Steven Gerrard's lovely through-ball to Didier Drogba at Anfield on Sunday ensured there would be no change at the top of the standings, that the conspiracy theorists could continue to peddle their talk of a fix, and that the Premier League title race would go down to the wire.

Chelsea maintained its one-point lead with a 2-0 win over Liverpool as Drogba gobbled up Gerrard's errant backpass after half an hour and (No Longer Fat) Frank Lampard added a second.

Manchester United denied the Blues an early celebration, though, with a 1-0 victory at Sunderland courtesy of Nani's first-half effort.

However, if Carlo Ancelloti's team can see off Wigan at Stamford Bridge next Sunday, United's result against visiting Stoke will be academic.

Chelsea's title to lose, then.

Hard to see that happening. Apart from the stutter at Tottenham a fortnight ago, the west Londoners have hardly put a foot wrong since being dumped out of Europe by their former boss Jose Mourinho.

Mind you, they would assume victory at their peril.

Wigan, having survived the drop, just, and with seemingly nothing to play for, would appear an easy assignment.

But Roberto Martinez's team has already defeated Chelsea once this season - 3-1 in September. The club from the former Lancashire mill town that inspired a George Orwell essay on the bleak living conditions of the working class might just fancy itself travelling to London to spoil the party for those southern moneybags.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men, meanwhile, will be waiting to pounce. They, too, look to have a most winnable game against Tony Pulis' Stoke.

The unexpected turn of events that would result in Fergie's men lifting a fourth consecutive title might then spark events of seismic proportions.

Fergie would then have delivered a 19th league title to United, one more than arch foe Liverpool. The 69-year-old Glaswegian might see that as his cue to finally abdicate the Old Trafford throne after almost a quarter of a century of trophies.

What manager could then assume such a mighty legacy? Only a Special One, surely.