WHATEVER happens this evening at St James's Park, this championship race is there for Newcastle United to lose but unless Kevin Keegan manages to expel the doubts that seem to have crept into his camp over the past couple of months then his side just might just end up being edged out in the final phase of the battle for the title.

So settled through the early part of the season Keegan's selections have looked less assured of late and he appears to have created some of his own difficulties by signing players who have caused him to doubt what his own best team is.

When you think back to the games in which Newcastle have really overwhelmed sides they have been the ones in which he has played with a straight 4-4-2 formation but, in his eagerness to accommodate some of his more recent recruits, he has strayed from that system with decidedly mixed results.

In defence, the switch to three central defenders has not paid off and the time has come for Keegan to make the tough decision on who to drop in reverting to a flat back four while, up front, the eagerness to throw Asprilla into the heart of things has not worked out terribly well for either the player himself or the team as a whole.

When Howard Wilkinson brought Yeboah to Leeds last year it was noticeable how long he gave him to observe the way things were done in English football before giving him his place in the team.

Asprilla, though, was thrown into things when, in truth, there was little reason for him to be and it appears that Keegan may have had one of his selection dilemmas resolved by the player's actions at Manchester City. There is a general feeling in the game that the South American will receive a six match ban which would render him unavailable for more than half of the remainder of the campaign and Keegan must accept that and get on with things.

Of course, Asprilla is a very talented individual - as are Beardsley, Ferdinand and Ginola amongst others in the team but even more important than the individuals for Keegan is the system and what is crucial for the club's title hopes now is that its manager decides what is the best way for his side to play tonight and then sticks to it for the rest of the season.

At Old Trafford, Newcastle lost the battle for midfield and lost it in a manner that opened the eyes of a lot of Premiership managers to the way that the league leaders could be brought down to earth. On that occasion Keane and Butt were superb and, although a repeat of that defeat this evening would not be of any great significance in itself, it might damage their own belief in their ability to see this task through to its conclusion.

It would also be a boost to a Manchester United side who must be enjoying the fact that every week of late they have been chipping away at the gap that separates the two sides. Alex Ferguson made a very strong statement last summer when he sold Kanchelskis, Ince and Hughes without replacing any of them and his faith in the ability of his remaining squad has been justified.

Throughout the season the younger talents like Scholes, Beckham and Gary Neville, have been outstanding while Keane has settled wonderfully into his role as Butt's senior partner having previously played the role of Ince's junior. At the back, the return of Bruce and Pallister has also provided a big lift.

Ferguson also had players like Giggs, Cantona and, to a lesser extent, Cole who can turn games and win them for their team, but, unlike his opposite number just now, hem seems to have a far better picture of what he wants from his players as a unit on a particular occasion.

Likewise Liverpool have settled into a system that is working well for them and, just like back in the glory days, there are quality players having to sit it out on the bench at Anfield because other players are doing the business for the side on the pitch. Meanwhile Roy Evans is signing players and, then not worrying about whether they make it into the team immediately or not.

Liverpool, of course, could still steal this one away from their two rivals but, like Manchester United, they are due a bit of a hiccup after a few months of playing very well indeed. The odd disappointment still lingers in the mind like their defeat by a 10 man Wimbledon but, whatever happens this season, Evans certainly looks to have put the troubles of the past few seasons well and truly behind the club.

For now they need two club's to throw away while Manchester United must hope that Newcastle falter. In signing David, Batty, Keegan may have sorted out his side's achilles heel - their inability to retrieve possession, especially away from home.

While Batty cost a lot for what he is, he might still provide what has been missing.

On paper, the leaders have the tougher run in, but that will not worry them unduly. There are any number of factors that will influence their opponents' performances against them and, anyway, they have the players to beat anyone on their day. More than anyone, though, now it is time for Keegan to prove himself. He can start doing that tonight.