There may be only one English team left in the European Championships, however that has not stopped the Premier League from being a compelling spectacle last weekend.

If, as is expected, Manchester United defeat Blackburn Rovers tonight then the league title is almost certainly theirs, after City were held to a draw by Martin O’Neill’s Sunderland.

Roberto Mancini for so long the quietly assured manager of big spending City is discovering what numerous managers of the past, most famous of whom was Kevin Keegan, will testify to, that when it gets tough, at the crunch, Alex Ferguson will be there to face you off.

Are the mind games getting to Mancini – you can’t say for certain yet, though things may be more clear after tonight.

The feature of the league this year has been how any team wherever their position in the League has a chance to defeat the top placed sides, as Arsenal discovered with their defeat to QPR who despite this result still remain third from bottom.

But perhaps the most striking image of the weekend came during Liverpool’s 2-0 defeat to Alan Pardew’s Newcastle, when the vastly over-rated and overpaid – £35 million – Andy Carroll stormed off after being substituted by Kenny Dalglish.

Newcastle who are in sixth position are eleven points clear of eight-placed Liverpool.

And yet, Liverpool have spent £115 million on players, whilst at the same time Newcastle £26 million.