Manchester United's rivals go into this weekend's fixtures knowing one more slip could be the end of their hopes of wresting the Premier League trophy away from Old Trafford.
Last weekend's win over Liverpool, combined with Chelsea's defeat of Arsenal, has left United five points clear at the top of the table and, with only seven rounds of matches to play, time is fast running out for the two London clubs attempting to chase down the champions.
"Psychologically it was very good for us to win against Liverpool," United's French left-back Patrice Evra said. "It was a massive game, an important one for the fans and for the club. Now there are seven games left to play and they are like seven finals. We have the destiny of the title in our hands."
By the time United entertain an Aston Villa side struggling for form in an early evening fixture today, they will know if Arsenal have been able to draw a line under their own recent downturn on the domestic front by winning at relegation-haunted Bolton Wanderers.
The Gunners have not won in five matches in the league, the 2-1 loss at Chelsea having been preceeded by four draws -- a run which has seen them slide from five points clear at the top to third place, six points adrift of United.
Defender Gael Clichy insisted that their challenge could still be revived.
"We may have lost against Chelsea but we played well," he said. "The manager is still confident. Manchester United are not dropping many points at the moment but there is still a long way to go. We haven't had a lot of luck in the last few matches. We had our chances [against Chelsea] but we didn't do what we had to to win."
Arsenal have come unstuck at Bolton in the past and, with Gary Megson's side battling to stave off relegation, all the ingredients are in place for a tough scrap at the Reebok Stadium.
"Arsenal have stuttered a little bit and I think it's a good time to be playing them," Bolton striker Kevin Davies said. "Hopefully, we can get a full house and, with the fans behind us, lift our game and get the result we need. Arsenal are a team we've got results against in the past and this is the one we're obviously looking forward to now. We always seem to raise our game against the big boys, so if we can get an early goal, who knows?"
Chelsea are at home to Middlesbrough tomorrow, which also sees Liverpool and Everton clash at Anfield in a derby that could prove decisive in the battle for fourth place and the final slot in next season's Champions League.
Liverpool will have to do without Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano following his sending off in the 3-0 defeat by Manchester United last weekend, but Everton, arguably, have suffered an even bigger loss with the news that Tim Cahill may not play again this season.
Everton go into the match trailing their neighbors by two points and, prior to their capitulation at Old Trafford, Liverpool's recent form had established them as most people's favorites to clinch fourth place in the table.
But Everton boss David Moyes is adamant that he now has a squad capable of pushing Liverpool to the wire.
"For many years Everton haven't really been able to compete as closely as we'd like, but we are now on the shoulders of Liverpool and a couple of other teams and we have got to try and stay there," Moyes said.
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