Race hots up for English game's holy grail

Whether you are Ray Wilkins and subscribe to the view that this is the most exciting title race in the Premier League era or count yourself among sceptics who fear this season's champions will be crowned by default, it will not be boring.

Arsenal will be within a point of leaders Manchester United if they win their game in hand and their duel at the Emirates on May 1 already has the air of a title decider.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has had it in his sights for weeks, since starting to develop the theme that the extent of his team's success in the Barclays Premier League this season would be defined by results on home turf.

Chelsea are out of it, according to their manager, Carlo Ancelotti. Yet the Italian may suspect privately a maximum 33 points from their remaining games could still be enough to salvage a successful defence.

Eleven wins would give the champions 81 points and, although it is a decade since such a low total proved enough, this has been a campaign in which top teams have leaked points in strange places.

When United won it with 80 points in 2001, they wrapped it up in late February when they thrashed Arsenal, their closest rivals, 6-1. They coasted in, losing their last three games, and still finished ten points clear.

On January 14, Ancelotti said: "It is a very competitive league, there are a lot of competitive matches and a lot of teams going for first position. We needed 86 points to win it last year. This year, the team will need less. Eighty points is enough."

Recapturing form

Among the problems facing Chelsea is that they require United and Arsenal to surrender points. More crucially, they must recapture the form which has abandoned them. Frank Lampard detects promising signs.

"If we keep winning all our games we're going to be in with a shout," said Lampard. "There have been times this season where we've played top-drawer football, better than anyone in Europe. Lately we haven't been playing like that at all but we can get to high levels again.

"The United win was important. There was a bit of the old Chelsea in there. We beat the best team in the league so far."

With the addition to the squad of Fernando Torres and David Luiz, Lampard rediscovering his rhythm after missing four months with a groin injury and a gentle schedule this month, the Blues may prove the danger lurking in the deep.

Meanwhile, searching for a record 19th title, United go to Anfield on Sunday without first-choice defenders Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic and with Liverpool's £35 million (Dh209.89m) striker Andy Carroll limbering up for his debut, probably from the bench.