By Chris,
February 3 2011

Following the £50million coup of Fernando Torres, Wayne Rooney expects Chelsea to challenge Manchester United for the Premier League title. The Londoners, who also splashed out £20million on David Luiz on deadline day, are 10 points behind United but are returning to form.

Chelsea's 4-2 win at Sunderland on Tuesday evening was their third successive win.

The Stamford Bridge club made some jaw-dropping additions to their ranks on transfer deadline day, and a sense of optimism seems to have returned.

Chelsea splashed out £50million on Torres as a strike partner for Didier Drogba; though it was Nicolas Anelka and Salomon Kalou who were goalscoring heroes in Tuesday's win.

Rooney has responded to Chelsea's mini-resurgence by telling the press that the Red Devils "certainly haven't written off" the Pensioners in this season's bid for league honours.

"They are a big, strong side and we know if anyone is capable of going on a run it is them," he added.

Rooney bagged United's opening two goals on Tuesday as Sir Alex Ferguson's men maintained their unbeaten Premier League record with a 3-1 win over Villa.