MANCHESTER UNITED could be within one match of going out of the European Cup but by the time Borussia Dortmund visit Old Trafford on Wednesday, Alex Ferguson's team may also be one victory away from ensuring direct participation in next season's tournament.
If Arsenal lose at Coventry tonight, the Premiership title could be back with United, for the fourth time in five seasons, as early as Saturday week, when they visit Leicester City.
A draw at Highfield Road and the moment could arrive at Old Trafford the following Tuesday when United play Middlesbrough. An Arsenal win and the inevitable still cannot be long delayed, not with United's last three league games all at Old Trafford.
The events of Saturday morning merely confirmed the feeling that whatever their pursuers achieved the greater depth of playing strength available to Ferguson would always keep the pack at bay.
At Liverpool, United won a game billed, wrongly as it transpired, as their biggest test of the season without four of their regular players. Ryan Giggs, David May and Dennis Irwin, all recovering from injuries, were kept back in the hope that they will be fully fit for Wednesday, while Ole Solskjaer, United's most in-form striker, never left the bench.
Ferguson played Keane in front of his back four, used Paul Scholes to support Andy Cole and Eric Cantona, and had David Beckham and Nicky Butt providing a nice balance in midfield. The performance, workmanlike rather than inspired, reflected the selection, but it was still too much for Liverpool.
One of United's easier successes at Anfield, a 3-1 victory compounded by the winners' solid teamwork and the crass defending and goalkeeping of the losers, has effectively left Liverpool to scrap with Arsenal, and perhaps Newcastle, for second place.
Long before the end, Liverpool saw their dwindling championship aspirations all but vanish. On Saturday, the saddest sound was not the ironic cheering which greeted David James almost every time the accident-prone goalkeeper caught the ball, but the groan that went up more than once when a promising passing movement reached John Barnes.
Ten years ago the sight of Barnes hovering on the ball would produce a hum of expectation, now he is perceived by many Liverpool supporters to be a worn part urgently in need of replacement.
Some might feel the same about Mark Wright, given the centreback's failure to challenge Gary Pallister as the United defender headed goals from Beckham's corners in the 13th and 42nd minutes.
At half-time, nobody could have blamed James for Liverpool's plight, although when a goal-keeper is having a bad time, his defenders often find the uncertainty a distraction. Sure enough, James flapped feebly at Gary Neville's centre two minutes past the hour, allowing Cole the easiest of headers into the net.
Evans refused to condemn James, despite gaffes which had lost Liverpool their previous home game, against Coventry, and then contributed to the 3-0 Cup Winners' Cup defeat by Paris St-Germain, from which they will attempt to salvage something on Thursday. But before next season Liverpool will surely have to reconsider their goalkeeping situation.
Robbie Fowler, suspended for the rest of the Premiership programme following last Wednesday's dismissal at Everton, lacked support until Collymore came off the bench early in the second half. He had a disconsolate morning and scuffed a chance to give Liverpool a 2-1 lead.
McManaman, who had shot wildly wide in the sixth minute, scarcely did any better. True, Cantona and Cole (twice) were equally profligate, but United, passing the ball more positively, always had plenty in reserve.
"We've he right to be champion said Ferguson afterwards and I think we came to the right place to do that." At the right time, too.
