Had Manchester United beaten, or even drew with Liverpool on Saturday, not only could the engraver have started work on the Premier League trophy two months early, they might as well have presented the league leaders with it after the game. Two down, three to go perhaps. Perhaps not.
Not even the most optimistic of Kopites could have thought of going back home with a 4-1 victory, but it was certainly deserved. Sir Alex Ferguson was kidding himself but nobody else when he had the audacity to claim that his United side were the better team. As embarrassing as United were on Saturday, Liverpool played the big occasion perfectly, as we have come to expect. They will rightly think they still have a chance in the title race. but it is still out of their hands.
Chelsea knew the job they had to do yesterday, and a 1-0 victory over Manchester City was exactly what they needed to continue their revival. Guus Hiddink has given the team a new lease of life; no longer afraid to play both Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba together, and with a fit-again Michael Essien pulling the midfield strings like a new signing. Still unbeaten since the sacking of Luiz Felipe Scolari, the Londoners will still live in hope of spoiling the party. Amid all he talk of the United Quintuple, it is easy to forget that Chelsea could still win probably the most unlikely of Trebles in history.
Although there are now three teams in the hunt, I still have a feeling that the most important team in the league right now is Arsenal, a resurgent side, following not only their Champions League exploits, but their new-found belief domestically. They are on the back of two great results - even Emmanuel Eboue scored two on Saturday - and have been boosted with the return of Theo Walcott and the imminent reintroduction of Cesc Fabregas to the midfield. Not only do I think they are now shoo-ins for 4th place, it is they who could decide the destination of the league title.
They are only team left to play all of the top three; Chelsea at home, United and Liverpool away. Any points they pick up in these games could ultimately win or lose the others the race. While Chelsea and Liverpool probably have to take a perfect 27 points from the last nine games to stand a chance, neither look likely to do it given Arsenal's potential.
Of course that does not necessarily mean it's United's league already, Arsenal's visit to Old Trafford on the penultimate week of the season could be a cracker, and it could be a very nervous afternoon for the home side, especially if they fail to win all of their preceding home games against Manchester City, Aston Villa and Tottenham, all of which are potential slip-ups.
The league table still suggests it will be a record-equalling 18th title for United - the bookmakers still quoting 1-12 - but there may now be some optimistic bets placed elsewhere. There might just be life in the title race yet, and if not, there's always the relegation scrap to excite us right to the final day.
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