A number of intriguing scenarios could still unfold in the last nine days of the English Premier League season, but in all probability the destiny of the title comes down to this: can Chelsea win at Liverpool tomorrow?
Both Chelsea and Manchester United should be able to count on winning their final home games next weekend, against Wigan and Stoke respectively, and that means almost everything hinges on the game at Anfield. If Chelsea win, they will have one foot over the finish line, but anything less will give United the chance to race past them.
Much was made of Chelsea's 7-0 home win over Stoke last weekend, in terms of increasing their goal difference superiority over United, but the only real significance was that it showed the leaders to be in great form going into tomorrow's crucial game. The title being decided on goal difference is now one of the least likely scenarios: assuming both Chelsea and United win their final home games, the only way goal difference can come into play is if Chelsea lose at Liverpool and United draw at Sunderland in tomorrow's later match.
The more likely scenario in the event of a Chelsea slip-up is that United win their final two games to clinch their fourth successive title, which is achievable against two bottom-half teams with nothing to play for.
Almost certainly, therefore, it is win or bust for Chelsea at Anfield. The mischievous believe winning will be far easier than it should be, because Liverpool would rather lose than give United the opportunity to secure the title that would put them ahead of Liverpool as the most successful club in the history of the top-flight championship.
The joke doing the rounds is that Rafa Benitez will put out a team of Scouse celebrities, from Cilla Black to Holly Johnson, against Chelsea. The punchline being that the only player on the club's books worthy of a place in this joke team is Lucas Leiva.