Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney believes they're in a good position after victory over Middlesbrough.

"I think we are in a good position," he said. "We would have liked to have played those two matches in hand but we've got them to come.

"If we can get some good results in those games we would be in a really good position.

"You can never write Arsenal off and they are a good team and Aston Villa are doing well as well but in the end I think it will be down to one of the top three."

Chelsea have scored 40 times in 20 matches and have a goal difference of +31, well in excess of their two main rivals.

Rooney admits it is something which the players are conscious of and are trying to rectify.

"Of course we want to score more goals. Going into the last game of the season last year goal difference could have won the league," he added.

"We want to try to get our goal difference up but this stage of the season is a difficult period and you are just looking to get points on the board. We missed some good opportunities against Middlesbrough, the keeper (Ross Turnbull) made some good saves but that is football, it happens.

"It has happened a bit more than we would have liked this first part of the season so hopefully we can start taking those chances."