Luiz Felipe Scolari says he is to blame for Chelsea's Premier League defeat at Manchester United on Sunday, but insists his side must now pull together if they are to get their season back on track.

The Chelsea manager said he was wrong to open up the midfield at Old Trafford, and conceded his poor planning for set-pieces cost them dearly in the 3-0 drubbing.

"It's more my error than the players," Scolari said. "Now I need to change systems and start from new. "We need more to work together and when it is wrong we need more togetherness."

The defeat extended Chelsea's current run of three victories in their past 11 games in all competitions, leaving them four points adrift of leaders Liverpool and only a point ahead of United, who have two games in hand.

"I say this to the press - I opened the midfield and I am responsible for us conceding the goals because I tried to change the result," Scolari said "(Losing) 1-0, 3-0 or 5-0 is the same to me. Other coaches try to say 'no'. I say 'yes, I am wrong' - this is my style.

"But after one victory, or two or three, we will relax and win more. We just need more attention and more togetherness."

Sunday's lacklustre performance has led to some questioning Chelsea's title aspirations, with reports hinting at a breakdown in the relationship between Scolari and his players - in particular Nicolas Anelka. The France striker was alleged to have rowed with Scolari after being asked to play on the left wing - a position he hated under previous manager Avram Grant.

But Scolari denied that there had been a falling-out. "There has been no row with me," he said. "It is my choice sometimes - this or that player. I have 24 good players but only two centre-forwards. One is playing and not the other.

"Everybody thinks it is easy to play two strikers because they are good. But I try to prove to the people and for me and Chelsea, that is difficult."

Scolari said if his players fail to show the right spirit they might struggle even against Southend, who they face in a potentially tricky FA Cup replay on Wednesday.

"Southend is the game of the year," he said. "We need to think the same way. "It's the FA Cup. If our spirit is not the same as Southend's, then it's difficult, but if our spirit is the same then we have good chance because we have better players than Southend.

"But we need to prove it on the pitch."

Scolari has almost a full squad to pick from to face Southend. He is only missing long-term knee ligament victim Michael Essien and France winger Florent Malouda, who has a hamstring strain.