Fergie expects tough battle at the top

(GSM) – Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is anticipating a tough battle at the top of the Premier League table this season.

After Tottenham Hotspur broke into the top-four last season and Manchester City’s great spending in the transfer market, Fergie realizes that there is an increased amount of pressure on the ‘big four’.

Tottenham’s Champions League finish came at the expense of Liverpool, who slipped to seventh last season.

Ferguson wants to beat Liverpool’s record number of league wins, with both clubs having won 18 titles.

But the United boss expects the competition to be tougher than ever this season.

“Things definitely changed last season – it was a different league altogether compared to what we’d seen before,” said Ferguson.

“The top four found it difficult and dropped points in games they wouldn’t have expected to. That’s an indication of the improvement made by other teams, and I think there’ll be a bit of a dogfight for the top four places this season.”