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If just less than a week ago it looked like a done deal, with Chelsea four points ahead of a desperate looking United team, it’s all different after today. Manchester came to the City of Manchester Stadium to the Manchester derby as underdogs for the first time since… no one can remember. Well, City were the better and dominants side, but after it was all said and done, Paul Scholes’ injury time header opened the title race up again, giving United a double over their city rivals, both wins coming deep in extra time.

Down south in London, another derby was played, as Tottenham became the most important team in this championship race, beating Arsenal earlier this week and beating Chelsea today (2-1), in what could have been a much bigger scoreline with Chelsea left with 10 men after John Terry was sent off. Next week, Tottenham visit United at Old Trafford. Can magic happen for a third time?

Three games to go, it’s Chelsea with 77 and Manchester United with 76. If Arsenal beat Wigan tomorrow, they’ll be back in the running with 74. What’s left? Chelsea have a home game with Stoke, an away trip to Anfield and finish off the season at home against Wigan. United have Tottenham at home, a visit to Sunderland and Stoke at home. Arsenal, besides their trip to Wigan tomorrow are left with a home game against Man City, a visit to Blackburn and finish at home in another London derby against Fulham.

Paul Scholes Goal

Jermain Defoe opener

Gareth Bale, 2-0

Ryan Giggs, Manchester United

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The Cardiff born Welshman has been with Manchester United since the age of 14, and played his first pro match on the 29th of November 1990. He has since gone out to win 11 Premier League titles, 2 European Champions League titles and four FA Cups. He has appeared 815 times for the Red Devils in all competitions (a club record), including 570 times in league play, scoring 104 goals so far. A left winger for most of his career and a central midfielder in his recent, older years, Giggs has probably been Ferguson’s favorite “baby”, and despite interests throughout his career, especially from AC Milan (Silvio Berlusconi has always been a great fan of Giggs), never strayed from Old Trafford, despite his roots as a Man City player (played for them between the ages of 12-14).

Paul Scholes, Manchester United

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A year younger than Giggs, Scholes was born in Salford, part of the greater Manchester area and has been with the club since the age of 14, despite being an Oldham supporter (he lives in Oldham with his wife and kids). Scholes was more of a forward in the early days, but pretty quickly moved on to the midfield. He made his debut in September 1994, despite being part of the senior squad for almost a year by then. Since that day 15 years ago Scholes has gone on to win 9 Premiership titles with United, 2 UEFA Champions League trophies and 3 FA Cups. He was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2008, and soon after he was quoted in an interview saying that he has two more years of playing in him, meaning he’ll retire in the end of the 2009-2010 season. True or false? There a few more months for the Redheaded Old Trafford legend to decide.

John Terry, Chelsea

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When Terry was 19, he had a short loan spell with Nottingham Forest, but we’ll forgive that sin cause he’s been a Chelsea man through and through despite those six games with Forest. The London born Terry joined Chelsea when he was 14, initially playing as a midfielder and according to the stories, he was moved to Centre back only because of a shortage of players in that position.

Terry became a first team regular for Chelsea during the 2000-2001 season, under Claudio Ranieri. After Marcel Desailly retired, Terry was named captain by new manager Jose Mourinho, going on to lead Chelsea to two back-to-back Premiership titles, winning the 2005 PFA player of the year award. All in all, Terry has won two league titles and three FA Cups with Chelsea and has played 427 games for the club since 1998 in all competitions. He was linked with a Manchester City move this summer, but that was probably a leverage move in order to get more money in the contract negotiations.

Steven Gerrard, Liverpool

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Some people forget, but Gerrard, prior to the club winning the Champions League in that amazing final in Istanbul back in 2005, was on the verge of signing with Chelsea. But Liverpool made that comeback that night, won in penalties, and the rest is history. Almost 5 years later, still no league title for Gerrard and Liverpool (fans waiting since 1990) but Stevie G has done everything to make that happen. Born in Whiston, about 8 miles away from Liverpool, Gerrard has been with the club since the age of 17 and made his debut on November the 29th, 1998. He was more of a defensive midfielder at the time, but as his career progressed so did his position on the pitch to a more attacking role.

Gerrard has played 491 games for the club in all competitions and has won 2 FA Cups with Liverpool, one Champions League Trophy and one UEFA Cup. He was voted by Liverpool fans as the second greatest player ever for the club and is the current holder of the Football Writers’ Footballer of the year award.

Carles Puyol, Barcelona

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The big haired central defender isn’t the most technique blessed-with player, nor is he the most elegant defender you’ll find around Europe. But he has heart, a lot of heart, maybe more than anyone else. He switches from centre back to right back according to needs and his fantastic marking on Cristiano Ronaldo in last year’s Champions League Final was one of his finest hours.

He has been with the first team since 1999, after four years with Barcelona B, racking up 456 matches for the team, third all time. He has won three league titles with the club, one Spanish Cup and two Champions League titles, all as captain.

Xavi, Barcelona

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Xavi came in to Barcelona’s first team around the same time as Puyol did, pretty much inheriting Josep Guardiola’s place in the first team. It took him some time, but now Xavi is one of the best midfielders in the world, playing the play-maker part to perfection, especially since Guardiola has become the head coach at the Nou Camp. Xavi won Man of the Match in the 2009 Champions League Final and Best Player award in the 2008 Euro, guiding Spain to the trophy.

Xavi was brought up through the Barcelona youth system, being born 20 kilometers away from Barcelona. He is 8 games away from playing his 500 game from the club, second only to Migueli with 548. He has won one more league title than Puyol, four, and was join captain with him in the two Champions League wins.

Iker Casillas, Real Madrid

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Another member of the team that won the 2008 Euro’s, and although only 28, he’s been Real’s first choice at goal (almost exclusively) since his teenage years. He has won four league titles and two Champions League trophies with the club he’s been part of since the age of 10. Born and raised in Madrid, Casillas got his chance in 1999 to replace Bodo Illgner at goal and has hardly moved from between posts, barring injury and a short slump during the 2001-2002 season. Although bit unstable at times during his earlier seasons, Casillas has developed into a fantastic shot stopper and a solid rock for Real’s back side, with many considering him to be the best goalkeeper in the world in the last two years.

Raul, Real Madrid

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So many accolades you don’t know where to begin – Six league titles with Real and three UEFA Champions League trophies. He’s the Champions League all time leading scorer with 66 goals, Real Madrid’s all time leading goalscorer with 318 goals in all competitions and also Spain’s national team all time leading scorer with 44. Raul, despite playing for Atletico Madrid’s youth team (until some genius, Jesus Gil, decided to close the team), is Real Madrid through and through, and there’s no bigger symbol to his own team around the world.

Francesco Totti, A.S. Roma

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Like Raul in Madrid, Totti is synonymous with AS Roma and the city of Rome, born in the city and becoming the team’s (probably) greatest player ever. He’s the clubs all time leading scorer and most capped player in it’s history, and the top active scorer in the Serie A, 8th all time. Totti could have probably won more titles if he’d move to other teams, but he’s been loyal to  i giallorossi ever since he started playing, at the age of 16(!!) for the first team. He has moved from attacking midfielder to striker to supporting striker in his career, becoming a more and more attacking player as his career progressed. He won the Serie A with Roma (Roma’s first championship since 1983 and their 3rd overall) in 2001 and unlike the rest of the players on this list, he is also a World Champion, winning it with Italy in 2006.

Five days before their clash with Chelsea, Manchester United needed another late minute goal to avoid a loss at home, this time to CSKA Moscow, who led 1-0 and 3-1, almost becoming the first team to win at Old Trafford in more than four years.

Alan Dzagoev, Milos Krasic and Vasili Berezutsky scored for the Russians, while Michael Owen (momentary equalizer), Paul Scholes (84th minute) and a Russian own goal off an Antonio Valencia shot in injury time set things at 3-3 and put United in the next stage.

In the group’s second game, Wolfsburg came back from Turkey with an impressive 3-0 win over Besiktas, with the goals coming from Misimovic, Gentner and Dzeko. United are first and through with 10 points, Wolfsburg at second with 7, CSKA are third with 4 and Besiktas last with one point.

Paul Scholes header was enough for Manchester United to begin their 2009-2010 Champions League campaign with 3 points, beating Turkish side Besiktas 1-0 with the redhead’s goal coming in the 77th minute. United were the more dominant side for most of the match but the Turkish side did have a few chances, with only one of them coming really close. Michael Owen, who came in for Rooney in the 64th minute almost poked in a second goal, but Alex Ferguson will be happy with the result, as English sides don’t always fare so well in Turkey.

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In the second game in the group Wolfsburg won their first ever Champions League match, beating CSKA Moscow 3-1, with Grafite grabbing a hat trick.

Number 10 – Paul Scholes – 418 (still active)

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Paul Scholes opens our list at number 10, and is currently after 418 premiership games. He started his career back in July 1993 when he signed his first professional contract with Manchester United, but didn’t get to play until the next season for the first time in league action. He has been with the red devils ever since, and is two goals shy of reaching 100 league goals for United. He has won the premiership title nine times.

Number 9 – Teddy Sheringham – 419

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Number six on the all time Premiership scorers with 147 is number nine in appearances, with 419 between 1992-2007. Sheringham played one more year for Colchester in the Championship and also played 8 years in the pre-premiership days, all in all notching 734 league appearances in England. He has three league titles from his days as a Manchester United player, and has also played for Nottingham Forest, Tottenham, West Ham and Portsmouth in the Premiership.

Number 8 – Gareth Southgate – 426

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Managing of Middlesbrough since he’s hung up his boots, Gareth Southgate notched 426 Premiership appearances as a central defender with Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough and 503 overall, playing 4 seasons in the pre-premiership days with Crystal Palace.

Number 7 – Frank Lampard (still active) – 436

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The best scoring midfielder in the history of the Premiership with 108, 13th all time among all positions, Frank Lampard has developed in the last 4-5 seasons, especially since the Russian revolution at Chlesea into one of the best Midfielders in the world. He has played his entire career for London clubs – West Ham between 1996-2001, and has been with Chelsea since 2001, winning two league titles with the West Londoners. We’ll forget about his short loan stint with Swansea.

Number 6 – Emile Heskey (still active) – 440

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People might not remember, but Heskey has been around since 1994, playing with Leicester City. He has also played for Liverpool, for whom he enjoyed his best season, scoring 14 league goals in 2000-2001, Birmingham, Wigan and currently with Aston Villa. Heskey is 15th on the Premiership’s all time scorers list with 103.

Number 5 – Alan Shearer (still active) – 441

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The Premiership’s all time leading scorer with 260 goals has one or two things in common with Gareth Southgate – both got relegated with a North-Eastern club last season – Shearer did it with Newcastle, although in his defense, he came in and took the job when the patient was already critical. Shearer played with Southampton for five seasons before the Premiership began in 1992, and then he played for only two teams – Blackburn and Newcastle. He won one league title with Blackburn in 1994-1995.

Number 4 – Sol Campbell (still active) – 481

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Sol Campbell is still active, but not in the Premiership. After his contract ended at Portsmouth, he signed with League Two club Notts County, after Sven Goran Eriksson became director of football at the club. Campbell has played with three clubs in the Premiership since 1992 – Tottenham, Arsenal and Portsmouth. His moved from Tottenham to their hated rivals has branded him as “Judas” in the eyes of Spurs fans and every visit of his to White Hart Lane has been met with a hate-filled atmosphere against him. He won two league titles with Arsenal.

Number 3 – Ryan Giggs (still active) – 526

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Ryan Giggs, unlike his teammate and number 10 on this list, Paul Scholes, has been around even in the pre-premiership days, notching up 40 appearances back than for Alex Ferguson and Manchester United, but like Scholes, he has been a one club man. Giggs is two goals short of reaching 100 Premiership goals. He has won nine league titles with United and even though he is getting close to 36 years on the planet and 18 on the soccer pitches, he won the PFA player of the year award last season.

Number 2 – Gary Speed (still active) – 535

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Like Sol Campbell, Speed is still active, but in a lower division. He has downgraded himself to the Championship last season, and is currently playing with Sheffield United. Speed, 40, has been around since 1988 and won the league title with Leeds back in 1992, the last season before the Premiership was formed. He has played for Leeds, Newcastle and Bolton during his Premiership spell. Maybe he’ll be back next season judging by United’s start.

Number 1 – David James (still active) – 551

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The all time leader in the English Premiership in appearances, David James surpassed Gary Speed last season and surprisingly is the only goalkeeper in the top ten, with the closest one to him is Shay Given at 20. James is around since the pre-premiership days, playing for Watford in what is now the Championship. Since his move to Liverpool in 1992 he has stayed in the top flight, playing for Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham, Manchester City and Porstmouth.