Focused Fergie looking ahead

Reds boss sets his sights on title rivals

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is already looking ahead to this month's fixtures against Arsenal and Chelsea.

While Ferguson's more immediate concern is whether tomorrow's Barclays Premier League encounter with Blackpool at Bloomfield Road beats the weather, pre–Christmas fixtures against United's main rivals have taken on greater emphasis with his side now two points clear at the summit.

The Gunners visit Old Trafford on December 13, with the trip to Stamford Bridge following six days later.

And as Arsenal and Chelsea meet on December 27, Ferguson accepts it is going to be a crucial period.

"You always want to win those games because they are really significant," said Ferguson.

"We have managed to claw ourselves into a position where we are two points ahead of Chelsea, so the game at Stamford Bridge and Arsenal's trip to Manchester will certainly be very important, there's no doubt about that.”

Ferguson is certain to make changes tomorrow, with Wayne Rooney, Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Dimitar Berbatov – fresh from his five–goal haul against Blackburn – set for a recall following the shock 4-0 Carling Cup defeat against West Ham on Tuesday.

United's first visit to Blackpool since 1974 comes at the start of what is always a pivotal period of the season.