Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson hailed Ruud van Nistelrooy as "one of the best strikers ever" after the Dutch international's hattrick against Charlton left United within a whisker of the Premiership title.
United's 4-1 win put the Old Trafford side eight points clear to leave Arsenal without the slightest room for error.
Arsene Wenger's team must beat relegation-threatened Leeds on Sunday to keep them in the hunt, but whatever happens United will be champions if they beat Everton on May 11.
After van Nistelrooy's third
hattrick on his 100th appearance for United Ferguson said: "I can pay Ruud no greater tribute than to say he is one his way to becoming one of the best strikers ever.
"He has been absolutely fantastic for us this season. His recent form is unbelievable.
"He is improving in every aspect of his game - you can see it all the time. We are really pleased with him."
It was the ninth successive game in which the Dutchman had scored and he took his tally for the season to 43. He has now scored a phenomenal 79 goals since arriving at Old Trafford at the start of last season.
If he conjures up another three goals against Everton on the final day of the season, he will equal Denis Law's United record for goals in a single season.
It was an equally significant day at the bottom of the table where Paulo di Canio made a dramatic return to the West Ham side with a
71st minute winner against Chelsea.
The win left the Hammers level with Bolton on points but still in the relegation zone because of their inferior goal difference.
Caretaker coach Trevor Brooking, who stepped in when manager Glenn Roeder suffered a mini-stroke, said: "I said to Paolo that if we were level or behind he would get at least half an hour.
"He got very emotional in the dressing room afterwards and the lads wound him up by saying it had to be him who scored, but it has been a good day and we march on for another week."
Bolton kept their noses just in front by holding FA Cup finalists Southampton to a goalless draw at St Mary's.
Newcastle, 1-0 winners over
Birmingham, ensured Champions League football next season as both their nearest rivals, Chelsea and Liverpool crashed to defeats.
"It's been a long season but quite fantastic in many, many ways," a relieved Magpies boss Sir Bobby Robson admitted after seeing his side finally clinch third place after a nervous run-in.
The fourth and final place in Europe's top competition will now be decided on May 11 when Chelsea
entertain Liverpool at Stamford Bridge. The pair are tied on 64 points but Chelsea's superior goal difference means a draw will be enough for them.
Liverpool were just seconds away from a home draw against Manchester City that would have given them the edge going into the final fixture.
But Nicolas Anelka, who had earlier converted a penalty to cancel out Milan Baros's 59th minute strike, came back to haunt his former club with an injury-time winner that lifted City into the top half of the table.
Fulham and Aston Villa both ensured they will remain in the top flight next season with wins over Everton and Sunderland respectively, leaving West Ham, Leeds and Bolton in a three-way fight to avoid the drop.
A goal from Swedish striker Marcus Allback ten minutes from time was just enough to earn Aston Villa a 1-0 win over already-relegated Sunderland.
Everton appeared determined to ensure that Fulham guaranteed their Premiership survival. An own goal by Alan Stubbs and a horrendous blunder by goalkeeper Richard Wright, who let a Steed Malbranque cross squeeze through his arms, gifted the west London club the three points.
The future of Tottenham boss Glenn Hoddle was plunged further into doubt after a 5-1 thrashing at Middlesbrough.
Blackburn, still in with a chance of a UEFA Cup place, failed to take full advantage of Everton's defeat after a 1-1 draw with relegated West Brom. Damien Duff put Rovers ahead but his effort was cancelled out by a superb solo effort from Jason Koumas nine minutes after the break.