Tottenham Hotspur sent the Premier League title towards Manchester United with a stunning 3-1 defeat of Manchester City on Sunday, on a day when Liverpool striker Luis Suarez created controversy once again.
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A three-goal salvo in the space of seven second-half minutes saw Spurs roar back from behind to overwhelm defending champions City and revitalise their own push for Champions League qualification.
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City's defeat preserved United's 13-point lead at the top of the table and means that Alex Ferguson's side can secure an unprecedented 20th league crown if they win at home to Aston Villa on Monday.
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It also left Spurs just one point beneath fourth-place Chelsea, who were prevented from reclaiming third place by a 97th-minute equaliser from Suarez in a 2-2 draw at Anfield.
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However, Suarez had earlier appeared to bite Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic on the arm in an incident that looks likely to yield retrospective punishment from the Football Association.
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At White Hart Lane, Spurs struck three times in the last 15 minutes through Clint Dempsey, Jermain Defoe and Gareth Bale to floor City, who had led through Samir Nasri since the fifth minute.
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City manager Roberto Mancini was at a loss to explain his side's collapse, telling Sky Sports: "We had everything in order. It is strange. It is not a correct result, but congratulations to Tottenham for the win.
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"The championship was finished three or four weeks ago. Manchester United deserved to win it."
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As well as trailing Chelsea by a point, Tottenham are now just two points behind third-place Arsenal and have a game in hand on their north London rivals.
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On Spurs' fightback, Bale said: "The gaffer (manager) told me to move out wide and it worked out well.
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Our opening goal gave us and the crowd belief.
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"We showed our character. The club is moving forward every year. The players want to play in the Champions League, and we showed that today."
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Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas recalled Bale after an ankle injury and the hosts started the game in positive fashion, but it was City who drew first blood.
Even if Manchester City had won the game against Spurs, Man United would still win the league, with just 5 games to go and with 10 points lead.