Sir Alex Ferguson is refusing to accept that the title race is as a two-horse race already - but the Manchester United boss would not be surprised if that is how it ends up.
A point in front of Manchester City, the table-topping Red Devils are now seven ahead of third-placed Chelsea, sparking fears of a runaway, as was the case last season when Arsenal were an incredible 19 points behind the pair who were split by the tightest of goal difference margins.
"You can't be certain of saying it's going to be a two-horse race at this stage," said Ferguson. "But over the years we've said that the top five or six are all capable of winning the league and eventually it does end up being a two-horse race. Year after year it's been like that."
He added: "There was space between the two teams and others last year.
"The important thing to do is just look at yourselves - we want to be up there all the time. We need to stay up there and this is not an easy league to do it in."
One area Ferguson is wrestling with just now is his goalkeeping department.
It had seemed as though David de Gea had finally banished doubts over his ability to handle to physical nature of the Premier League and won the battle with Anders Lindegaard to be first choice.
However, a badly-timed problem with his wisdom teeth forced him out of Ferguson's team once more.
Whilst Lindegaard played on losing sides against both Norwich and Galatasaray, he kept his place for victories over QPR and West Ham, when United managed only their third clean sheet of the entire season. And there is no guarantee De Gea will return against Reading on Saturday.
"Anders has done nothing wrong since he came into the team," said Ferguson. "That is what is keeping him in. It's good that you've got two good goalkeepers competing for a position."
Source: PA
