Kevin McCarraconsiders Alex Ferguson's key role in his side's impressive bid for the Premiership

The most remarkable effect of Chelsea's plutocratic domination has been to turn Manchester United into popular freedom fighters. If public antipathy towards the Old Trafford club has not been abandoned completely, it is at least in temporary storage.

Sport is supposed to surprise and the sight of Alex Ferguson's team sitting comfortably at the top of the table has been good for the reputation of the Premiership, even if Liverpool will be out to reawaken United's insecurities today.

Ferguson has renovated his own reputation in the process, and the team's impact cannot be treated merely as a side-effect of difficulties and discord at Stamford Bridge. United, for instance, are nine points better off than they were at this stage a year ago. Money has not been the catalyst since Ferguson's outlay in the transfer market was offset by the £10 million Real Madrid paid for Ruud van Nistelrooy and compensation of £12 million from Chelsea in the dispute over Mikel John Obi.

Some feel that a fixation with Roman Abramovich's club diverted attention from the improvement that had been ongoing at Old Trafford. United, for instance, were 16 points adrift in mid-January 2006, only for the gap to be closed to nine before they were clouted 3-0 by Chelsea in late April.

"The signs were there," said the former United player Lou Macari. "It was a fair showing and I believed they could be in contention again."

By then Ferguson's own form had taken a turn for the better in the transfer market. Edwin van der Sar had arrived to add reassurance in goal and Patrice Evra, an unexpected acquisition from Monaco, got over a horrible debut in the Manchester derby to develop a reliability at left back that meant the side could cope after Gabriel Heinze's fitness became uncertain.

The significance of Nemanja Vidic, in particular, cannot be understated and Ferguson was gleeful at signing a centre back who loves to defend and has no secondary interests on the field.

"They've got a blend there," said Gordon McQueen, himself a former United centre half. "With Rio Ferdinand there you had the combination of a footballer and an uncompromising character."

With 19 goals conceded in the Premiership, United's defensive record is currently as good as Chelsea's. The opposition scored 34 against them in the league last season.

Ferguson can also claim it was beneficial to offload Van Nistelrooy. United, with 65 goals in the Premiership, are now more dangerous because the threat comes from many areas. Cristiano Ronaldo is top scorer with 16 but the side need not count on him as Chelsea often do on Didier Drogba.

While United have not depended on misfortunes and miscalculations at the reigning champions, Jose Mourinho's squad is no longer as intimidating as it was. The Chelsea manager opted to work with a smaller group and, whoever had the final say, the transfer dealings have not enhanced the club.

"I'd rather have William Gallas and Damien Duff than Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko," said McQueen, summing up the comings and goings.

Other factors have worked to United's benefit. A manager is simply grateful for eight players who have been available to start 20 or more of the 28 Premiership fixtures to date. With that comes continuity and fans who nicknamed Ferguson "Tinkerbell" for meddling with line-ups and formations are relishing the stability. That is all the more unexpected since several of the players had looked vulnerable.

United have five players, including Henrik Larsson, aged over 30. This has been a boon to Ferguson, who had no cause to think that Paul Scholes (32) and Ryan Giggs(33) could contribute so much. Early last season Giggs had been melancholy in an interview, worried about a "far superior" Chelsea squad and faintly concerned about his own place in the United team. Giggs had hamstring problems, while concern about Scholes' eyesight ensured his role last season ended on December 28th, 2005.

"They've both been fit this season," said Macari, "but, if the opposite had happened, it could have blown United off course."

There is a doubt as to whether we are witnessing the rebirth of Ferguson's side, with Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo to the fore, or a last hurrah from the generation of Scholes, Giggs and Gary Neville. The coach, Carlos Queiroz, highlighted the attractions of the past when he claimed that the winger could soldier on, presumably with hamstrings in order, until 2010.

It is more likely that the challenge of rebuilding will have to be met, and that, in turn, will turn the spotlight back on the Glazer family and the scale of transfer budget they can afford. Gary Brownson, a United supporter for over 30 years, is typical in appreciating recent results while realising that there is no comparison with the modern golden age that culminated in the 1999 Champions League success for a dashing team with many home-grown talents.

"The defensive cover of Michael Carrick has helped," he said. "Last year we were left totally naked in central midfield for long periods. Playing John O'Shea and Darren Fletcher was never going to rip up any trees. We are still found wanting against good central midfields. From our four games against the three other top sides we've taken a total of four points. Not so impressive. But those games alone don't usually win you titles. This midfield weakness will stop us in Europe, which is why the manager wants Owen Hargreaves so much, and quite rightly so."

Brownson, though would welcome the title after a four-year wait. "I'll take any summer at all, even if it's just an Indian one," he said, surely speaking for an entire support.

Guardian Service