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Vidic says depth will help United overtake Arsenal

Nemanja Vidic believes Manchester United's superior strength in depth will help his side overhaul Arsenal in the race for the Premier League title.

United trail leaders Arsenal by five points, but Serbia defender Vidic is convinced the extra quality of Sir Alex Ferguson's squad will prove the decisive factor at the business end of the season.

The reigning English champions were able to snatch a Champions League draw at Lyon in midweek after Ferguson sent on Nani and Carlos Tevez, who scored the late equalizer.

It is that kind of impact from the bench which has Vidic in positive mood ahead of Saturday's trip to Newcastle.

"We are capable of finishing games strongly because we have so much strength on the bench. Nani and Tevez made a big difference when they came on in Lyon," Vidic said.

Ferguson's side should have little to fear from a Newcastle team still searching for their first win since Kevin Keegan took charge, although the bitter memory of a 6-0 defeat at Old Trafford last month may drag a defiant display from the hosts.

By the time United kick-off at St James' Park in today's late game, Arsenal could be eight points clear.

Arsene Wenger's team play Birmingham in the weekend's first Premier League match, with Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor confident they will end a two-game goal drought at St. Andrews.

"It is slightly worrying and for Arsenal not to score in two games in a row will lead to some frustration," he said. "But we know that we can score at any time -- our belief is still high and we want to show that in Birmingham, by playing our football and getting back to scoring.

"It's a big difference going to a team like Birmingham after playing against Manchester United and Milan, but as footballers we have to keep our focus very high.

"We know that if we play the same against Birmingham as we did against Milan, we will win," Wenger said.

Jamie Carragher is determined to make sure Liverpool forget about their European heroics and concentrate on getting back into the Champions League through their domestic form.

Rafa Benitez's side are on a high after their 2-0 win over Inter Milan on Wednesday, but Carragher is realistic enough to admit they are far from certain to clinch a top-four finish in the Premier League.

The defender knows a win against Middlesbrough at Anfield today would keep the pressure on fourth-placed Everton.

"We realize that we've now got three or four league games before the second leg in Milan and we're going to have to make sure that we are in this competition next season," Carragher said.

"There's something about us when we play in Europe but we've got a job to do in the Premier League and we have to make sure we don't lose sight of that," he said.

At the other end of the table, Derby manager Paul Jewell insists he can't afford to let sentiment get in the way as he returns to Wigan for the first time.
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