• Premier League

United can still win title - Villas-Boas

Javier Hernandez scared late on to seal a 3-2 win for Manchester United over Stoke last week © Getty Images

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Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas expects Manchester United to challenge for the Premier League title, despite their unconvincing start to the season.

David Moyes has come under fire in some quarters as his side have struggled to live up to the expectations surrounding the club, yet Villas-Boas suggests United are well placed to retain the crown they took back from Manchester City last May.

"What I would say is they [United] are definitely sitting in a good position because the fixtures that they have played have been very difficult and they look to be coming back strong and achieving the results that they need," Villas-Boas said.

"I would suppose they will re-join the rest of the top teams and by the end of the season. The distance [between them and the top sides] is nothing in the Premier League and I would guess that they will be competing for the top place.

"For the champions of England to be sitting in their position, there has not been a lot of drama, to be fair. I was involved in another club before and there was more drama surrounding my results than Man United's results."

Villas-Boas' side face a huge test of their own title credentials on Sunday as they travel to face Everton at Goodison Park, with the Tottenham boss expecting the congested battle at the top of the Premier League table to continue right through this unpredictable season.

"From eighth to first place it is very, very tight and we will see teams going up and down," added Villas-Boas. "It has broken a little from seventh place up to first now, but United have played all of the most difficult fixtures and can look at the calendar with a little more positivity than others."

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