United won their fifth game in their last six league trips to Anfield yesterday, winning 1-0 thanks to a Carlos Tevez goal. The pre-match talk centred around Fernando Torres, but the Liverpool striker went AWOL, leaving Tevez to collect the plaudits.

Ferguson got his tactics spot on, trusting his team to take advantage of just the one chance needed, after ensuring we stayed tight at the back. Liverpool dominated the possession and attempts, however just managed to get four on target, none of which troubled the unusually shaky Van der Sar.

Arsenal beat Chelsea at home on Sunday, something United achieved earlier in the season, but only drew at Anfield on their trip to play Liverpool. It is vitally important to make sure you are at least keeping up with the top as we approach the end of the year, meaning Liverpool and Chelsea will be rather disappointed with the nine and five point gap, respectively.

“I always think it is important to be up there once you get through the Christmas period,” said Ferguson. “If we are around the top on 1st January we will have an outstanding chance of winning the league and we will also know who our challengers are going to be.”

Top four’s Christmas fixture list:
Arsenal
Saturday 22nd December, home to Tottenham
Wednesday 26th December, away to Portsmouth
Saturday 29th December, away to Everton
Tuesday 1st January, home to West Ham

United
Sunday 23rd December, home to Everton
Wednesday 26th December, away to Sunderland
Saturday 29th December, away to West Ham
Tuesday 1st January, home to Birmingham

Chelsea
Sunday 23rd December, away to Blackburn
Wednesday 26th December, home to Aston Villa
Saturday 29th December, home to Newcastle
Tuesday 1st January, away to Fulham

Liverpool
Saturday 22nd December, home to Portsmouth
Wednesday 26th December, away to Derby
Sunday 30th December, away to Man City
Wednesday 2nd January, home to Wigan

Will United be top of the league come 2008?