MANCHESTER UNITED boss Sir Alex Ferguson is in determined mood after a dramatic weekend of action left the Reds six points clear of main Premiership rivals Chelsea - despite a last-gasp defeat to Arsenal.

As the dust cleared on the face-offs between the top four, Fergie was left to reflect on Liverpool's 2-0 toppling of Jose Mourinho's men and his own side's 2-1 loss away to the Gunners.

He fully expects his men to swiftly bounce back from what was only their third defeat of the season - two of those at the hands of Arsene Wenger's side.

"Teams at the top always drop points on the run-in. It happens - but how you cope is important," he said.

"Only true champions come out and show their worth and I expect us to do that."

Ferguson vowed his side would learn from their late capitulation and use it as a spur for the rest of the campaign.

"When I look at it we have some important away games to come and this will be good for us - we'll not be making the same mistake," the Old Trafford boss said.

United looked in sight of extending their lead at the top over Chelsea to nine points when Wayne Rooney opened the scoring.

But Arsenal stormed back for victory with Thierry Henry getting a last-minute winner after substitute Robin van Persie - now sidelined for several weeks with a broken metatarsal - had equalised seven minutes from time.

Wenger maintains the Red Devils remain in the driving seat to break Chelsea's grip on the Premiership crown.

He said: "This will be a big disappointment for Manchester United - but do not expect them to crumble because of it.

"But it is good for the interest of the Premiership, because everybody still has a chance.

"With 10 minutes to go Manchester United were maybe champions, but at the end of the game you cannot say that."

Chelsea manager Mourinho pulled no punches after strikes from Dirk Kuyt and Jermaine Pennant consigned his team to defeat at Liverpool.

He said: "We must be pragmatic and understand the reality of where we are.

"In the Premiership we could survive in the other matches - we took one point against Fulham, three points against Wigan.

"But this Liverpool game was one that we knew if we were not strong it would be difficult to win."