United’s title hopes may rest on ‘Pool

IT’S a twist in the plot even Dan Brown, author of the Da Vinci Code, might have dismissed as simply too far-fetched.

If Manchester United are to win their fourth title-in-a-row, taking their total number to 19 and breaking the record they jointly hold with Liverpool, they’re going to need a favour... from precisely those bitter rivals whose achievements they would eclipse.

With just two games left in the title race, the fate of leaders Chelsea is firmly in their own hands. – they must drop points for United to have a chance of retaining their crown.

But if Carlo Ancelotti’s team are to slip up, you’d have to think there’s more chance it will happen at Anfield next Sunday than against Wigan at Stamford Bridge on the last day of the season.

It’s ironic that Alex Ferguson’s dreams of making history look to rest on Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool – a man and a team for whom he has shown such a strong distaste.

There lies Benitez’s problem: he will want to beat Chelsea to maintain the last fleeting hope that his “guarantee” of finishing fourth may yet come true.

But to do so could hand United a real chance of the title and with it the end of Liverpool’s reign as the most successful team in English football.

The animosity between the two clubs and their supporters is long-standing. United club captain Gary Neville once publicly said: “I can’t stand Liverpool. I can’t stand Liverpool people. I can’t stand anything to do with them.”

It was Neville who then inflamed the controversy after a United victory by swaggering in front of the Pool fans by repeatedly kissing his United badge.

The feud became more intense last season after Benitez’s “facts” speech in which he called Fergie “a hypocrite” and accused him of putting referees under pressure. He claimed the United boss received preferential treatment from football’s authorities.

Fergie’s reply was to accuse Benitez of “arrogance” and showing “contempt”. The war of words resurfaced again in March this year when Benitez claimed Antonio Valencia dived to win a penalty during United’s 2-1 over Liverpool. Now, the destiny of the title may lie in Liverpool’s hands and with it the possibility of bringing glory to the team they would least want to see enjoy it.

Unlike Dan Brown, you couldn’t make it up.