Furgueson: Five Horse Race for the Title

Sir Alex Ferguson believes the Premier League title race is a five-horse affair and that it could take as little as 82 points to become champions.

Not since Manchester United completed the last of their first hat-trick of championships a decade ago has any team finished top with so few points. On that occasion, 80 proved enough to see off Arsenal by a 10-point margin.

In more recent years, 90 points has been the aim, United and Arsenal reaching that figure once each in the past decade, and Chelsea breaking through the barrier twice under Jose Mourinho.

Now, instead of the bar being raised, rungs are being whipped away from the bottom, not just by title contenders Manchester City and Tottenham, but progressive outfits such as Sunderland, Bolton and West Brom, whom United visit on Saturday. All three have collected points from clubs expected to do far better, which is why Ferguson feels sights have to be trained somewhat lower this term.