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• 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

• Kuyt in discussions to extend deal beyond 2012
• ‘I feel at home in Liverpool and don’t want to leave’

Dirk Kuyt has revealed that talks over extending his Liverpool contract are progressing well.

Having undergone a change of ownership and management during a turbulent campaign, the Merseyside club appear to be moving in the right direction again under their new manager, Kenny Dalglish, who was appointed Roy Hodgson’s successor on a temporary basis in January.

Kuyt has already spoken of his desire to see Dalglish keep the job beyond the end of the season, and the Dutch forward is also keen to stay on at Liverpool.

“My contract has one more season to go after this but there are things happening,” Kuyt said. “We have had some talks and I can only say it looks positive. I feel at home in Liverpool and I don’t want to leave here.

“It has been a difficult time for everyone at the club with the changes that have happened since last summer but now I can sense something good is happening – I think Liverpool are on the way back.”

Liverpoolguardian.co.uk

• Konchesky and Poulsen have both failed to win over fans
• ‘If we can get them back on side that makes the squad deeper’

The Liverpool manager, Kenny Dalglish, has admitted he has some bridges to rebuild in restoring the damaged confidence and reputations of some of the experienced members of his squad. He specifically named Paul Konchesky and Christian Poulsen – both much-maligned signings of his predecessor Roy Hodgson – as the ones who have suffered the most.

Konchesky has not played once in Dalglish’s three matches in charge since taking over a little more than a week ago and was an unused substitute in yesterday’s 2-2 draw against Everton. Poulsen made his first Premier League appearance in two months in last Wednesday’s defeat at Blackpool and was omitted from the squad for the Merseyside derby as the 22-year-old Jay Spearing made a surprise start in central midfield.

“We’ve got a couple of senior players who the supporters haven’t exactly seen eye to eye with,” Dalglish said. “We’ve got to try to rebuild them. If we can get Christian Poulsen and Paul Konchesky back on side then that makes the squad that bit deeper. Christian played very well at Blackpool and Paul will get an opportunity as well.”

Of his decision to continue playing Johnson at left-back despite Konchesky and Fábio Aurélio being fit the Scot added: “We want our best players on the pitch. I don’t know if he’s the best option but he’s an option.”

After back-to-back defeats having taken over from Hodgson, Dalglish claimed his first point in the entertaining derby – his first match at Anfield for nearly 20 years as Liverpool manager. Dalglish, who once again praised his players’ character, believes performances are improving after Dirk Kuyt’s 68th-minute penalty earned a draw for the side.

“There is a lot we still have to analyse but really there has been a lot of positive things from the players,” he said. “We were happy with the way we are playing. There is a lot of belief coming back into the players and that is great for us.”

LiverpoolKenny Dalglishguardian.co.uk