All over bar the shouting

APART from the occasional overnight blip, the leadership of the Premier League effectively changed hands nine times this season.

For Manchester United to retain their title, that needed to happen for a tenth time over the weekend. It didn’t. Barring an almighty upset, Chelsea will be crowned next Sunday.

And I wasn’t at all surprised at how easily Ancelotti’s team won at Anfield (on Chelsea’s previous two Premier League doubles over Liverpool they also went on to win the title) yet it had absolutely nothing to do with opponents deliberately ‘rolling over’. That was never going to happen.

I was commentating there 15 years ago when a Liverpool victory against Blackburn and a Manchester United win at West Ham would have seen the title go to Old Trafford. The same suspicions and suggestions arose before that weekend too but no, Liverpool beat Rovers. It was United’s failure to do better than a draw that meant Dalglish’s team lifted the trophy.

And the happiness of a portion of Liverpool supporters all too glad to see their team lose so as to prevent their bitter rivals grasping a record 19th league championship – I maintain it was the ‘majority’ of Anfield fans – also had no impact on the outcome yesterday.

No. Liverpool, after the mental as well as physical exertions of Thursday night and the consequent massive disappointment, always looked to me a team likely to lose. They were shattered and the only surprise was that Chelsea started so slowly. You wouldn’t have bet on a gift from Steven Gerrard setting them on their way.

Eventually, Chelsea deserved to win by far more than two goals. Between Didier Drogba’s first and Frank Lampard’s second, a period of less than 20 minutes, I counted at least five clear opportunities that they created but squandered. But then that shouldn’t surprise anyone when you consider that Chelsea have scored a remarkable 95 goals during the campaign. This Chelsea team creates chances by the bucket load.

The Ivory Coast striker, whose form eclipsed Wayne Rooney’s in the first half of the season, has scored 26 of those but, again, Lampard’s contribution from midfield, 21, is nothing short of astonishing. How on earth didn’t he make the PFA team of the year? I’d suggest there are far too many petty jealousies and vested interests that influence the voting.

Kalou and Malouda, both outstanding yesterday, along with Anelka, help make this the most attractive Chelsea team of recent years. They’ll be worthy champions even if, overall, it’s been an undistinguished season.

United did well to take it into the final weekend. Even though Steve Bruce has never negotiated a win against the club he played so brilliantly for, I thought the impact of the Chelsea victory might have played on United minds. Instead they dug out a win at a very difficult venue. But it won’t be enough.

I was surprised to hear John Terry talk in a pre-match interview of his surprise at how the “poorer teams in the Premier League” have done during this campaign. Presumably, he was thinking of the likes of Wigan. I can’t think of anything more likely to gee up Roberto Martinez’ side for the trip to Stamford Bridge next weekend.

But a Wigan win won’t happen. Don’t waste any of your money making that bet.