Owen Hargreaves has written off Liverpool’s title challenge for another year.
The Manchester United ace says it is now a three-horse race for the Premier League — between the Red Devils, Arsenal and Chelsea.
Hargreaves insists Rafa Benitez’s team are too far behind the leading pack and are already out of the running.
And his damning verdict will come as another kick in the teeth for the restless Reds.
With angry supporters turning up the heat on Liverpool’s American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, it is now a miserable 18 years since the club were last crowned league champions.
Midfielder Hargreaves said: “I looked at the Premier League table on Saturday evening and Liverpool were 15 points behind us.
“I know they had a couple of games in hand but that is still a massive gap for them to close at this stage of the season. So it looks to me as though it’s going to be a three-horse race between United, Arsenal and Chelsea.
“Chelsea have done really well to hang in during a tough period when they have changed their manager — and they are still contenders.
"But I can’t see anyone beyond the current top three as title winners and hopefully in May we’ll still be on top and looking down on everyone else.”
Hargreaves, who celebrated his 27th birthday on Sunday, is convinced that United are just moving into top gear.
And he is determined to play a full part in their charge to the finishing line after a stop-start first six months at Old Trafford.
He said: “I’ve just completed my first full week’s training since I joined United and this is the best I’ve felt for a long time.
“I arrived at the club with a knee problem so I wasn’t training all week and just playing in games.
“That took a lot longer to heal than anyone expected and I was just starting to get my fitness back when I developed a muscle injury in my back just after we’d beaten Liverpool in December.
“That’s been the story of my season so far — frustrating little niggles and strains which have stopped me from playing more than a couple of games in succession.
“Last season I had a broken leg but, with an injury like that, at least I knew how long I was going to be out for.
“Maybe the injuries I’ve had this season have been a legacy of that broken leg.
Click here to find out more!
Perhaps it’s the physical intensity of the English game, even though I enjoy that side of the game.
“Don’t forget that this season has all been new to me, a different environment, different climate, different pitches. Maybe my body has needed time to get used to all the changes.
“To be honest, I don’t want to think about injuries any more. I could go on about them forever.”
United were chasing Hargreaves’ signature for more than six months before he finally completed a £17million move from Bayern Munich in the summer. Now he wants to start repaying Alex Ferguson’s faith in him.
He added: “The club paid a lot of money for me and now I want to be involved in every game and show what I am capable of.
“My injuries are finally behind me and I’m sure I’ll be fit for the second half of the season — the most important part of the campaign.
“I’ve got to be positive and optimistic and look forward to the next four months because I think United can have a fabulous season.
“The boss keeps telling us that this is where the titles are won.
“We’ve got some big goals this season and we’re going to need everyone out there to help.”
Be The First To Comment
Please Leave Your Comments Below