RAW EGGS AND GUINNESS

Also in the Sun:

Alex Ferguson fears his Manchester United team are being out-muscled in the title race by the powerhouses of Liverpool and Arsenal.

Ferguson said: "It has to be accepted we do not have as strong a pool as Arsenal or Liverpool, particularly on the physical side.

"Both have built big, athletic squads. We may have to look at how we can inject freshness at the club that balances out the power of Liverpool and Arsenal. I'm not talking about ability but sheer, physical power and speed.

"We tend to tweak the team rather than have an overhaul. We have built on the great nucleus of players like Beckham, Butt, Giggs and Keane by adding one or two. Whereas Gerard Houllier came in and even this summer brought in four players. That is what you are seeing, the building of two teams here with Arsenal and Liverpool."

Ferguson believes he cannot continue to rely on the core of players that have served him so well in their decade of domination and believes United are now going through a transition period.

"There has to be a transition because you cannot think the same players are going to do it all the time. We built a great team that came together in 1999. Then Teddy left and Denis and Ronny came to the end. You forget how important these players were, they are massive losses.

"I still have faith in my team's ability and I still believe the title is up for grabs. By the end of this spell of five games we could be right back into the melting pot. I certainly believe we need to be within three points of the leaders by Christmas.

"From a point when Arsenal were looking down from their ivory tower saying they were going to be unbeatable and win the European Cup they are now looking at closing a four-point gap.

"At the moment Arsene Wenger keeps going on about their phenomenal fighting spirit because they are losing games. He is trying to grasp on something to pick his team up, we all do that when a team is not doing well.

"It will be silly to think Liverpool will not have a blip - and if they do we will be on their coat-tails.

"Hopefully, by the time we come to the real part of the season I will have Keane and Butt back and that will bring back some power, plus Wes Brown will be back to bolster the squad. At the same time, I may add to the squad to make us stronger for the run-in."