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Weekend permutations: Sunderland relegated? Bolton promoted?

Victor Anichebe appears dejected after the Premier League match between Sunderland and West Ham United
Image: Victor Anichebe and Sunderland could be relegated this weekend

It's the final day of the 2016/17 season in Sky Bet League One while there could be promotion and relegation issues decided elsewhere this weekend.

Brighton and Newcastle have already secured promotion from the Championship, but who will be competing in the play-offs? And who will go up from League One along with Sheffield United?

Here's a look at what's at stake this weekend...

Premier League

Sunderland will be relegated to the Sky Bet Championship if they lose to Bournemouth on Saturday, and Hull get at least a point against Southampton. If the Black Cats and Hull both lose, a Swansea win at Manchester United on Sunday would seal the fate of David Moyes' team.

Middlesbrough's 1-0 win over Sunderland in midweek has slightly boosted their survival hopes but they remain six points adrift of safety and they host top-four chasing Manchester City on Sunday.

In the battle for those Champions League spots, third-place Liverpool host Southampton on Sunday while Manchester United host Swansea.

Arsenal head to White Hart Lane on Super Sunday to take on title-chasing Tottenham, who could move to within one point of Chelsea if they lose at Everton in the early live game on Super Sunday.

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Championship

Brighton and Newcastle are already promoted but Brighton will clinch the title against Bristol City on Saturday evening if they win, after Newcastle beat Cardiff 2-0 on Friday night.

With two games left to play, all eyes will be on Leeds' game against Norwich as they need to win or hope Fulham lose to keep hopes alive of making the play-offs.

Fulham are three points above Leeds and can all-but guarantee their play-off place with victory over Brentford at Craven Cottage. Sheffield Wednesday will seal their spot with a win over Ipswich, while Reading need a point to seal their play-off place.

Things are arguably more interesting down at the bottom where Blackburn, Birmingham, Nottingham Forest and QPR all need points or results to go their way to avoid falling through the trap door.

Blackburn, currently in the drop zone with 45 points, host Aston Villa and will be relegated if they lose and Birmingham (47 points) win at home to Huddersfield and Nottingham Forest avoid defeat at QPR. Ian Holloway's men need just one point to be safe if Rovers fail to win.

Harry Redknapp's first games as Blues manager ended in defeat at city rivals Aston Villa
Image: Harry Redknapp's first game as Birmingham manager ended in defeat at city rivals Aston Villa

However, a Blackburn victory would take the relegation battle into the final day of the season.

Wigan will be relegated unless they beat Readng, Birmingham lose to Huddersfield and Blackburn drop points against Aston Villa.

League One

All eyes will be on Sky Bet League One from 12pm for the final day of the season as the battle for promotion and to avoid relegation comes to a dramatic conclusion.

Bolton will join already-champions Sheffield United in the Championship if they beat Peterborough, live on Sky Sports, although a draw is also likely to be enough to confirm promotion, as third-placed Fleetwood Town would need to win against Port Vale by an eight-goal margin.

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Highlights of Bolton's 2-0 win over Port Vale in Sky Bet League One

There is also a chase on for the final play-off place in League One, involving Millwall (70 points), Southend (69) and Rochdale (68).

The Lions have their destiny in their own hands knowing a victory at Bristol Rovers would guarantee them a place in the end of season shootout but any slip-ups could be jumped upon by Southend, who are at home to relegation-threatened Bury, or Rochdale, who play Bradford. The sixth-placed team will join one of Fleetwood and Bolton, Bradford and Scunthorpe in the play-offs.

Meanwhile, in the fight for survival, Port Vale need a win at promotion-chasing Fleetwood to have any chance of avoiding the drop. An unlikely victory would then see Gillingham and Bury dragged into the relegation shake-up, who have away games to Northampton and Southend respectively.

You can follow all the goals as they go in from around the country on our dedicated final day League One live blog.

League Two

The top three places are already decided, with Doncaster, Plymouth and Portsmouth promoted, and Doncaster can secure the title if they beat Exeter and Plymouth drop points against Crewe.

The race for the play-off places looks set to go down to the wire with five points separating fifth from 12th, and six points still to play for.

Luton can clinch their play-off spot with a point against Accrington. Exeter could secure play-off football if they better the results of all three of Mansfield (against Portsmouth), Wycombe (at Morecambe) and Carlisle (against Newport), as could Blackpool as long as they beat Notts County.

Hartlepool will be relegated this weekend if they lose at Cheltenham and Newport County win at Carlisle.

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Jeff Stelling calls on Hartlepool boss Dave Jones to go after they slipped closer to relegation, losing 2-0 at home to Barnet on Saturday

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