Even for a side with Manchester United’s powers of recovery, this was a remarkable demonstration of the competitive spirit and togetherness that makes them such formidable champions. Sir Alex Ferguson’s team were three behind after 50 minutes and facing the prospect of a chastening defeat before another feat of escapology from a side that have made these kind of comebacks their speciality over the years.

It was a remarkable game in which dubious refereeing and questionable defending both played a part, and each side could reflect that they had enough chances to win. The lingering memory, however, will be of United’s response to finding themselves staring at the possibility of defeat.

The game had seemed to lurch away from them at the start of the second half when Juan Mata lashed in a brilliant volley and David Luiz’s header took a decisive flick off Rio Ferdinand’s shoulder. Jonny Evan’s own goal, deflecting Daniel Sturridge’s cross past David de Gea, had given Chelsea a first-half advantage and, at 3-0, André Villas-Boas could probably have been forgiven for thinking his side had built an unassailable lead.

Instead, what followed was a display of remarkable character from Ferguson’s team. They replied with two goals in the space of ten minutes, both penalties from Wayne Rooney, to leave themselves with 22 minutes of normal time to salvage an equaliser. It came from the head of the substitute, Javier Hernández, in the 83rd minute and, from that point, United might actually feel disappointed they could not go on to complete the job.

Chelsea, too, had their chances, denied a late winner by two brilliant saves from De Gea on a day when Villas-Boas also felt the referee, Howard Webb, had been generous with both penalties. He had a point, although an incensed Ferguson could also argue that Gary Cahill could have been sent off for an early challenge on Danny Welbeck.

Premier League 2011-12ChelseaManchester UnitedPremier LeagueDaniel Taylor
guardian.co.uk

• Sir Alex Ferguson set to knock Liverpool off their perch
• United manager looks forward as Carlo Ancelotti waits

It was the day when, to borrow the famous old quote, Sir Alex Ferguson could reflect on knocking Liverpool off their perch. Manchester United’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea leaves them on the brink of overtaking their Merseyside rivals with a record 19th league title and, after almost 25 years in charge, Ferguson could finally proclaim them as “the most successful team in the country in terms of championship victories”.

They now need only one point from their last two games against Blackburn Rovers and Blackpool to confirm the 12th title of Ferguson’s reign. “It’s a fantastic feeling,” the most successful manager in the business said. “If you had said to me at the start of the season that we would need one point from the last two games to be the champions, I would have snapped your hand off.

“We will give them [Blackburn and Blackpool] respect and we won’t under-estimate them because it would be a dangerous thing to do and we’ve come too far for that. But one point … I think we’ll get that, and it’s a fantastic achievement [overtaking Liverpool].

“I would never have believed it could happen, to be honest. But as soon as we got that first one in 1992-93, the door opened to us. Once we got that first title, we have just improved and improved. The club have taken off.”

Javier Hernández opened the scoring inside the first minute and, from that moment, United overwhelmed a disappointing Chelsea side. Ryan Giggs crossed for Nemanja Vidic to head in the second goal after 23 minutes and, though Frank Lampard made it 2-1 from close range midway through the second half, the score barely reflected United’s dominance.

“I thought we were brilliant,” Ferguson continued. “Wayne Rooney could have scored six on his own. I don’t know how many chances we had to score. We got a little bit nervous [after Lampard's goal] because we kept missing all those chances and it gave them a lifeline. We should have been out of sight but that’s the way of Manchester United. We take it to the wire, leave those poor souls in the stands having heart attacks, sitting on the edge of their seats, biting their nails – and I was one of them.”

The defeat leaves Chelsea staring at the near certainty of finishing the season without a trophy and their manager, Carlo Ancelotti, facing an increasingly uncertain future. “It was difficult because we started so badly,” Ancelotti said. “It was very difficult to come back after that first half. The second half was much better but United played better than us and deserved to win. We have to accept this.

“The disappointment is when another team plays better than you. That happened, we have to accept it and we have to accept they were better than us over the season and they have deserved to win the league.”

Asked whether he would remain as manager, the Italian replied: “I don’t know. I hope so but it is not my decision.”

Ferguson, in stark contrast, reiterated that he would still be in charge at Old Trafford next season, regardless of what happens in the Champions League final against Barcelona on 28