Arsenal’s fragile minds collapsed under pressure from Drogba and Liverpool were being played off the park before Mascherano’s mouth was sent down the tunnel. Alan Hansen says it’s United’s to lose, but football is a funny game.

Our pals at Chickendinner.co.uk tell us what “the past” has to say:

Manchester United 2/7

For the past four seasons, the team who has been top after thirty games has gone on to win the title.

On the only previous occasion that Manchester United failed to beat Manchester City in either of their Premier League games, Manchester United went on to win the title.

The last two times that Manchester United failed to win either of their opening two Premier League games (1992/93, 1998/99), they went on to win the league.

But wait… in the last ten years, only once have the Community Shield winners gone on to win the Premier League (Chelsea, 2006). The last time Manchester United won it (2003/04), they finished runners-up to Arsenal after beating them on penalties - this year they beat Chelsea on penalties.

Chelsea 7/2

Of the three title-chasing teams, Chelsea are the only one not to have thrown away the top spot from this point onwards in a Premier League season.

In the past three seasons when Chelsea have battled for the title in the run-in they have been unbeaten in the last eight games - except in 2006 when they lost twice having already secured the title.

On the two occasions Chelsea have won the Premier League they have led Manchester United by eleven (2004/05) and twelve (2005/06) points at this stage in the season – last season’s attempts to chase down the title ended in them drawing their last five games.

Arsenal 11/1

Arsenal have on two occasions caught Manchester United when they have topped the table after thirty games and gone on to win the title – 1998 and 2002

On each of the three occasions that Arsenal have won the Premier League title they have thrown away the top-spot and won it back.

The last time Derby were relegated, Arsenal were crowned champions.