Looking around the papers today, most journalists are (somewhat prematurely you feel) writing-off Manchester United's Premier League title chances and preparing for Chelsea to regain the championship crown despite it only being November.

It's much of the same post-match analysis from most quarters, discussing United's bad luck and Sir Alex's criticism of the ref, but Mark Ogden at the Daily Telegraph chooses to examine the United boss' reluctance to hand Michael Owen a regular starting berth.

"United’s defeat at Chelsea was undoubtedly a blow to their title hopes, but their performance was impressive and only wasteful finishing, and the absence of a strike-partner for Wayne Rooney, denied them a point or even three.

So what about Owen? Has the time now come for him to be given the Premier League opportunity that his patience and track record arguably deserve? One certainty is that he won’t score goals while sat on the bench. He has shown glimpses of his predatory instinct, so perhaps he should now be unleashed from the start of games.

After all, isn’t that what Manchester United are supposed to be about? Beating teams on the front foot and making opponents worry about their firepower? True, they do not, and cannot, carry the same threat without the unique talents of Cristiano Ronaldo.

But those pointing to the loss of Carlos Tevez as another factor behind United’s blunted edge miss the point that Owen’s record this season is better than the Argentine’s. Tevez has scored four goals in 13 appearances for Manchester City, but while Owen has started six games for United, Tevez has been a substitute just once."

Elsewhere, Martin Samuel at the Daily Mail is full of praise for Chelsea captain and yesterday's matchwinner John Terry, citing him as the key that could unlock the door to a third Premier League title come May.

"Every fibre in Terry’s body must have ached for the revenge of a winning goal against Manchester United, particularly this day, when he would have known the ground was alive with mockery and whispers, yet he let the moment pass.

This is captaincy of the highest order, Terry putting his mind on the line, as much as his body. He sacrifices, the way Tony Adams once did for Arsenal and Roy Keane for Manchester United, and that level of commitment takes its toll in the end.
John Terry celebrates after beating Manchester United

All things considered, it is a wonder Terry remains relatively untroubled by demons. His record is not entirely unblemished but the majority of indiscretions took place early in his career and there seems to be evidence of maturity arriving with age.

...Ancelotti increasingly resembles the last coach to fashion a great Chelsea team, Jose Mourinho. He created a title-winning Chelsea side on a home fortress — he never lost here, and neither has Ancelotti so far — and on a team built from the back on the reliability of his captain, Terry. "