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Five last-day Premier League title deciders

With the 2013-14 Premier League title race to be decided on Sunday, Sports Mole selects five previous campaigns that have also gone down to the wire.

This weekend sees another Premier League campaign come to a conclusion, with Manchester City in pole position to secure their second domestic crown in three years.

Unless there is a 13-goal swing, Manuel Pellegrini's team need just a point against West Ham United to win the title, but Liverpool could replace them at the top if they beat Newcastle United and the Hammers cause a shock at the Etihad Stadium.

Below, Sports Mole takes a look back at five previous Premier League campaigns that have been decided on the final day of the season.

1. 1994-95 - Blackburn Rovers vs. Liverpool

Blackburn Rovers, guided by boss Kenny Dalglish, had headed the Premier League standings for the majority of the 1994-95 season and a win over Liverpool at Ewood Park on the final weekend would see them win the league title for the first time since 1914.

However, defeat to the Reds would see Manchester United snatch the trophy from their grasp if they could beat West Ham, and after Liverpool scored a late free kick through Jamie Redknapp, the door was open for the Old Trafford outfit.

After Brian McClair had cancelled out a Michael Hughes effort, United peppered the West Ham goal, but a fine individual performance from Ludek Miklosko kept United at bay to hand Blackburn the title.

2. 1995-96 - Middlesbrough vs. Manchester United

The concluding weekend of the 1995-96 season saw Manchester United lead Newcastle United by two points after the Magpies had previously held a 12-point lead over Alex Ferguson's side.

For United to miss out, they were required to lose to Middlesbrough with Newcastle beating Tottenham Hotspur, but after David May had netted an early opener, the Red Devils never looked like seeing their advantage over the North-East outfit overturned.

Andy Cole and Ryan Giggs struck in the second half at the Riverside Stadium to confirm their title success, and they finished the year four points clear of the Magpies, who could only draw at St James' Park.

3. 1998-99 - Manchester United vs. Tottenham Hotspur

Manchester United required a win over Tottenham Hotspur to win the title in 1999 after edging ahead of Arsenal in the standings earlier that week.

Les Ferdinand had given Spurs a shock lead after 24 minutes only for David Beckham to level the fixture before the end of the first half.

Andy Cole gave United the lead soon after the restart, and although Arsenal were victorious in their match against Aston Villa, it couldn't prevent the Red Devils from reclaiming the Premier League trophy from the Gunners.

4. 2009-10 - Chelsea vs. Wigan Athletic

Chelsea players celebrate with the Barclays Premier League trophy after they win the title with a 8-0 victory over Wigan Athletic in the English Premier League football match on May 9, 2010© Getty Images

Chelsea went into the final day of the 2009-10 season with a one-point advantage over Manchester United and a victory over Wigan Athletic would see the Blues lift their third Premier League trophy.

The afternoon started perfectly for Carlo Ancelotti's men when Nicolas Anelka gave them the lead and after Gary Caldwell was dismissed for the Latics, it was one-way traffic for the remainder of the game.

Frank Lampard netted a second before Chelsea ran riot, with Anelka, Salomon Kalou and Ashley Cole all getting on the scoresheet after the break, while Didier Drogba ensured that he won the Golden Boot by scoring a second-half treble.

5. 2011-12 - Manchester City vs. Queens Park Rangers

On a day that will live long in the memory, Manchester City required a win against Queens Park Rangers at the Etihad to win their first top-flight championship in 44 years.

City rivals Manchester United could overtake them at the Premier League summit if they won and City didn't, and Sir Alex Ferguson's team drew first blood when they went into an early lead at Sunderland.

However, Pablo Zabaleta put City ahead after 39 minutes before QPR duo Djibril Cisse and Jamie Mackie scored twice in 18 second-half minutes to leave the Citizens on the verge on a monumental slip-up under Roberto Mancini.

Their dream appeared over as the match entered added-on time but after Edin Dzeko had headed home with little over a minute left, Sergio Aguero kept his composure from inside the penalty area to send the blue half of Manchester into delirium, leaving a bewildered United to contemplate the turn of events on the pitch at the Stadium of Light.

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Chelsea players celebrate with the Barclays Premier League trophy after they win the title with a 8-0 victory over Wigan Athletic in the English Premier League football match on May 9, 2010
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014


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