Chelsea close in on title as Manchester United keep up pressure
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson must have known in his heart of hearts that Liverpool were never likely to do his side a favour against rampant Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.
A lacklustre, almost embarrassing performance from Rafael Benitez’s men against the title favourites means that Chelsea are now just two points away from the Premier League title.
If United do manage to snatch the title from the grasp of Carlo Ancelotti’s side on the final day of the season this Sunday, they will, of course, leapfrog Liverpool’s championship tally with their 19th title.
Because of this, conspiracy theorists were braced for a field day at Anfield yesterday afternoon.
Liverpool, clearly despondent following Thursday’s Europa League semi-final exit against Atlético Madrid, were shirking challenges, misplacing passes and generally appeared totally bereft of any energy or drive. It was a performance which summed up their dire campaign.
Yesterday, it was the 33rd minute which will leave conspiracy theorists and many Manchester United supporters left pondering one or two questions this morning, though. You couldn’t have made it up: Liverpool’s captain marvel, Steven Gerrard, blindly and needlessly passes back to his goalkeeper, Pepe Reina; the lurking Didier Drogba intercepts, rounds the Spaniard and slots the ball into an empty net.
It was arguably the best pass Gerrard had played all season – a replica of the backpass for England which inadvertently set up France’s Thierry Henry at Euro 2004 - and Drogba and his Chelsea teammates celebrated as if they knew this was a decisive moment in the title race. As the wild celebrations commenced, the Liverpool players looked on with their heads in an all-too-familiar dropped position.
Speculation that Benitez had left the club last night began to surface late yesterday evening, but as yet these rumours remain unfounded. However, after refusing to commit his future to the club again at the weekend, the former Valencia manager’s days at Anfield appear numbered.
He looked on during yesterday’s second half from the comfort of his seat, decisively unanimated – like a man that knows his future lies elsewhere. Quite possibly in a county shaped like a boot with Il Canto degli Italiani as its national anthem.
As Benitez watched on, Chelsea made sure that they head into Sunday’s fixture with the advantage over the Red Devils on the 54th minute when Frank Lampard stole in ahead of the napping Liverpool defence – including Mr. Liverpool himself, Jamie Carragher – to slide in Nicolas Anelka’s cross.
The Chelsea players, along with their supporters, celebrated as if they’d wrapped up the Premier League trophy. With only Wigan left to beat next weekend, there’s every chance they may well have done just that.
Lampard’s goal killed the match off as a contest – if it could ever have been called that - and left United with the task of needing to beat Sunderland to take the title race to the final day of the season.
Had Chelsea slipped up at Anfield, Sir Alex Ferguson’s men would have produced a far more spirited display at the Stadium of Light. However, even after United had secured a 1-0 victory over Steve Bruce’s side, the players trudged off the pitch looking suitably unsatisfied with their own victory.
United’s in-form Portuguese winger, Nani, provided the moment of inspiration to break the deadlock on the 28th minute with a well-struck shot which arrowed into the bottom corner of Craig Gordon’s net.
On top throughout, the visitors continued to press for a second goal, with Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick both coming agonisingly close. However, it was Dimitar Berbatov who once again received the lion’s share of the chances.
The Bulgarian continues to frustrate despite his best efforts, reduced to laughter every time he spurned an opportunity yesterday. Let’s face it, if he doesn’t laugh, he would burst into tears right now. A succession of missed opportunities will have left Ferguson wondering whether he should cut his losses with the enigmatic Bulgaria international this summer.
Before the Liverpool – Chelsea match, the United boss would have gladly settled for a narrow 1-0 victory in the north-east. But even he was despondent after the final whistle, admitting that the Red Devils are now “clutching at straws” with their bid to win an historic fourth consecutive Premier League title.
Of course, it’s not over until Sunday afternoon; and Ferguson acknowledged that football is too much of a “crazy game” to rule out the possibility of Chelsea slipping up against Wigan.
However, the ball is firmly in Chelsea’s court still. It remains their title to lose. And just 90 minutes now stands in their way between them and a fourth championship title.
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