The final relegation issue to be resolved now concerns just two clubs - Ipswich and Sunderland.

Even then, the odds are stacked heavily against George Burley's side managing to clamber out of the final relegation place.

They have to beat Liverpool at Anfield and pray that Derby - already relegated to Division One - end their season with a flourish and win at the Stadium of Light.

We look at how the final round of matches might pan out for both teams and which seem set to suffer the dreaded drop into the Nationwide League.

SUNDERLAND

Current position: 17th

Current points: 39

Current goal difference: -22

Game remaining: Derby (h) May 11.

Forty points, so often seen by managers as the benchmark for safety, has worked out to be exactly what Sunderland need to be sure of avoiding the drop.

Peter Reid's side have found themselves in their present predicament because of their inability to score goals - only rock-bottom Leicester have scored as few as them in the Premiership - and if they were to lose and Ipswich were to earn a win at Liverpool their poor goal difference would cost them dearly.

One ray of hope for Wearsiders - Derby have not beaten the Black Cats in the north-east since 1990, and John Gregory's side have nothing but pride to play for.

IPSWICH

Current position: 18th

Current points: 36

Current goal difference: -18

Game remaining: Liverpool (a) May 11.

George Burley's side have been put in an almost impossible situation after yesterday's defeat at home to Manchester United - that the only goal came from a penalty after Ruud van Nistelrooy appeared to trip up over his own feet makes it all the more galling.

The Tractor Boys will hope Liverpool's title chances will have been extinguished by the time they go to Merseyside, and can take heart from the fact that they have won their last two league meetings at Anfield - early last season and in 1995.

VERDICT: Draws at the Stadium of Light and at Anfield will be enough to keep Sunderland in the top flight and condemn Ipswich to the drop.