LONDON, Dec 25: Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has presided over enough festive fixtures to know rotation is the key as he prepares for a busy period starting with the visit of Newcastle United in the Premier League on Wednesday.

A disappointing 1-1 draw at Swansea City on Sunday saw United’s lead at the top cut to four points over Manchester City and maximum points at home to Newcastle and West Bromwich Albion and away to Wigan Athletic are on Ferguson’s holiday menu.

He can take heart from the fact that Newcastle, who languish in 14th place, have not won at Old Trafford since a 2-0 victory in the old first division way back in 1972.

Ferguson has been cheered by the return of key defenders from injury including Serbia international Nemanja Vidic, who made his first start since September at Swansea, and Jonny Evans, who also started the match in Wales.

“We now have three games in the next nine days,” said Vidic. “Obviously we have a few players who are coming back from injury and they will be important for that period.”

United’s problems in defence are reflected in the 25 goals they have conceded so far — the highest by a team topping the Premier League at Christmas since Norwich City, who had let in 34 goals by the same stage of the 1992-93 season.

And Evans remains wary of the power in the Newcastle strike forced provided by Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse.

“When the ball is floating around in the box, they beat people in the air,” Evans said. “And their goal record is what got Newcastle to where they were last year.”

City, who needed a stoppage-time goal from Gareth Barry to beat bottom-placed Reading on Saturday, head to Sunderland on Wednesday as the season reaches its halfway mark. They visit Norwich City and host Stoke City after that.

And City defender Kolo Toure believes United’s failure to defeat Swansea on Sunday gives fresh impetus to their challenge.

“It’s giving us encouragement because we haven’t played to our best yet,” Toure said ahead of Wednesday’s game at Sunderland.

“Every team knows we are champions. They play 200 percent and that makes it really hard for us. We just keep fighting, keep pushing and we can still be better.”

Third-placed Chelsea’s free-scoring form is slowly chipping away at the enmity toward new manager Rafa Benitez from the club’s fans.

The 8-0 demolition of Aston Villa on Sunday showcased Chelsea’s attacking prowess, and dispelled some of the fears about the dour football Benitez could introduce after replacing Roberto Di Matteo at Stamford Bridge last month.

That victory left Chelsea 11 points behind United but with a game in hand and Benitez refuses to write off the prospect of a title challenge.

“You could see the mentality of the players, even at 6-0 we were pushing and trying to score more,” he said ahead of a crucial 15-day Christmas-New Year program where they have to negotiate another five games, starting on Wednesday at Norwich. “The team are attacking as a whole and not just depending on one or two players.

“Now we have to sustain this run, keep winning some games and then it will be easier for me to send a message out that we can compete.”

Boxing Day would usually see every Premier League team in action, but Arsenal’s match against West Ham was postponed due to a strike by London Underground workers threatening to disrupt transport in the city.

Arsenal have a loose grip on the fourth Champions League qualification place, with Everton, Tottenham and West Brom only behind on goal difference as they prepare to face relegation-threatened teams.

Everton host Wigan, who lost to Arsenal on Saturday, Tottenham are at Villa, and West Brom face Queens Park Rangers, who are just a point off the bottom of the standings. Bottom-placed Reading host Swansea, while Southampton, who are only out of the drop zone on goal difference, are at Fulham.

Liverpool visit Stoke looking to build on Saturday’s 4-0 home win over Fulham as they also chase European football.

Fixtures (1500GMT unless stated):

Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur (1730GMT), Everton v Wigan Athletic, Fulham v Southampton, Manchester United v Newcastle United, Norwich City v Chelsea, Queens Park Rangers v West Bromwich Albion, Reading v Swansea, City, Stoke City v Liverpool (1945GMT), Sunderland v Manchester City.—Agencies