MANCHESTER - Sir Alex Ferguson insisted that the Premier League title race will be a three-way fight between Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea after Dimitar Berbatov's second-half strike sealed a narrow 1-0 win against Middlesbrough at Old Trafford on Monday.

MANCHESTER - Sir Alex Ferguson insisted that the Premier League title race will be a three-way fight between Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea after Dimitar Berbatov's second-half strike sealed a narrow 1-0 win against Middlesbrough at Old Trafford on Monday.

Berbatov's third league goal and the club's seventh successive league clean-sheet - secured victory for the reigning champions to within seven points of leaders Liverpool with two games in hand.

United struggled to overcome Gareth Southgate's team, but with the points in the bag, Ferguson predicted a tense run-in to the title in 2009.

"It's going to be a great run-in, really exciting, but I wouldn't say that Liverpool are a greater threat than Chelsea now," said Ferguson.

"Chelsea are a great side too, but the important thing is to do our own job. Important results will come in April and May.

"We are now in a good position at the turn of the year, though, and we have the two games in hand - against Wigan and Fulham - which are both at home.

"We have played more fixtures away from home, so once we have played those fixtures at home, it brings us level with those we have played away." Ferguson admitted that United's problem has been converting their chances." - Sapa-AFP