Manchester United's meeting with Chelsea on Sunday has the importance of an end of season title decider, claims Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

United could move to within one point of Chelsea with two games in hand, a fact not lost on Ferguson.

"That will be a big game. It's unusual to have it in January, it's usually towards the end of the season," the Scot told Inside United.

"It's been later - in the last two or three games - for the last two seasons. It doesn't matter when you play Chelsea, though, it's always going to be a massive game.

"It's a little different with the timing, but we're still aiming to win it. They've done very well away from home but not so well at home so it's been interesting from them this season."