Two of Manchester United's north-west neighbours, and one of their former players, have supporting roles tonight in the final act of the dramatic Premier League title race.
Chelsea host Bolton needing to better United's result at Wigan, who are managed by former United stalwart Steve Bruce. Avram Grant has become something of a conspiracy theorist in recent weeks as the tension has mounted, though nobody can know whether local rivalry or favouritism for one team will have any bearing on the title outcome.
What points to the status quo being maintained at the top of the table is the fact that Wigan are safe and Bolton almost certainly so after both teams won last weekend. There have been nine Premier League games so far this season where only one team have had something to play for, and that team's record is won seven, drawn one, lost one (the two failures to win were both by relegation-threatened teams).
In any case, United and Chelsea are always strongly favoured against opponents from the bottom half of the table, home or away.
Chelsea have the stronger form chance tonight, as they are unbeaten in 81 home league games and have won 36 out of 44 against bottom-half teams during that run. Bolton, meanwhile, have taken only one point from nine trips to top-half teams this season.
On form United are heavily favoured at Wigan, who have lost 20 out of 23 in all games against Big Four teams since joining the Premier League in 2005-06, with only one point from 11 at home. United have won all five league matches against Wigan, scoring at least two goals each time, as well as beating them 4-0 in the 2006 League Cup final.
