Wenger and Grant optimistic before crunch match

By Mike Collett

LONDON COLNEY, England (Reuters) - The Premier League title will be decided by the remaining matches the top teams have to play against each other, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said on Friday.

With 30 matches played and only eight to go, champions Manchester United lead the standings with 70 points followed by Arsenal (67), Chelsea (65) and outsiders Liverpool (59).

On Sunday Manchester United meet Liverpool at Old Trafford while Chelsea face Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.

Wenger said the outcome of Sunday's matches will have a huge bearing on who wins the title.

"I believe we are in a situation where the direct confrontations with the top three teams will have a direct influence on the championship," Wenger told a news conference at Arsenal's training ground.

"It's who can beat the direct opponents that will win it. That's what we want to achieve on Sunday."

After playing Chelsea, Arsenal also have a home match with Liverpool on April 5 and have to play United at Old Trafford eight days later. United have to play at Chelsea on April 26.

Arsenal and Liverpool also face each other over two legs in the Champions League quarter-finals while the winners of that tie could face Chelsea in the semi-finals, with a possible all-English final against Manchester United in Moscow on May 21.