How Do The Season's Run-In's Look Now For United and Chelsea ?

Seems to be the case of the "Groin', groin', gone !!!" for a few influential players in the League this season. After the Drogba disaster of the Tottenham-Chelsea second half and Torres' one-game-in-two-games-out appearance record this season with groin troubles (and what not ?), Rooney joins the crocked-top-strikers'-party with not one but two injury concerns, the major being the groin, of course.

United's toughest game (theoretically) of the season run-in was done and dusted against Spurs yesterday with a convincing victory without Rooney (perhaps for the first time this season), while Chelsea still have to face Liverpool, at Anfield, no less. But do United's title hopes glimmer brighter knowing Chelsea have a tough game ahead, or do they grow dim knowing their brightest spark has been snuffed out for the last two games ?

Chelsea have just run rampant over Stoke at Stamford Bridge, in the process providing a massive boost to their goal-difference. What is amazing is that Drogba and Anelka were playing well, and yet, in a seven goal rout, did not put in a single goal. But given the unpredictability this season, I doubt if any Chelsea fan would look at this result as nothing more than another step towards the title.

Thank God United play that set of bulldozers on the last day, but if the title is still undecided by then, the pressure can tell on United. Without Rooney, United lack a physical cutting-edge upfront. Berbatov is more silk, less steel, and he will get pushed around. However, what is important for United is that Fletcher's energy, Valencia's strength and speed, and Nani's skills can nullify most Stoke threats in midfield. But the trump card sits further back.

One article ago, I had commended Scholes for retirement, because I felt he might deteriorate into a level of mediocrity he is undeserving of. I'm happy to say that in the last two games, he has proven me spectacularly wrong, and if anything, he is the ace in the hole for United. If he dictates play and possession, Stoke will only chase thin air at Old Trafford, and I am confident he will. In the run-in, Scholes will win United the league on the last day, maybe through a long-range screamer of his own as the deciding strike.

United deal with Sunderland away next week. With an in-form strike force, Sunderland will be no push-overs. However, United's defense has a settled look about it right now, and it certainly seems like Evans' confidence is back, and for all that people might say about Vidic leaving, he is playing like a man possessed. I doubt if he will leave, and I'm pretty sure a new deal for him is on the way.

Sunderland's defense is gaffe-prone (error is a weak word for the howlers they commit at times), and Berbatov, Nani, and Macheda will enjoy giving them their attentions. United should win at the Stadium of Light, which means United will have secured 85 points at the end of the season.

If Chelsea draw either of their games now and win the other, they can still lose the title, goal-difference be damned, since they will have secured 84 points. So they need to win both too. However, if both teams suffer a draw or a defeat in either of their matches and win the other, the title will be decided on the last day on goal-difference. Looking at league table right now, its fair to say that United won't overcome Chelsea's goal-difference, which means Chelsea will win the title, on goal-difference, no less.

On today's evidence, Wigan will be blown away at Fortress Bridge in the last game of the season, given that they are poor travellers. But Liverpool at Anfield ?

Liverpool may well be out of the running for the fourth spot, but they still have the fifth spot to look upto. Of course, if they win the Europa League, UEFA should grant them automatic entry, but that final is still to be reached, and they won't be taking that chance.

Liverpool stand at a point where history is cruelty personified for them. On the one hand, they must win this game to ensure the run for the fifth spot continues, but, on the other hand, their victory over Chelsea will effectively hand United the 19th English league title, and make them the most successful English team, ahead of, ahem, Liverpool, along with making them the only team to have won four English titles on the trot.

Talk about getting caught between the Devil and the Deep Sea, never mind a rock and a hard place.

Despite that bitter pill, Liverpool will still play for themselves, and they are slowly coming back into form. They are now sure Torres won't play this season, and so are playing with a sense of freedom which perhaps his presence on the pitch did not allow, since he and Gerrard were supposed to do everything creative.

With a top stopper in Reina and a settled back four, if Benitez puts out an attacking line-up such as the one today, it will certainly trouble Chelsea no end, what with Gerrard's drive and Aquilani's passing skills, along with Mascherano's defensive steel.

Thus, they will cause problems for Chelsea, who, despite this thumping victory over Stoke, still have away game problems (which team does not this season ?), and Liverpool are one of the toughest at this time of the year. Chelsea, for everything that they do, will at best gain a draw, and at worst, lose a couple of goals and thus come away with a defeat at Anfield, and perhaps, a growing sense of realization that, despite being infuriatingly mediocre at times, United had done enough over the season to secure perhaps the most historic and trying of their Premier League title triumphs.

The title remains Chelsea's to lose after today's result, but it is ironic that the title would be decided by the most successful English club till date, Liverpool. Delicious irony, whichever way you put it. As a United fan posted on BBC : "Next week, United fans will be supporting Liverpool against Chelsea. Oh, the Shame".