Manchester United's 0-0 draw with Sunderland at Old Trafford on Friday may help Chelsea clinch the English Premier League title early next week.
Sunderland's Kelvin Davis was masterful in goal to end United's run of nine successive league wins, but the result ensured last-place Sunderland's relegation.
Chelsea is six points in front of Manchester United.
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson was almost resigned to the proposition.
"This was an unexpected result, but nonetheless you have to accept it can happen," Ferguson said.
"We played well in patches but we got a bit anxious towards the end and, ultimately, drawing at home to the team who are likely to be the worst the Premier League has ever seen is a killer blow.
"All we can do is believe if these kind of results can happen to us, they can happen to other teams as well."
Manchester United forwards Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo had chances against Sunderland, but Ferguson believed they put in perhaps their worst performance of the season, and timing was a factor.
"All the hype and responsibility being placed on Wayne Rooney winning the World Cup for England has born fruit tonight," Ferguson said.
"He is only a kid. All this stuff about him winning England the World Cup is the biggest load of nonsense I have ever heard in my life. He still has a lot to learn.
"Wayne and Cristiano will be great players, I would stake my life on it. They have potential and we will wait two or three years for them to fulfill it."
Chelsea had 82 points and Manchester United 76. After Saturday, both clubs will have four games to play.
The loss demoted Sunderland, which had only 12 points and five games to play. Above Sunderland is West Brom (28), Portsmouth (29), and Birmingham City (29).
AC Milan beat Inter Milan 1-0 on Kakhaber Kaladze's 70th-minute goal and consolidated its second place in the Serie A standings.
AC Milan moved up to 76 points, five clear of Inter and within four of league leader Juventus, which is at Cagliari today.
Juve, coming off three consecutive draws, will need a victory to restore a seven-point lead over AC Milan with four rounds left.
Defender-turned-forward Kaladze controlled a long cross and volleyed into the goal from 8 meters with his left foot for his second Serie A tally this season.
The Georgia player took advantage of Inter's failed offside trap, and coach Roberto Mancini confirmed that "our mistake helped Milan goal."
Kaladze made up for the unimpressive performance of regular strikers Alberto Gilardino, Andriy Shevchenko and Kaka.
Shevchenko made a single scoring attempt in the 66th, and Kaka had a low drive saved by Inter goalkeeper Julio Casar a short time later.
Inter, led by Adriano returning from injury, mostly tried to control the midfield play and produced few scoring chances.
Esteban Cambiasso nearly netted the equalizer in the 90th off a blunder by Milan goalkeeper Dida, who looked uncertain throughout the derby at San Siro.
It was AC Milan's 103rd win in 262 derbies and avenged Milan's 3-2 injury-time loss in the first confrontation last December.
Inter's seventh defeat this season did not put at risk its third place but was expected to cause further frustration to its fans.
Only 2,000 Inter supporters watched the match as hardcore fans, still furious about elimination from the Champions League by Villarreal, left deserted the stadium section reserved for the visitors.
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