United’s knockout blow

Liverpool 0 Man Utd 1

By scoring the stoppage time winner in front of the Kop on Saturday, John O’Shea is guaranteed a special mention when Alex Ferguson comes to describe the defining moment of his ninth championship success.

For make no mistake, the title is heading back to Manchester after three years in London. And it will be in the bag long before O’Shea celebrates his 26th birthday at the end of April after United enjoyed the sort of luck against Liverpool that championship-winning sides require now and again.