Manchester United are three points clear at the top of the league but Sir Alex Ferguson is very mindful that our advantage can be taken away at any time.

“We all know that football can turn around and bite you,” he said. “That’s why we make the point about experience. We have a small advantage, not a great advantage, and one that can change in a single game. The important thing is that most of our players have had experience of winning the title – Ferdinand, Evra, Giggs, Scholes, Carrick and Rooney. If they hadn’t, we might be in trouble but they are well accustomed to it.”