It's a weird season. United have exactly the same number of points they had last season from the corresponding fixtures (switching relegated teams by their rankings) which must mean Pool are out performing their results from last year by a stretch.
I think both sides have things to be encouraged by. Pool are top of the table, have beaten United at home and have done so without Torres for chunks. United have now played almost all of the top 10 away, normally directly after a midweek game, so must be looking at hte second half of the schedule as 'downhill', and if they beat Fulham at home are within 3 points.
Personally I still expect both of us to be battling for second, Chelsea still have the best squad in the league. If United had Hargreaves as an option and Scholes wasn't past it, I'd think they might do it, but a midfield of just Fletcher and Carrick is going to bring championships over a season.