United On Easy Street

You can’t argue about the start Manchester United have made to the new Premiership season. Maximum points from the first three games. Ten goals scored and only two conceded. Top of the table. Two points clear of Harry Redknapp’s Portsmouth, Martin O’Neill’s rejuvenated Aston Villa and David Moyes’ battling Everton – and more importantly, three ahead of rouble rich Chelsea, five up on Liverpool and a massive eight point advantage over Arsenal (though admittedly the last two have a game in hand).

But there is justification for a word or two of caution. Not just the fact that it’s early days and at this stage the league table means very little. More to the point, with the greatest respect to the opposition Sir Alex Ferguson’s boys have faced so far – Fulham at Old Trafford and Charlton and Watford away - it is going to get harder. Much harder. And when that happens, the fight for the Premiership will become really interesting