We are not out of the race - Moyes

LONDON - It seems early in the season to be talking about must-win games, but the gap between Manchester United and leaders Arsenal already stands at 12 points.

If the champions are to retain even the slightest hope of retaining the Premier League title, they must beat Newcastle United tomorrow. A 1-0 defeat at home to Everton on Wednesday means United have taken just two points from their last three games, and criticism for David Moyes, who replaced Sir Alex Ferguson as manager, is growing.

Moyes, though, insisted his side was still capable of winning the league. "We will need to play some great football and win an awful lot of games in the run-in if we are going to be in there and around it come the end of the season," he said.

When asked if he thought his side was capable of doing that, Moyes replied: "Yeah, I've got nothing to suggest anything else."

Arsenal, four points clear at the top of the table, face Everton on Sunday, and will have centre-forward Olivier Giroud back after resting him for their victory over Hull City on Wednesday.

"I have always felt this squad is capable of going anywhere in this league and playing teams eye-to-eye," said Everton manager Roberto Martinez. "But we have done nothing - we need to carry on improving, carry on getting better."

Second-placed Chelsea go to Stoke City with manager Jose Mourinho insisting the performance in the 4-3 win at Sunderland on Wednesday was the best they have produced away from home this season.

Sunderland, bottom of the table and five points from safety, host Tottenham Hotspur, with manager Gus Poyet insisting there were positives in Wednesday's defeat. "If we fight like that and we do it in the way we have done it, we should be okay by the end of season."

Southampton look to put a run of three straight defeats behind them at home to Manchester City, while Liverpool host West Ham United and Hull City go to Swansea City.