Chelsea have one hand on the Premier League title after Eden Hazard fired them to a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge.
Jose Mourinho’s third Premier League title and Chelsea’s first for five years could be just 11 days away after Hazard’s 38th-minute strike sent the Blues 10 points clear of second-placed Arsenal.
Mourinho has taken a game-by-game approach to the season and will refuse to get ahead of himself, but win at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday and Chelsea could be crowned champions at Leicester three days later.
Arsenal would have five games to play, but the Blues would have an unassailable 16-point lead and clinch Mourinho’s third English championship following his successes in 2005 and 2006.
United, who began the day eight points behind, dominated the opening period, but their only chance of note saw Wayne Rooney shoot narrowly wide.
Hazard then showed why he is favourite for the PFA Player of the Year prize, netting his 18th goal of the season on the counter-attack following Oscar’s fine flick.
The strike, seven minutes before half-time, shifted the momentum of the contest in Chelsea’s favour.
Juan Mata has been influential in recent weeks, but he was unable to inspire United on his first return to his old stomping ground.
Kurt Zouma, meanwhile, fully justified his inclusion in midfield in combating the considerable threat of Marouane Fellaini.
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