It’s Up for Grabs Now!

Recently we have asked;

Can Anyone Stop United?

Can United Really Win the Quintruple?

And then, in the wake of Liverpool’s 4-1 destruction of United at Old Trafford:

Is the Title Race back on?

We can safely say, on the back of United’s defeat to Fulham where for the first time in recent memory they self destructed (with Scholes and Rooney both dismissed), that the answer to all of those questions is ‘yes’.

Yes, someone can stop United – Liverpool, probably not Chelsea now (as if United implode enough for Chelsea to catch them, Liverpool should be over the horizon) in the league, but also any one of a number of top class sides in the Champions League now United’s aura of invincibility has been penetrated.

Yes, United can really win the Quintruple – they are still favourites from the league, admittedly it couldn’t have been a worse week for them, but if anyone has the nous and experience to navigate a rough patch and come out smelling of roses, it’s United. They have Everton in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, eminently winnable, and have a dream draw in the CL; Porto, followed by Arsenal or Villarreal. Taking stock, it’s still very much on – they just need to pull out of this major minor blip.

And yes, the Title Race is back on. Liverpool’s trio of destructions – first Real Madrid, then Man Utd, then Aston Villa, 5-0 yesterday, has put them on the roll of all rolls; and United will have to find form again, and quickly, to hold off their challenge. United do still have a one point lead and a game in hand, but that could have been 10 points had they won both their last two games.

It’s up for grabs Now – both the Quintruple for United, but also the league for Liverpool… The latest odds are:

Manchester United 4/11

Liverpool 3/1

Chelsea 18/1

And Manchester United are now 7/1 to do the Quintruple. But how different everything looks from a week ago…