Ambitions bite the dust at agonised Anfield

SO, Alex Ferguson is right after all. The Manchester United manager confidently predicted during the international break that the title race will be a two-horse affair and after a weekend of contrasting fortunes for the runners and riders, his forecast appears spot on.

While Chelsea and Manchester United continue to gallop off into the distance at breakneck speed after Arsenal stumbled at the 12th of the 38 fences, Liverpool and Manchester City are the thoroughbreds who have been well and truly left behind.

The heavy rain and biting cold already ensured for a grim November lunchtime on Merseyside. A dire affair served up by inflated football talent worth around £300m made for an even bleaker afternoon.