NOTLOB PREVIEW
“I know fine well things can change overnight. The top teams can lose a couple of games and you're back to square one again.
“The deciding factor is always around April in the title race, but by January you have a good idea of the teams who will be there at the end of the season. It's never changed.
“I don't know if we've done anything different this season. I just think it has been our mental approach in knowing that we needed to get off to a good start.
“I have to say 90 points is exceptional. It's difficult to say whether that will be enough. We know we'll have to get a high points total to win the league. Therefore every game is important.”
Gary Neville:
“We started off so badly last season, and the season before, that we did not even give ourselves a chance.
“We've gone on fantastic runs from maybe November through to March in the last two seasons, going unbeaten for 20 games, but still could not catch Chelsea because they've been 12 points in front of us.
“This season we are determined not to get so far behind. We have to perform week in, week out.”
Allardyce on Rooney:
“I hope he doesn't start scoring again against us. But he seems to have started playing exceptionally well again after a bit of a lean time.
“I'm sure Sir Alex and everyone at United is pleased because he is a hugely talented player who gets a lot of media attention and the club have handled him extremely well.
“You can't make plans to stop Rooney — not if he is on top form. I think he can now challenge the world's best.
“But there are other players in their team who can damage you - Scholes is a like a new player for Sir Alex and he is showing his class above all midfield players in this country again.
“He's kept his profile as low as he possibly could and I think that is the only reason he hasn't won any of the individual awards. But he is one of the world's best and that's the opinion of everyone else in football.
“And Ryan Giggs seems to have got a new lease of life and is enjoying his football and playing better than ever.”