Sir Alex Ferguson: "I look at December as an opportunity to gather points.
"If we are top of the league on New Year's Day we know fine well, and so does everyone else, that we are going to be in the ball park at the end of the season.
"City and ourselves will be battling it out and they played really well for the first 20 minutes.
"But we expect a challenge. It is what we are good at.
"I don't like speculation about the futures of Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand.
"I would be surprised if Paul had spoken to some pal without speaking to me - and he hasn't - so we can dismiss that.
"Ryan could play for another year or two and Rio's form this year has been terrific.
"It is the kind of speculation you expect and comes from our policy of only giving older players one year contracts but I wouldn't pay it too much credence.
"People have spoken about us losing goals. I would hope that stops, or reduces it a good bit anyway."