeme Souness. On Tuesday he reached the big "Five-O." Today he could reach Europe with the Blackburn team he took back into the Premiership just two years ago. He will need a little help from Manchester United, with Everton starting the final day two points better off, but Rovers must win at White Hart Lane, where Souness started his playing career before being offloaded to Middlesbrough as a teenager. It would help if Spurs are as bad as they were last weekend at Middlesbrough, where they lost by a big 5-1.

Key player: Damien Duff. Rover and out for the departing Irishman.

West Bromwich v Newcastle Utd

While the Baggies are wondering whether they can boing, boing back into the Premiership, the Magpies are getting ready to spread their wings in the European big league once again. Newcastle do have to win their two-legged qualifier in August before making it into the Champions' League proper, but Sir Bobby Robson is already looking ahead to the challenge. This afternoon the septuagenarian may well introduce another likely lad to his youthful team. The 19-year-old Darren Ambrose could either start or finish the day as a debutant right-winger.

Key player: Darren Ambrose. A last day baptism for another of Sir Bobby's bairns.

TV: Birmingham v West Ham (live Sky Sports 1); Chelsea v Liverpool (live Sky Sports 2); Bolton v Middlesbrough (live Sky Sports 3). All matches kick off at 3pm.

Stats and facts

Champions: Manchester United. Champions' League: Manchester United, Arsenal, Newcastle United and either Liverpool or Chelsea. Uefa Cup: Liverpool (if not Champions' League) and Everton or Blackburn Rovers.

Relegated: West Bromwich Albion, Sunderland and either West Ham United or Bolton Wanderers.

Today: Bolton Wanderers will stay up if they match or better West Ham's result. However, if both win Bolton could still be relegated if West Ham win by a margin of six more goals. West Ham will be relegated if they don't better Bolton's result. If they lose they go down, providing Bolton aren't beaten by more than six goals. Fancy that: Leeds United will be relegated if they lose, Bolton win by 10 clear goals AND West Ham win by 16 clear goals.

Leading scorers (League goals in brackets): 43 (24) Ruud van Nistelrooy (Man Utd). 31 (23) Thierry Henry (Arsenal). 28 (19) Michael Owen (Liverpool). 25 (17) Alan Shearer (Newcastle Utd). 24 (23) James Beattie (Southampton). 21 (19) Mark Viduka (Leeds Utd). 20 (14) Paul Scholes (Man Utd).