Sir Alex Ferguson said that Manchester United drawing level on points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table was “obviously significant” in the title race.

“It’s been a good night,” the United manager said a his side won and City lost at Everton. “But it’s still only the last day in January. I always see March as the important month and we’ve got City away in April.”

Ferguson will feel he scored another point over City with the signing of defender Frederic Veseli who was at Old Trafford having completed his switch. The 19-year-old Swiss under-20 international, who has been at City for four years, will initially join up with United’s reserve team.

Veseli did not make a first-team appearance for City and was allowed to leave because he was out of contract in the summer. “United have a long history of younger players coming through and hopefully I can follow and do the same,” he said.

Ferguson added that he thought his depleted team had been “terrific” in defeating Stoke. “We kept our composure and were patient,” he said.

“OK, we won with two penalties, but the manner in which we played our football was the main thing.” He said he was relieved that Javier Hernandez appeared to be returning to form and that United had suffered a “right nightmare” with goalkeepers Anders Lindegaard and David De Gea both being injured in the same training session which led to a league debut for 21-year-old Ben Amos.

“We are hopeful Wayne Rooney and Nani and Ashley Young might be back for Sunday,” he said of the prospects of United’s injury list shortening before their next league match, away to Chelsea.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis said he felt that United might now have the advantage in the title race. “The one thing United have got over City is that they have won the league)before and they get stronger after Christmas,” he added.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini blamed himself for his side’s potentially damaging defeat at Everton on Tuesday night.

The Italian conceded he had been complacent having watched City‘s three-point lead at the top of the Premier League get wiped out following a 1-0 defeat at Goodison Park.

Former Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson, whose old club now trail the leaders only on goal difference, scored the only goal of the game on the hour.

Mancini said: “I didn’t prepare well for this game. I thought it was maybe easier. I know here it is never easy, never.”

Elsewhere Liverpool took their impressive cup form into the league with a 3-0 win over Wolves thanks to Goals from Andy Carroll, Craig Bellamy and Dirk Kuyt.

It moves Liverpool into fifth spot above Arsenal.

Chelsea needed a late equaliser at Swansea to salvage a point piling more pressure on manager Andre Villas Boas. It was also another flat day for Fernando Torres who once again failed to find the back of the net.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp – currently on trial for tax charges – saw his side overcome Wigan by three goals to one at White Hart Lane.