Sir Alex Ferguson is convinced his current Manchester United side is on the verge of greatness.

Without five senior figures the Red Devils were never at their best against Everton on Wednesday night but they still recorded a 3-0 win which maintained their three-point advantage over Chelsea.

With less than half the season gone, Ferguson knows there is too much time remaining to start making boastful statements. But he said: "The players have a lot to work for. I think they are on the verge of achieving something great at this club and you don't want to miss these things."