Football: Len Capeling Column: Mersey misery, Moyes mastery; Champions rose above the mire.

Byline: Len Capeling

IN the 1939 comedy classic You Can't Cheat an Honest Man,WC Fields plays an unscrupulous carnival huckster trying to get an unwilling public under the flap of his sideshow tent.

Step up, step up,he barks. Feast your eyes on the smallest giant in the world and his twin brother, the tallest midget in the world More that 60 years on it could be the sales pitch for the Premiership, where two or three real leviathans find themselves trailed by any number of small giants and tall midgets.

Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea occasionally looked as if they were going to shrink to the level of the rest, but managed to find enough class and composure when it mattered.

United,in particular, shrugged off early season softness to show the surefootedness of true champions.

Arsenal also shone brightly to begin with,but lacked some steeliness when United's tracker dogs scented blood.

Chelsea were ... well...Chelsea. Brilliant one week,beyond the pale the next. They were one of only four footballing sides in the Premiership - Blackburns Rovers made up the quartet - but must need a striker who isn't pining for Barcelona.

Newcastle made up the numbers, their attacking habits not quite disguising their defensive dopiness.

But no one seriously challenged United and Arsenal. Not ever. And that won't change unless Liverpool - for one - can find someone to make Michael Owen look less of a lone star.

If that happens,Arsene Wenger and the fabulous Fergie may find the penthouse suite becoming more crowded. This season they've had an unobstructed view from the high windows.