Source: SKY_Sports
Rooney wary of Reds & Blues
Wayne Rooney believes Chelsea and Liverpool are perhaps Manchester United's biggest rivals for the Premier League title.
United have established themselves as the dominant force in English football in recent years and Rooney is hungry to add more trophies to the cabinet at domestic and European level.
He is expecting a fierce battle for top spot in the league this season, with Arsenal making an impressive start to their campaign and big-spending Manchester City also in the reckoning.
However, Rooney still regards Chelsea and Liverpool as the major threats to United's supremacy.
"Chelsea are a strong team and will definitely be up there," the striker told the Daily Star Sunday.
"I would put Liverpool in there, too, and they are maybe our two biggest rivals.
"Manchester City, though, have started the season really well.
"They have bought some really good players. I can't see a reason why they won't be challenging along with Arsenal."
Champions LeagueRooney thinks United are also capable of mounting a strong challenge for UEFA Champions League glory despite Cristiano Ronaldo's summer move to Real Madrid.
He would relish the chance to come up against his former team-mate in the competition but feels a final against English rivals Liverpool would be more exciting.
"I don't know whether Real Madrid against us would be the dream final - probably Liverpool versus United would be better," he explained.
"Madrid are playing brilliantly and with Ronaldo going there, it would be a nice game.
"But you'd rather two English clubs got there for English football - and also because of the rivalry between the two clubs.
"It would be a great occasion to play in."
Rooney accepts that United have had to adjust following Ronaldo's departure but he believes the change in formation has benefited his game.
"Any team Cristiano has played in would miss him and rightly so. He's the best player in the world," said Rooney.
"But we are playing differently now because the team was based around him for the last couple of years.
"We are playing a more orthodox 4-4-2 now and everyone knows their positions and their jobs.
"I'm not sure whether I have now got more freedom on the pitch but I'm playing up front and enjoying that.
"Last season, I played a lot out wide and didn't enjoy it as much as up front."
