All the twists and turns of the Premier League title race have come down to a simple scenario- Chelsea need two wins to secure the prize and this Sunday’s match at Liverpool is the main obstacle.
No one seriously expects a Wigan side who have secured their Premiership spot to stand in Chelsea’s way on the final weekend, so this game is basically the last chance for supporters of Manchester United.
Conspiracy theories are already circulating to the effect that the Anfield side aren’t going to gift their Manchester rivals the title- one which would draw them level with Liverpool for most title wins.
For those with a less cynical view, the fact that Liverpool had to play a Europa League semi-final on Thursday evening might be a more significant factor; Chelsea have enjoyed a week’s rest since their demolition job on Stoke City.
The crushing disappointment of losing to Athletico Madrid won’t have helped the morale of Rafa Benitez’s squad and Chelsea’s players will have been only too glad to see their opponents taken to extra time.
There is no sense of nerves coming out of Stamford Bridge. Recent wobbles appear to have been put aside and Chelsea’s best attacking players are in good form- and the squad are hungry to finish on a high because there is likely to be a lot reconstruction at the club over the summer.
Liverpool will still have something to play for because whatever the results achieved by Spurs and Manchester City on Saturday, the Reds will still retain a mathematical chance of slipping into fourth place.
However, it’s difficult to see Benitez’s squad being able to hold a fit, rested and confident Chelsea. Without Fernando Torres Liverpool don’t carry the same threat and the Blues defence has looked sound in the past few games.
Manchester United will be expected to take three points from their own trip to Sunderland but that may be in vain. The steam went out of United’s season when Wayne Rooney picked up an injury and though they have ground out some good results since their Champions League exit, Chelsea have just a bit more quality in their ranks.
Rooney’s form kept the teams in parity but Chelsea have always seemed the more likely winners since August and now they have the chance to prove it, by setting up a glorious final day on their own turf.
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Like Liverpool, their semi-final opponents in the Europa League, Athlético Madrid, have also been having a disappointing domestic season.
Liverpool may have lost Fernando Torres for the remainder of the season, but the biggest talking point ahead of Thursday night’s Madrid showdown is volcanic ash.