We’re definitely at the business end of the season, now, and with just one point separating Chelsea from United, the talk coming out of Old Trafford is of the pressure that rests on the leaders, and questioning whether the blues could shoulder it.
United tightened the screw further by beating Spurs 3-1 at Old Trafford to top the table briefly, but Chelsea responded in statesman-like fashion on Sunday by swamping a complacent-looking Stoke team 7-0.
On paper, both games represented a decent challenge, with United having possibly the tougher game. Spurs had already beaten Chelsea only last week (and rivals Arsenal the week before) and were level at 1-1 with nine minutes to go. Before goals from Nani and Giggs secured the points.
In Stoke, Chelsea faced one of a growing breed of Premiership teams who are limited in ambition but fiercely committed to their cause. They play a simple game based on pressing their opponents and capitalising on set piece plays.
They also have something of a secret weapon in the shape of the freakishly long throws of Rory Delap. Any throw-in in their opponents half is the signal for Delap to grab a towel and the ball, while his central defenders make their way into the penalty area. (Against Wolves last week, Delap took almost twice as many throw-ins as he made actual passes).
If the sneer from worried fans is “Score from a throw-in, you only score from a thrown-in!”, in truth Tony Pullis’ team play with some heart and are capable of turning on a little style at times.
All of which makes Chelsea’s absolute demolition of Delap and his team mates a hugely satisfying result for their taciturn manager Carlo Ancelotti. A hat-trick from Ivorian international Salomon Kalou and goals from Lampard (2), Malouda and Sturridge, put Stoke to the sword, the third time Chelsea have won 7-0 this season. The Blues played with fluidity and confidence, Ballack moving the ball around from deep and Ashley Cole, returning from his broken ankle, raiding up and down the touch line very effectively. They looked like a very good side indeed, and confirmed in most people’s views that they are the best team in the country, as long as they continue to hold their nerve. With two games left, a point still separates the teams – although Chelsea’s goal difference before today only a single goal better now represents something close to another point.
United are proverbial for pushing on until the final whistle, but find themselves now in the position of hoping that their bitterest rivals, Liverpool, will do them a service as Chelsea travel to Anfield next weekend.
Liverpool themselves are still just about in the race for the fourth Champions league spot, having beaten Burnley 4-0 and in doing so confirmed that the spirited Lancashire team are relegated along with Portsmouth to the Championship. West Ham’s win against Wigan has pretty much left Hull to take the last relegation spot, barring two 7-0 wins of their own.
