Are You Watching Merseyside?

Three points clear. One game in-hand. Five games left for the title chasers.

We’re sniffing distance away from our 18th top-flight title overall, which ties Liverpool’s English record and keeps them in a Premiership title-free zone. Ah, you couldn’t write a better script.

Or could you?!

I don’t in any way, shape, or form mean to disparage our beloved Red Devils’ current quest for a title or sound like I’m complaining, as most squads can only fathom Premiership titles after a night of binge drinking or smoking something a bit sinister.

But, how many squandered opportunities must we bear witness to this year?

I know, I know – it’s the kind of question only asked if you’ve created many opportunities and have experience successfully converting them – the stuff of champions. But, it’s precisely the inability to kill off games this year that could still prove costly.

A second goal clearly ends this contest, with Pompey looking resigned to a certain fate only to be handed an invitation back into the game in the second half. Why Giggsy alone could have replicated Arshavin’s goal-scoring prowess, with 3-4 guilt-edged opportunities missed.

“Obviously, our first-half performance was absolutely fantastic and we should have been five, six goals ahead,” Ferguson told Sky Sports.

"We missed a lot of good chances and you only encourage your opponents in that situation and that's what we did. In the second-half they got to the by-line twice and you start thinking to yourself, 'we're going to throw this away'. Fortunately, Michael Carrick came on and scored the second goal which settled everyone down, but we made it really difficult for ourselves. You only need a second to lose a goal and you risk the game because you haven't taken the chances."

Scoring hasn’t been as easy this term, nor is it the first time Fergie’s warned the boys about not finishing off teams. On one hand, the trend continues with these “semi-uncomfortable” victories, as you can’t help but wonder when and if we’ll pay for keeping teams in games. On the other hand, points are points, and the Reds keep marching on, on, on. Such questions are the spoils of pursuing an 11th Premiership title.

Eat your heart out, Rafa, we know you’re watching.