Pre-season pundits had predicted a five-horse title race between United and Chelsea, a Liverpool side who finished second last season, Arsenal and big-spending Manchester City.
Instead, City's still gelling squad have drawn half of their league matches, Liverpool have struggled to win games and Arsenal, eight points off leaders Chelsea with a game in hand, are still troubled by inconsistency.
Sunday's visit of Arsenal could be just the tonic the Spaniard needs.
Defeat for Arsene Wenger's side, however, would move seventh-placed Liverpool within a point of them having played a game more.
The Russian could be joined by Theo Walcott who has returned from injury while Liverpool's 20 million pound signing Alberto Aquilani could feature after making his first start in Wednesday's 2-1 Champions League defeat to Fiorentina.
"It is good that we are now playing two games at home. We owe the manager because he is really mad and we have to make sure we win these next two games," Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel told the club website.
Second-placed United, who trail Chelsea by two points having both played 15 games, host Martin O'Neill's fifth-placed Aston Villa with a lengthy injury list.
"We have a very difficult game on Saturday against Villa, they are always very hard to play against, but our form is good and you want that going into any game. Hopefully we can keep it going," Ferguson told the club website.
Manchester rivals City travel to Bolton Wanderers hoping last Saturday's 2-1 victory over Chelsea will galvanise their campaign, while fourth-placed Spurs host second-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers.
