Manchester United will look to wrap up a record 19th English title today and give their key players a vital breather ahead of the team’s defining game of the season - the Champions League final against Barcelona.

United need just one point from their final two matches, starting with Blackburn at Ewood Park, to win the championship and overtake fierce rivals Liverpool as England’s most successful league club.

However, manager Alex Ferguson has already turned his attention to the Champions League final on 28 May and will be hoping a 12th Premier League title under his stewardship can be secured as quickly as possible.

“We will give every respect to Blackburn ... we will make sure we don’t underestimate them,” Ferguson said. “But the next few weeks, we will be doing some work on Barcelona. All the tactical things in particular will be about that.”

Defending champions Chelsea, six points back in second and the only team capable mathematically of stopping United landing the title, host Newcastle at Stamford Bridge tomorrow.

Third-place Arsenal are a further three points adrift and are now nervously looking over their shoulder at Manchester City, who are two points behind but don’t play in the league this weekend. City take on Stoke in the FA Cup final today, a day before Arsenal host Aston Villa.

Liverpool would seal fifth place and a spot in the Europa League with a home win over sixth-place Tottenham at Anfield.

At the other end of the table, bottom side West Ham will go down if they don’t win at fellow relegation rivals Wigan tomorrow.

Depending on other results, fourth-bottom Wolves could secure their Premier League status with a victory at Sunderland.

Ferguson may be tempted to play his strongest possible team against Blackburn in the hope of picking up at least a point, which would allow him to pick his fringe players against Blackpool on 22 May.

“We don’t want to come to the last game and to be nervous,” United defender Nemanja Vidic said. “We have a big advantage and we are nearly there. It’s important first of all to win the title.

“I’m just hoping we’ll play properly next game and we can celebrate at Blackburn.”

With City playing the FA Cup final after the Blackburn-United match, Ferguson’s side has the incentive of stealing their crosstown rival’s thunder on City’s big day at Wembley.

That would revive memories of 1968, when City won the league only to see United become the first English team to win the European Cup two weeks later.

West Ham are bracing themselves for a fire sale of their best players should the club be relegated.

The Hammers are four points adrift of safety with two games left and head to second-bottom Wigan without a victory since 5 March.

“It’s not looking good. It’s out of our hands a bit even if we win both our games,” said West Ham midfielder Scott Parker, who could be one of the team’s big-name players to leave should it not survive the drop.

“I would be lying if I said we had a good opportunity of surviving but there’s still a slight chance we can do something.”

Third-bottom Blackpool, who are one point behind Wolves, are at home to Bolton today.

West Bromwich at home to Everton is today’s other game while fifth-bottom Birmingham, who still need another victory to be sure of their place in the top flight next season, host Fulham.