Sunderland vs. Manchester United: 6 Key Matchups to Watch on EPL Final Day

This weekend is the stuff that football fans dream about. Everything is on the line in the last chance for both Manchester United and Manchester City to claim the Premier League title.

City probably have a slightly easier matchup against lowly QPR, but they will have their hands full just like their intracity rivals who face Sunderland on Sunday.

Sir Alex Ferguson will nail his colors to the mast with a forward-thinking team selection, knowing that nothing but a victory on the road gives United any realistic chance of walking away with their 20th championship.

The tactical genius will no doubt examine each and every anticipated matchup to determine exactly which players to select. Here are a few that Fergie may give special thought to.

Antonio Valencia vs. John O'Shea

Antonio Valencia has been in superb form since December, with 13 assists to his name in that short period of time and much more miscellaneous havoc caused down whichever wing he is deployed on.

It will be very difficult for former Manchester United utility man John O'Shea, with his general slowness and lack of defending nous, to contain the scintillating Ecuadorian.

If Valencia has his way with O'Shea down the left side, Sunderland's defence will constantly be under siege, and Manchester United's attack will receive a vital spark.

The Red Devils need goals, and they will need them quickly, so getting Valencia to play at his best will be a must.

Ashley Young vs. the Referee

If Sir Alex Ferguson decides to start volatile Ashley Young opposite Antonio Valencia, the match official will have to be on high alert every time the Englishman receives the ball.

Young has been intensely criticized recently for blatantly obvious diving, especially against QPR when he got Shaun Derry sent off for the most minute of shirt touches.

When players develop a reputation for "stimulation," their reputation tends to precede them, even when legitimate fouls are committed, and the player truly has a claim for a free-kick or a penalty.

In a game of this magnitude, you just know that there will be at least penalty controversy, and if Ashley Young is the player who goes down, it will be very difficult for the referee to make a fair decision.

Stephane Sessegnon vs. Rio Ferdinand

During their numerous attacking forays, Manchester United will have to be wary of the threat of Stephane Sessegnon, Sunderland's most in-form player in recent weeks.

Martin O'Neill's side are not one to dominate possession or constantly put pressure on a team of United's caliber. Rather, the Black Cats will pick their spots and attempt to burst forward when the time is right.

Central to that strategy is the beautifully named Sessegnon, who has pace to burn, the power to muscle away defenders if he needs to and the technique necessary to pick a searching pass or a pinpoint finish.

Though Rio Ferdinand has performed better of late than earlier in the season, when he looked way past his prime, he will still have a tough time with an opponent as tricky as Sessegnon.

James McClean vs. Patrice Evra

James McClean, arguably the single most surprising find of the season, has been the main spark behind Sunderland's attack for much of the season since arriving for a whopping £350,000 last summer.

Many a team have failed to contain the precocious Irishman's influence down the flanks, and it will be up to Patrice Evra to contain him one last time this year.

If McClean can work his magic at least once, David de Gea and the rest of the United defence will have to be on guard, because once he gets through, finishing is an easy task.

If, however, Evra can lock down his flank, United will have gone a long way towards securing their defence for many surges forward.

Paul Scholes vs. Lee Cattermole

If Manchester United are to create anything through the middle, they will have to get past a tough, uncompromising Sunderland midfield spearheaded by Lee Cattermole.

37-year-old Paul Scholes, who has been so inspirational for the Red Devils since coming out of retirement in the winter, will be tasked with orchestrating play through the middle and keeping possession, as he always does.

Cattermole, though, is not one to let opponents pass by him easily. When he clogs the midfield and drops back in defence, it is hard for even the best sides to find a way past the brick wall that he creates.

It will be essential for Scholes and his partner Michael Carrick to thread balls around Cattermole and his buddies if they are to create the goals that United needs to secure the win.

Wayne Rooney vs. Everyone

Wayne Rooney is certainly not one to shy away from massive games like these, and he will be instrumental if Manchester United are to win at the Stadium of Light.

He will be everywhere on the pitch for the full 90 minutes, running at defenders, dropping deep into midfield and peppering Simon Mignolet with set-pieces. Sunderland will get no respite from Rooney's threat.

It would only be fitting if the Red Devils secured a famous win and Wazza either got the goals or was instrumental in creating them. There will simply be no containing an in-form Wayne Rooney in what is essentially a cup final for the only remaining trophy United can win this season.

Even with the entire Sunderland defence targeting him, players like Rooney always find a way to come good.

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