Manchester United bids to shrug off Liverpool setback

LONDON — Manchester United aims to show at Fulham on Saturday that its shock 4-1 loss at home to Liverpool won't be repeated and that a third Premier League title in a row will soon be in sight.

Although the defeat meant that its lead at the top of the standings was cut to four points, Alex Ferguson's team still has a game in hand and is out to send a message to title rivals Chelsea and Liverpool that they won't get any closer.

United has a tricky visit to Craven Cottage where Fulham has a solid home record, Chelsea has tough game at improving Tottenham while Liverpool, which is level on points with the Blues, hosts fifth-place Aston Villa on Sunday.

Cristiano Ronaldo believes the Red Devils still have the ability to win five titles this season.

"We're positive about all the competitions we're involved in and we want to win them all," the United winger said on Thursday. "It would be great to achieve that.

"Last season we won the league and the European Cup, and this year we have the opportunity to do even better. We'll continue working hard and we believe we can do this."

United is in Friday's draw for the Champions League quarterfinal and faces Everton for a place in the FA Cup final having already won the League Cup and the Club World Cup.

Ronaldo's optimism that United can complete all five isn't shared by Ferguson, however.

"The thing about cup football is you need to be the best but you also need a lot of luck and I think it's asking too much for all the games to go your way," said the veteran manager, who has accumulated 24 titles in 23 seasons at Old Trafford.

"The one thing I will say is, this squad is the best I have ever had. Every game we play, I feel confident. At the moment, every attack fears our defense and every defense fears our midfield and attack. That gives you confidence. But it is too tough a call."

Ferguson will be without central defender Nemanja Vidic for the game at Fulham and the April 5 match against Villa after he was sent off against Liverpool. The United manager also has to decide which of his strikers to start against Fulham having rotated Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov and Carlos Tevez in recent games.

Chelsea has won its last four league games under temporary manager Guus Hiddink and hopes to make it five at White Hart Lane on Saturday.