Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes that this season's league champions will not require the kinds of points totals needed to win the Premier League in recent seasons, reports The Guardian. "There is a trend of leading sides dropping more points," he said.

"It happened to us last season when teams got results against us that you wouldn't expect - don't forget that Manchester City beat us twice and we lost to Bolton. In this league you can lose anywhere because it is so competitive. That is emphasised when you look at the bottom of the league. I have never known it as tight as that. If you win two games, you are challenging for a European place."

Asked if he thought his side could put together a run of six or seven straight victories, Ferguson replied: "No, I don't think that will happen, it's going to be a tight league."