LONDON (AP) _ The last time Manchester United went more than three seasons without an English championship title, the Premier League hadn't even started.

United manager Alex Ferguson can avoid that happening again on Sunday.

If United beats Manchester City on Saturday (Rogers Sportsnet, 7:30 a.m. ET), and defending champion Chelsea fails to win at Arsenal on Sunday (Fox Sports World Canada, 11 a.m. ET), the title will be on its way back to Old Trafford for the first time since 2003.

Because Ferguson has been at Old Trafford for more than 20 years, he can recall what it was like when the club went season after season without the title up until 1993. After that, it was success after success and a league title triumph on Sunday will make it 20 trophies for Ferguson since 1990.

What will then make it even better for the Red Devils fans is that their team would then go to Chelsea on Wednesday as the champion playing against the former champion.

Chelsea has won the title for the past two seasons with Jose Mourinho in charge and Roman Abramovich as the owner. During that time, United has changed hands with Malcolm Glazer, owner of the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers, now in charge with his sons on the board of directors.

This could be Glazer's first league championship success while the Reds Devils fans will believe that the title is back where it belongs.

After all, United won the title eight times in 11 seasons before the Abramovich era started at Chelsea and the West London team was funded by the Russian businessman's vast wealth.

Although the two powerhouse clubs will also meet in the FA Cup final at Wembley on May 19, the league title is more prestigious and Ferguson has to lift his team from Wednesday's 3-0 Champions League semifinal loss to AC Milan for Saturday's visit to Manchester City.

``It will be difficult to assess how the players are after their European defeat,'' the United manager said Friday. ``But the fact that it's a derby game, the players will all want to play in it.

``Historically, during my time here we've had bad defeats and recovered very well. No one likes to lose, certainly in the semifinal of a European tie. The players know very well that, in a derby game, City will want to get one over us to try and prevent us winning the league. That should also make it a bigger incentive for us.''

Local pride will also be at stake when Chelsea goes to Arsenal.

The Blues beat the Gunners 2-1 in a stormy League Cup final on Feb. 25, when three players were sent off for a brawl near the end and another was suspended for three games for kicking an opponent.

Although Arsenal no longer has a title to play for, it will be out to make up for that loss at the Millennium Stadium and its fans will have the satisfaction of effectively helping to take the league title from the Blues even though it means handing it to another of its big rivals.

Ferguson is not counting on Arsenal doing his side any favours, however.

``The name of the game for us is to win our games, that is the only way we can think,'' Ferguson said.

``We cannot rely on anyone else. That would be the wrong attitude. I don't know what Chelsea are going to do but, if we lose tomorrow and they win their last three games, they will win the league. That is why all we should do is concentrate on beating City.''

Chelsea goes into the game at the Emirates Stadium with injury doubts about defender Ricardo Carvalho, who has a knee injury, and striker Andriy Shevchenko, who is struggling with a groin problem and may need surgery at the end of the season. Michael Ballack is sidelined after surgery to repair ankle ligament damage.

With Thierry Henry ruled out until the end of the season, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said midfielder Tomas Rosicky is 50-50 to play in the game because of hamstring trouble while Fredrik Ljungberg is sidelined with a similar injury.

While the title can be decided, the struggle to avoid relegation continues at the other end.

Watford is already doomed but Charlton and West Ham hope to climb out of the relegation zone with two rounds to go.

Next-to-last Charlton is two points off the safety zone and has to wait until Monday when it hosts Tottenham (Fox Sports World Canada, 3 p.m. ET). West Ham hopes to capture a home victory over Bolton (Rogers Sportsnet, 10 a.m. ET).

Level on points with the Hammers but one place above the relegation trio on goal difference, Wigan hosts Middlesbrough. Fulham has a one-point advantage over both but has a tough game at home against third-place Liverpool.

Sheffield United is the other team in danger but has a three-point advantage over West Ham and hopes to at least maintain that by winning at Aston Villa (Rogers Sportsnet, 12:30 p.m. ET on tape delay).

Also Saturday, it's Everton versus Portmouth (Fox Sports World Canada, 5 p.m. ET on tape delay), Newcastle versus Blackburn, and Reading versus Watford.