For the past three seasons, the top of the Premier League has been a closed shop. While both Manchester United and Arsenal have recently dropped out of the Champions League places, so far their financial advantages and traditional pulling power for top players have kept their heads above water.

If Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s new-look Manchester United needed a calibration to measure how far they have come since Jose Mourinho departed then this match, despite the result, should leave them standing tall.

With no end to his defensive injury nightmare, Alex Ferguson is facing Champions League oblivion at Old Trafford tomorrow.

MANCHESTER UNITED skipper Roy Keane insists he has not been affected by the row which has erupted over his controversial autobiography.