Ferdinand relishing title battle

A combination of their own victory over Liverpool on Sunday and Chelsea's failure to beat Blackburn at Ewood Park put United in pole position for the first time this year.

"This is probably the best title run-in for years," said the England defender. "There are three teams in it, which makes it fantastic for the fans and the neutrals to watch. But we just want to finish on top. That is what we are aiming to do."

Sir Alex Ferguson's men know even if Chelsea win their game in hand against cash-strapped Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Wednesday, they will still be a point better off than the Londoners, who must visit Old Trafford on April 3.

Arsenal are currently two points adrift, but with a significantly inferior goal difference to the leaders, adding a further dimension to a contest that has seemed certain to favour the men from Stamford Bridge until their dramatic recent slump in form.

A few twists seem certain yet to enthral committed supporter and neutral alike.

And although Sir Alex Ferguson has continually stressed the need to make a fast start since the arrival of Jose Mourinho in 2004, the Scot has not lost the ability of getting his team to peak at the right times either.

"We worked hard as a team and did what the manager asked. It got us the result," was Ferdinand's assessment of an effective performance. "We have been defending very well of late so to concede a goal after five minutes in such a big game was disappointing.

"But we got ourselves back together and took control of the game.

"The way we came back, picked ourselves up and went at Liverpool speaks volumes for the talent we have in our squad."