Liverpool may be top of the Premier League, eight points clear of Manchester United and the only unbeaten club in England's top division, but Sir Alex Ferguson still has his doubts about whether Rafael Benítez's team can make a sustained bid for the title.

The champions' manager believes that Chelsea remain United's most credible challengers and, despite the fact that he recognised the threat from Anfield, it spoke volumes that Ferguson admitted to being pleased Liverpool had won at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. "That was the result I wanted," he said.

United are in sixth place and yesterday, before tonight's game against West Ham United at Old Trafford, Ferguson said he was still dismayed by the manner in which his team surrendered a winning position against Everton at Goodison Park last weekend.

"We played some fantastic football and should have had them buried," he said. "A 1-1 draw wasn't the worst result in the world for us. Having said that, the feeling in the dressing room was that we had kind of thrown it away. But we're getting our squad back now and we can make changes if we need to."

One of those is likely to see the return of Michael Carrick, the former West Ham midfielder who has not played since cracking a bone in his foot during the 2-1 defeat at Liverpool on September 13.

"Michael will be back in the fold," Ferguson confirmed. "We took him with us to Everton but we didn't involve him. But he will be involved this time, so it's nice to see another player back."

There must also be a chance of Carlos Tevez being given a rare start, although his team-mate John O'Shea is not certain what system United will be facing.

"Obviously, certain teams like the five-man midfield but the last few seasons West Ham have come and tried to have a go," said O'Shea. "We will just have to wait and see what ideas they come up with this time."

West Ham will be without the striker Carlton Cole, who was sent off in the 2-0 defeat by Arsenal at the weekend.