Title push will be tough - Evra

Patrice Evra has admitted Manchester United are going to find it harder to win the Premier League title than they imagined.

Sir Alex Ferguson told his players prior to their encounter with Everton that victory at Goodison Park would prove they were capable of collecting an unprecedented fourth successive championship.

Instead United left Merseyside with their tails between their legs after being punished in a 3-1 defeat for a below–par display even though they took the lead through Dimitar Berbatov.

With Chelsea’s defeat of Wolves, the Reds have fallen four points behind the title favourites and desperately need to make up lost ground.

United have an immediate chance to exert some pressure on Chelsea by beating West Ham at Old Trafford tomorrow.

Tiredness might have been a factor given the effort United put into their Champions League win in the San Siro on Tuesday.

But Everton were also in action at the same time and David Moyes made fewer changes.

United failed to win after going in front for the first time this season and late goals from Dan Gosling and Jack Rodwell condemned them to their sixth defeat of the season.

Changes are anticipated for the Hammers’ visit, partly because Rio Ferdinand has now served his four–match ban.

Central defensive partner Nemanja Vidic may find himself included as well after only making the bench following a recent nerve problem.