Trophy time for Manchester United

London: The proverbial Fat Lady isn't yet singing but, barring a miracle, she should be in full voice today as Manchester United close in on a third successive English Premier League (EPL) title.

For the past few weeks, Liverpool fans have been waiting for a chink in United's armour, eager to pounce on the slightest error and take the title to Anfield for the first time in a generation.

They were almost given a sniff in midweek, only for United to stage a classic come-from-behind win at Wigan, their game in hand, to move imperiously six points clear at the top of the table.

Alex Ferguson's men will be crowned champions today if they avoid defeat against Arsenal at Old Trafford. All that's needed in their final two games is a single point to clinch a record 18th title. It's not quite over of course but even if they slip up, there is still a trip to Hull to come on the final day of the season.

Whilst Carlos Tevez's Old Trafford future remains a serious worry with the Argentinian striker keen to move on to be given more regular first-team football, Ferguson is simply focussing on what needs to be done on the pitch and is certainly not taking Arsenal for granted despite the Gunners' recent troubles.

"We still have a job to do," he said. "I have not listened to all the criticism Arsenal are getting. This is a good Arsenal team and we will need to be at our best to beat them."

Although the pressure is growing on Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger after a fourth trophy-less season and supporters are urging him to finally abandon his policy of simply nurturing young players, the Frenchman insists he will not just go out and spend rashly in the summer. "We have a team which is 22 years old [on average], why should we look for revolution?" Wenger said. "That would be stupid and not responsible. I do not think that the team need major investments."

Their chase for title may be all but extinguished but if, as expected, Liverpool come second, that will still represent notable progress for Rafael Benitez who believes they will remain best placed to challenge Manchester United for supremacy in coming seasons.

"The spine of the team is there now," said Benitez whose side go to bottom-placed West Brom tomorrow, with the home team relegated unless they spring an upset. "We can improve a little bit in certain areas but overall we don't need to change a lot of players. Stability is always good and because the squad is better it means you don't need to change too many players. I think we are better placed than the others for challenging United in the long term."

The dogfight at the bottom shows no sign of letting-up. West Brom appear to have left their late rally for survival just too late, but who will join them through the trap door?

Having won the all-important north-east derby against Middlesbrough, Newcastle manager Alan Shearer will be hoping for three more points at home to Fulham to ensure safety. That, however, is by no means a given.

The author is a soccer expert based in England.