Darren Fletcher: Manchester United Are Ready For Three-Way Title Tussle

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EPL: Darren Fletcher, Portsmouth - Manchester United (PA)

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• Darren Fletcher

As we wade into the second half of the Premier League campaign, no team has yet managed to announce themselves as the undisputed frontrunners.

Liverpool thought they had when they thrashed Newcastle United in the final game of 2008, but they kicked off the New Year with a tame stalemate against Stoke City.

Chelsea, who have been jockeying for top spot with the Reds all season long, now risk falling behind after being hammered by Manchester United on Sunday.

But Red Devils midfielder Darren Fletcher believes the strength in depth of the English top-flight means that no club can be ruled out on the basis of one defeat.

"It is going the distance," Fletcher said in The Daily Mail. "The Premier League has been very competitive and very unpredictable this season. 

"Any team can get a result against all the others and even at the top, you cannot discount anyone after just one bad result. 

"I know recently people have tended to say it will only take one defeat to put you out of the title race but I don't think it will be like that this time."

United's win over the Blues means they will go top of the table if they win their next two games, against Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic.

A triumph for Rafael Benitez's men in January 19's Merseyside derby would see them reclaim first place immediately, however, and Fletcher reckons things will still be see-sawing like that in May.

"It will be very close right until the end," he said. "But we have experienced it before and we will be ready again."

Mike Maguire, Goal.com