Our guide tells you what you need to know as the English Premier League season plays out with American Abroad league status on the line.
A quick explainer: In the English Premier League, the three teams with the worst record are relegated at the end of the regular season. They are replaced by the top two finishers in the Championship (the league below the Premier League) and the winner of a playoff series between the 3rd - 6th place finishers.
On Sunday, Reading and Fulham will be playing for their Premier League status. One of them will not be successful. Here are the games. What do you think will happen? Let us know in the comments section.
Derby County - Reading
4pm, Setanta
Reading is relegated unless they get a win or a draw against already relegated Derby County. Derby will finish the regular season with the worst record since the founding of the Premier League in 1992. Though they haven't won since November, they have shown moments that show them to be better than that record suggests.
Marcus Hahnemann will keep Reading in any game they play, and Derby shouldn't be a substantial threat. Anything less than three points would be a shock, and Reading would still need other results to stay in the Premier League.
American Involvement: Marcus Hahnemann and Bobby Convey play for Reading. Eddie Lewis and Benny Feilhaber play for Derby County.
Portsmouth - Fulham
9:30am, Setanta Xtra
At least the Reading faithful are pulling against Fulham continuing a run that saw them climb out of the relegation zone and into a position where they can win and stay up. It's really as simple as that, with Kasey Keller their first choice keeper and Clint Dempsey and Brian McBride key parts of their offense.
Portsmouth could finish as high as 6th with a win and some help, so they have plenty at stake here. Though not the standard elite all-star squad, they have one of the best keepers in the Premier League. David James, a name familiar to older EPL fans from when he and Brad Friedel were fighting for playing time at Liverpool.
Fulham and Reading are level with 33 points, separated by a goal differential that Reading can't cover. So a draw might keep the table exactly where it is right now. Fulham safe, Reading relegated. Except there's the Birmingham problem.
American Involvement: Kasey Keller, Carlos Bocanegra, Clint Dempsey, Brian McBride, and Eddie Johnson play for Fulham.
Birmingham City - Blackburn Rovers
2:15pm, Setanta
Brad Friedel should have a significant say in the relegation picture, if he finishes his season streak of playing in every Blackburn game. Blackburn are the team in front of Portsmouth, hoping to hold them off and take 6th from Aston Villa. In other words, they also have pride of place at stake.
Birmingham are currently 19th, a point behind Reading and Fulham. With a draw and Reading and Fulham both losing, Birmingham would jump ahead of both of them on goal differential. With Reading and Fulham tying their games, Birmingham would need a win to avoid relegation. Birmingham will be relegated if either Reading or Fulham win.
American Involvement: Brad Friedel plays for Blackburn.
Also of Interest
Everton - Newcastle (Fox Soccer, 2pm) and West Ham - Aston Villa
Tim Howard's club have yet to close out 5th place and a UEFA Cup spot, with Aston Villa chasing them. All Howard's club needs is a draw to take 5th. Aston Villa needs a win over West Ham and an Everton loss to qualify for Europe.
American Involvement: Tim Howard plays for Everton and Jonathan Spector plays for West Ham.
One last thing, on the final day of the season all games kick-off at the same time (10am Eastern). So stay off the internet if you want the live experience later in the day.
