ALEX FERGUSON believes the English FA Premiership title race could go right down to the final day. The Old Trafford manager saw his side miss a chance to put daylight between themselves and the rest of the pack by losing at Sunderland last week. Now he's anxious they put that setback behind them when they entertain Sheffield Wednesday today knowing Liverpool are lurking just one point behind them and that Arsenal are also back in contention.

"I said a couple of weeks ago it was just down to us and Liverpool. But our defeat against Sunderland last week and the way other results have gone have opened it up again," he said. "I still think Liverpool and ourselves are in pole position, but Arsenal are back in with a shout. However, I think they have to beat Liverpool to have any chance of winning it.

"It has been a really strange season. Things have changed from week to week and, who knows, it could go down to the last game of the season or one team opening a lead up. One thing is certain, they are all big games. But the only one I am bothered about is Sheffield Wednesday, because it won't be an easy game.

"They haven't surprised me with how well they have done, because in David Pleat they have an experienced manager, and there is a lot of experience in their team. But we are in top position, one point clear, and that's a situation every other club would want. We are there at the right time of the season and I think the players have got to concentrate and focus on how good they are."

Liverpool manager Roy Evans is well aware that his side will clinch the championship if they pick up maximum points from their remaining games, because they still have to face United at home.

For now, he is just thinking about this afternoon's game against Nottingham Forest. Forest have spent a lot of money and are desperate to stay up. But we are desperate to win the championship and have given ourselves a great chance. There are only nine games left now, and we have to do our best to win every one of them.

"We have spoken of the importance of building on that win over Newcastle (last Monday's last minute, 4-3 drama). We need to get at Forest early and make sure we are controlling the game.

"They have had a lot of upheaval this season at boardroom level, but their side are more than capable of being a match for anyone on their day."

Liverpool's out of favour striker Stan Collymore is likely to stay on the bench for the match against his team mates. However, the club last night threw their full weight behind Collymore and launched a blistering attack on BBC radio presenter Dominik Diamond.

They were reacting to Diamond's controversial remarks on a BBC Radio 5 Live phone in in which he allegedly labelled Collymore a "selfish scumbag".

"Liverpool are concerned at the" unjustified attack on Stan by Dominik Diamond during hid broadcast on Radio 5 Live on Wednesday," they said in a statement. "They regard the language used by the presenter as offensive, vulgar, misleading and grossly unfair."

Former Celtic striker Pierre van Hooydonk is set to make his home debut, for Forest, while £1 million recruit Ian Moore will be on the bench.

Wimbledon visit Blackburn, knowing one route into Europe has been blocked, after their defeat by Leicester in the League Cup semi finals. "We must make sure we get that setback out of our system as quickly as possible,", said manager Joe Kinnear yesterday.