Edwin: No Blame On Liverpool

Edwin van der Sar refused to blame Liverpool for United's failure to overhaul Premier League leaders Chelsea on Sunday, conceding that the Reds' deficit was built over the course of the season.

The Blues' trip to Anfield was long perceived as their final hurdle of the title run-in, but the effortless manner with which they brushed aside Rafa Benitez's wearied side made a mockery of any pre-match hopes.

"You hope, but you don't really expect anything," Edwin told MUTV. "Even if they had tried really hard I think they had a gruesome two weeks, played a lot of games and they picked up a couple of injuries.

"I don't think that's the cause of us maybe not winning the league, that happened over the course of the year and some breaks we didn't get and Chelsea got, especially in the last couple of weeks."

While the Reds' own preparations could have been adversely affected by Chelsea's Merseyside stroll, a dominant, defiant display at Sunderland instead takes the title race to the final weekend.

Van der Sar conceded that he and his fellow players had not expected any favours prior to Sunday's late kick-off, and still retain a shred of hope that Wigan can spring an almighty shock at Stamford Bridge next Sunday.

"I think we expected it," he said. "The Gaffer had a couple of words before the game and the way we played and created the chances, we knew what to do.

"You want to grab every little chance there is. You never know in football, of course, but it's going to be hard, difficult and not likely, but never mind, we have to make sure we work till the end.

"It would've been nice if we were a point ahead. We're not in charge and it's difficult, but we have to keep going, see what we can do this week on the training ground, see if everybody has recovered from this match and hopefully have a nice game for our supporters on Sunday. We're still hanging in there!"