Sir Alex Ferguson has described Manchester United's visit to Tottenham on Saturday as "one of the most important games" his side will play this season.
Trailing the Premier League leaders Liverpool by six points, Ferguson knows the gap may increase further next weekend when Rafael Benítez's men visit Arsenal and second-placed Chelsea go to Everton.
At the same time, United will be packing their bags and getting ready to head home after completing their Club World Cup campaign in Tokyo.
As Ferguson feels United must be in touching distance on New Year's Day to stand any chance of securing a third successive title, a win at White Hart Lane this weekend is crucial.
"It is one of our most important games of the season," he said. "We have a great record down there and hopefully we still will have after Saturday.
"But Tottenham are in good form, so I am expecting a close contest and a good match. It always is against Tottenham. It is a game that people look forward to because there is usually a quality about it, particularly at White Hart Lane, and there quite often are a few goals."
Since their last defeat at Spurs in 2001, United have won six out of seven there, the sequence ended by a 2-2 draw last season. Much has changed since then, most notably United's £30.75m capture of Dimitar Berbatov from the north London club in September. The Bulgarian forward may not, however, have recovered from an achilles injury in time to face his former team.
Michael Carrick, another Spurs old boy, is also an injury doubt, as is Rio Ferdinand, but Ferguson expects all three to be fit by the weekend. Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra are both suspended for the match.
"I don't know what my midfield options are going to be on Saturday," he said. "But with the squad we have, hopefully we will be able to cope. Nonetheless you would rather not have these problems."
Meanwhile, Jonny Evans says he is pleasantly surprised at the amount of matches he has played for United this season. The Northern Ireland central defender made his eighth start of the campaign in the 2–2 draw against Aalborg in the Champions League at Old Trafford last night, replacing the rested Nemanja Vidic.
"I was not expecting to play as many games as this. Wes [Brown] has been injured and the manager wants to rest Rio [Ferdinand] and [Nemanja] Vidic at times," said the 20-year-old. "It is nice to get a few games. I am keeping patient and trying to improve as much as I can."
Despite dropping two home points against Aalborg, Evans was pleased United completed the business of finishing top of Group E undefeated and ahead of Villarreal.
However, United could face some stiff opposition in the knockout stages, not least of all from Real Madrid and Internazionale. Also in the mix are Sporting Lisbon, Atlético Madrid and Lyon.
The European Cup holders, though, will have the advantage of being at home in the second leg after finishing top of the group.
"It is an advantage and that will help. The main thing is to win your home matches," said Evans. "But they are all serious opponents and will make it tough for us. This competition is such a hard one and each of those teams pose different threats."
Evans admitted United were flat against the Danes as they went into the match knowing qualification was already assured. "We were told to quicken the game up and be a bit more disciplined," he said. "When you are already through to the next stage the concentration has to be really top, and we did not defend well for those two goals. But at least we did not lose."
