Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United take on Portsmouth this evening with the comfort of knowing that they still remain tied on points with Liverpool, despite the latter taking control of the head of the table due to their favourable goal difference.
Rafael Benitez's side battled out a thrilling 4-4 draw with Arsenal at Anfield on Tuesday evening, but because they failed to win, they effectively gave United a further advantage. The Red Devils now have two games in hand in order re-establish themselves in pole position for the domestic crown.
Ferguson, though, is adamant that he will only be worrying about the form of his own side, as opposed to what goes on at his north west rivals' patch.
"It doesn't matter when Liverpool play," Ferguson recently told the press. "We are focused enough on what we have got to do."
A reserve-looking Manchester United side were knocked out of the FA Cup at the weekend by virtue of an Evertonian penalty shoot-out triumph, but Sir Alex will be welcoming Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and veterans Edwin van der Sar and Ryan Giggs back to the fold for tonight’s encounter. He is confident his side will dispose of Paul Hart's Portsmouth.
"You have to overcome defeats at some points in a season," reflected Ferguson. "In most cases we do all right. We lost two in a row against Liverpool and Fulham but since then we have beaten Aston Villa, Porto and Sunderland.
"We only lost the semi-final on penalties and that can happen to anyone. There is enough motivation to ensure we will be OK against Portsmouth."
The Pompey fixture will be a momentous occasion for pass-master Paul Scholes, who will mark his 600th appearance for the club, should he is lined-up against the south coast club.
Ferguson had words of praise for his midfielder, who he has schooled since youth level.
"At United, you can go back to the [George] Best, [Denis] Law and [Bobby] Charlton era," said Ferguson. "Before that you have Duncan Edwards. You are talking a wide panorama of players. But in my time, he would be in the top six or seven without a doubt.
"His contribution and quality have been great, even without the fantastic goals he has scored.
"When he came on against Everton on Sunday, his first touch was better than anyone else's had been in the whole previous hour.
"He has that wonderful velvet touch on the ball. When he gets it, it goes stone dead.
"It is wonderful to see that amidst all the mayhem that can happen in a football match.”
Rafael Benitez's side battled out a thrilling 4-4 draw with Arsenal at Anfield on Tuesday evening, but because they failed to win, they effectively gave United a further advantage. The Red Devils now have two games in hand in order re-establish themselves in pole position for the domestic crown.
Ferguson, though, is adamant that he will only be worrying about the form of his own side, as opposed to what goes on at his north west rivals' patch.
"It doesn't matter when Liverpool play," Ferguson recently told the press. "We are focused enough on what we have got to do."
A reserve-looking Manchester United side were knocked out of the FA Cup at the weekend by virtue of an Evertonian penalty shoot-out triumph, but Sir Alex will be welcoming Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and veterans Edwin van der Sar and Ryan Giggs back to the fold for tonight’s encounter. He is confident his side will dispose of Paul Hart's Portsmouth.
"You have to overcome defeats at some points in a season," reflected Ferguson. "In most cases we do all right. We lost two in a row against Liverpool and Fulham but since then we have beaten Aston Villa, Porto and Sunderland.
"We only lost the semi-final on penalties and that can happen to anyone. There is enough motivation to ensure we will be OK against Portsmouth."
The Pompey fixture will be a momentous occasion for pass-master Paul Scholes, who will mark his 600th appearance for the club, should he is lined-up against the south coast club.
Ferguson had words of praise for his midfielder, who he has schooled since youth level.
"At United, you can go back to the [George] Best, [Denis] Law and [Bobby] Charlton era," said Ferguson. "Before that you have Duncan Edwards. You are talking a wide panorama of players. But in my time, he would be in the top six or seven without a doubt.
"His contribution and quality have been great, even without the fantastic goals he has scored.
"When he came on against Everton on Sunday, his first touch was better than anyone else's had been in the whole previous hour.
"He has that wonderful velvet touch on the ball. When he gets it, it goes stone dead.
"It is wonderful to see that amidst all the mayhem that can happen in a football match.”
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