Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says it's too soon to write off Chelsea's title challenge.

A point in front of Manchester City, the Red Devils are now seven ahead of third-placed Chelsea, sparking fears of a runaway, as was the case last season when Arsenal were an incredible 19 points behind the pair who were split by the tightest of goal difference margins.

"You can't be certain of saying it's going to be a two-horse race at this stage," said Ferguson. "But over the years we've said that the top five or six are all capable of winning the league and eventually it does ends up being a two-horse race. Year after year it's been like that.

"There was space between the two teams and others last year. The important thing to do is just look at yourselves - we want to be up there all the time. We need to stay up there and this is not an easy league to do it in."