"I don't think it will take us long to be back on top of the league," the Chelsea manager boasted after his side's midweek win over Bolton, confidently predicting that United would struggle to cope with a tougher run of fixtures over the fast-approaching second half of the season.

The reality however is that United have kept themselves three points ahead of the champions and, by a quirk of the fixtures list, now have an opportunity to stretch that advantage to nine points before Chelsea return to league action in testing circumstances, with a home encounter with Arsenal on December 10.

It is a scenario to be relished by United fans who have suffered two long years of domination by their nouveau riche London rivals.

But for it to be realised, United must do what Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal have all failed to manage this season: beat Middlesbrough at the Riverside, as well as emerging victorious from next weekend's Manchester derby against a City side that appears to be coming into form.

It is no small order, but United's captain, Gary Neville, believes the Red Devils, while prospering this season with a generally consistent line-up, have this week made a point about the depth of their squad -- an area in which Chelsea clearly have an edge.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who has a make-or-break Champions League clash with Benfica next week to fret over, made five changes for the midweek match against Everton and his faith in his back-up players was vindicated by a 3-0 victory.

"There has been a lot of talk about the squads of the teams at the top but we have shown we can handle changes," Neville said.

"Players who deserved a chance came in and did a great job. They were the ones who carried us through the game because some of the lads who have been in the team all the time were quite sluggish, I know I was.

"Darren Fletcher helped a lot down my side, Kieran Richardson penetrated quite a bit down the left, John O'Shea did well in midfield and Mikael Silvestre looked as though he had never been away in defence."

Despite his upbeat assessment of Ferguson's resources, Neville is aware they are far from in the clear.

This time last season United's season came apart, a 4-1 loss at Middlesbrough effectively ending their titles hopes and defeat to Benfica sending them crashing out of the Champions League.

Neville added: "We are in a run of fixtures just now which saw us slip up badly last year.

"But we've started better this year and we have to go to Middlesbrough with the right determination and attitude and hopefully get another victory."

Dropped points in midweek must surely have ended any lingering hopes Arsenal and Liverpool entertained of joining the top two in the race for the title.

Instead, they must now begin to address the danger of missing out on a top four finish and a return to the Champions League next season.

Arsenal entertain Tottenham at their new Emirates stadium for the first time on Saturday on the back of a run which has seen them win just one of their last six matches.

It is seven years since Tottenham won a north London derby but Martin Jol's side have looked a much-improved outfit since they beat Chelsea a month ago.

Liverpool travel to Wigan hoping the shortness of the trip will help end their search for a first away win in the league this season. Benitez's squad should be bolstered by the return of Xabi Alonso following the influential Spanish midfielder's recovery from a hip injury.

Elsewhere on Saturday, two of the surprise packages of this season, Portsmouth and Aston Villa, meet at Fratton Park in a clash between the third and fifth-placed sides.

Blackburn entertain Fulham, fourth-placed Bolton are away to Reading and Sheffield United battle Charlton in the day's big relegation battle.
Fixtures
(1500 GMT kick-off unless stated)
Saturday
Arsenal v Tottenham (1245), Blackburn v Fulham, Middlesbrough v Manchester Utd (1715), Portsmouth v Aston Villa, Reading v Bolton, Sheffield Utd v Charlton, Wigan v Liverpool
Sunday
Everton v West Ham (1600)
Monday
Manchester City v Watford (2000)