LONDON - The Premier League title will be decided on the final day after Chelsea won 2-0 at Liverpool and Manchester United defeated Sunderland 1-0 yesterday to keep the gap between the top two at one point.
LONDON - The Premier League title will be decided on the final day after Chelsea won 2-0 at Liverpool and Manchester United defeated Sunderland 1-0 yesterday to keep the gap between the top two at one point.
Chelsea struck first as an awful Steven Gerrard blunder set them on their way to an ultimately comfortable Anfield win that took them to 83 points and ended Liverpool's outside hopes of finishing fourth.
United responded as Nani's first-half goal proved enough to get past Sunderland and take them to 82 points.
In next Sunday's final round of fixtures, Chelsea host Wigan Athletic while United are at home to Stoke City. Chelsea's superior goal difference of nine means that for United to retain their title they must win and hope the Londoners lose or draw.
Liverpool were on top for the first half hour as Alberto Aquilani went close twice. Chelsea were then gifted a goal by Gerrard. The England midfielder delivered a totally unnecessary long back-pass that was easily intercepted by Dider Drogba.
The goal changed the whole atmosphere of the match and within nine minutes of the restart it was 2-0 as Frank Lampard swept in his remarkable 21st league goal of the season.
Chelsea are on course for a league and FA Cup double. They face Portsmouth at Wembley on May 15 in the final.
"We deserved to win. We did a fanastic job because there was a lot of pressure on us in this game," said coach Carlo Ancelotti, who is set to win silverware in his first season in charge.
l Fulham beat West Ham United 3-2 at home. - Reuters
down to the wire
LONDON - The Premier League title will be decided on the final day after Chelsea won 2-0 at Liverpool and Manchester United defeated Sunderland 1-0 yesterday to keep the gap between the top two at one point.
LONDON - The Premier League title will be decided on the final day after Chelsea won 2-0 at Liverpool and Manchester United defeated Sunderland 1-0 yesterday to keep the gap between the top two at one point.
Chelsea struck first as an awful Steven Gerrard blunder set them on their way to an ultimately comfortable Anfield win that took them to 83 points and ended Liverpool's outside hopes of finishing fourth.
United responded as Nani's first-half goal proved enough to get past Sunderland and take them to 82 points.
In next Sunday's final round of fixtures, Chelsea host Wigan Athletic while United are at home to Stoke City. Chelsea's superior goal difference of nine means that for United to retain their title they must win and hope the Londoners lose or draw.
Liverpool were on top for the first half hour as Alberto Aquilani went close twice. Chelsea were then gifted a goal by Gerrard. The England midfielder delivered a totally unnecessary long back-pass that was easily intercepted by Dider Drogba.
The goal changed the whole atmosphere of the match and within nine minutes of the restart it was 2-0 as Frank Lampard swept in his remarkable 21st league goal of the season.
Chelsea are on course for a league and FA Cup double. They face Portsmouth at Wembley on May 15 in the final.
"We deserved to win. We did a fanastic job because there was a lot of pressure on us in this game," said coach Carlo Ancelotti, who is set to win silverware in his first season in charge.
l Fulham beat West Ham United 3-2 at home. - Reuters