Manchester United 1 Newcastle United 1

THE longer Manchester United battered against Newcastle United's well-blockaded back door on Sunday, the higher Dimitar Berbatov's value rose. With Chelsea finding their stride so quickly, last season's double winners know they may have to stump up £30 million ($64.3m) for the Tottenham striker. On this evidence, they cannot wait.

Berbatov certainly cannot wait. "No one can disagree with me wanting to follow my dream," remarked the Bulgarian. Similarly, no one can disagree that Alex Ferguson's side needs another attacking option. Chelsea's evisceration of Portsmouth proved to Ferguson that their London rivals mean business.

"It's disappointing," said Ferguson, who also lost Michael Carrick for two weeks to a swollen ankle and Ryan Giggs to a hamstring injury. "But there are 37 games left, so it's not a disaster. We have shown we can come from behind before [in title campaigns]." Mindful that his team started slowly last year, Ferguson is right not to panic but as pictures of Chelsea's goals were beamed into Old Trafford there was an ominous sense that Ferguson's men cannot afford many slips.

Darren Fletcher cancelled out Obafemi Martins's 22nd-minute goal almost immediately but the hosts then failed to break down the resolute visitors.

"I'm not going to say, 'I love it!"' smiled Kevin Keegan, evoking memories of past jousts with Ferguson. "But I was really pleased with the attitude. It was spot on. I said to the players if we can come here and do that we can go anywhere."

Keegan's 4-5-1 formation worked because every one of his players exuded determination: from Shay Given in goal to the excellent Fabricio Coloccini in defence to Danny Guthrie in central midfield to the industrious Martins upfront.

Ferguson was missing Carlos Tevez following the death of his uncle, and Wayne Rooney was influential one minute, short-fused the next, in a display that will have left England manager Fabio Capello shaking his head.

■ Luiz Felipe Scolari described Sunday's 4-0 win over Portsmouth as the "perfect start" to his reign as Chelsea manager but acknowledged his real challenge was to consistently inspire a repeat of the entertaining display.

Chelsea fans had never chanted Avram Grant's name during his short spell in charge, but they were in full voice for the new boss, whose team produced what Scolari called "a beautiful game".

The Telegraph, London