Quartet gear up for great escape

By John Atkin

With the UEFA Champions League places settled last weekend, attention on the English Premiership switches to the other end of the table where three of four clubs will be relegated on Sunday.

Close finish
For the first time in Premiership history, no team is yet doomed going into the final round of matches. Just two points separate the bottom four sides as West Bromwich Albion FC, Crystal Palace FC, Southampton FC and Norwich City FC vie to avoid the drop.

Norwich advantage
Norwich hold the aces as they lie 17th, and victory against Fulham FC on their first-ever visit to Craven Cottage will ensure survival. Should they stay up, it will complete a remarkable turnaround by Nigel Worthington's men, who were eight points adrift of safety six weeks ago.

Daunting task
But Norwich have not won away all season and if that run continues, any of the other three teams could clamber above them. Palace and Southampton are a point behind, and although Harry Redknapp's side have a slight advantage on goal difference, they face Manchester United FC at home without suspended striker Peter Crouch, which Redknapp admits is a "big loss".

Local derby
Palace travel to Charlton Athletic FC for what promises to be a frenetic south-east London derby, while at the foot of the table, West Brom must defeat Portsmouth FC at home and hope the trio above them fail to win.

Seventh heaven
There is also a European place at stake, with three clubs bidding to join Bolton Wanderers FC and Liverpool FC in next season's UEFA Cup. Middlesbrough FC need just a point from their trip to in-form Manchester City FC to seal seventh but the home team can leapfrog their rivals with victory.

Chelsea records
Tottenham Hotspur FC have to beat Blackburn Rovers FC by at least three goals to have any chance of playing in Europe. Champions Chelsea FC booked their berth long ago after a record-breaking campaign. More benchmarks could yet be set and if they limit Newcastle United FC to one goal at St James' Park, they will end the season with the English top flight's best-ever defensive record.

Liverpool lift
Second-placed Arsenal FC go to Birmingham City FC, while the side they defeated 7-0 on Wednesday, Everton FC, are away to Bolton. Finally, Liverpool FC will be seeking a lift in their last match before the UEFA Champions League final when they entertain Aston Villa FC.