EPL - Manchester United v Chelsea - Jan 11
-
Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand returns to the team after a four-game absence with a back injury.
Patrice Evra is also back after his four-match ban, so United have only Owen Hargreaves and Wes Brown missing.
Chelsea welcome back captain John Terry for the trip to Old Trafford after he served a three-match suspension.
Michael Ballack is also available after a ban and Jose Bosingwa should play despite picking up a knock, but Florent Malouda (hamstring) misses out. <!-- E SF -->
Man Utd (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Foster, Neville, Rafael, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, O'Shea, Ronaldo, Nani, Fletcher, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Park, Berbatov, Rooney, Welbeck, Gibson, Possebon.
Chelsea (from): Cech, Cudicini, Hilario, Bosingwa, Ferreira, Ivanovic, Terry, Alex, Mancienne, A Cole, J Cole, Obi, Lampard, Kalou, Anelka, Drogba, Stoch, Carvalho, Di Santo, Deco, Mineiro, Belletti, Ballack.
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson:
"Because Chelsea are one of the top teams in the country, there is more spice to it and more anticipation amongst the players. "I don't think there's been much change in the Chelsea team other than the swing in terms of home and away form. "They are still consistent, they are still very difficult to play against and they still have very good players."Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard:
"The errors have been very frustrating for everyone involved because we do work on them in training anyway. "Sometimes it has been an individual error or a collective one, but it has been very important because we have dominated the last two games and we lost out on a set-piece in the final minute each time. "We can't afford to let that happen against a team of Manchester United's calibre."HEAD TO HEADChelsea's only win in six Premier League matches at the Theatre of Dreams was 1-3 on 10 May 2005 when Tiago, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Joe Cole got on the score sheet. Discounting the penalty shoot-out loss in last season's Community Shield, Chelsea have only lost two of their last 15 competitive games against Manchester United.
Home and away
League (inc PL): Man United 55 wins, Chelsea 37, Draws 41
Prem: Man United 9 wins, Chelsea 10, Draws 14at Man United only
League (inc PL): Man United 26 wins, Chelsea 17, Draws 23
Prem: Man United 5 wins, Chelsea 4, Draws 7LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAMEManchester United 2-0 Chelsea
23 September 2007 - Ref: Mike Dean
Man Utd scorers: Tevez 45, Saha 90 (pen)
Sent Off: Obi (Chelsea) 32THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTUREChelsea 1-1 Manchester United
21 September 2008 - Ref: Mike Riley
Chelsea scorer: Kalou 80
Man Utd scorer: Park 18REFEREEHoward Webb (Yorkshire)
-
Originally posted by zocoss:
Our favourite guy Howard Webb is the referee... Hope he won't be out to help Pool again...
after the b/s from that baby from liverpool..... i think he will scared to make any decision in man u direction one lah... -
anyone but steve bennett.
-
I belief this match would be very difficult to win... Cos with Terry, Carvalho & Drogba all back, this will be tough. A draw would be the most likely result... But lucky Pool had an unexpected draw at Stoke so drawing this one isn't that bad also... at least Pool didn't run away further...
-
4-0 to Man Utd..
the "chelsea era" is over..there arent many chelsea jersey-wearing fans now compared when Chelsea was dominating
So much for diehard fans...Scorers
Ronaldo 24" (penalty)
Park 39"
Rooney 62"
Rooney 81" -
3-0 to MU.
Scorers
Berbatov (26,68), Van Der Sar (90) -
Michael Ballack: Liverpool Are Chelsea's Biggest Threat, Not Manchester United
As he prepares to step out at Old Trafford this afternoon, Michael Ballack has declared that Manchester United are no longer the “major threat” to Chelsea's title ambitions.
The Germany captain instead believes that Liverpool, who drew 0-0 with Stoke City yesterday, are the main obstacle the Blues must overcome in their quest for a fourth English championsip.
Ballack said in the News of the World, “A few weeks ago I was sure United were our strongest opponents but now I think Liverpool are the major threat.”
Such a statement would have been met with derisive laughter last season, or in any of the past Premier League campaigns, as the Reds have failed to mount any serious challenge since the competition's inception.
But Rafael Benitez's side are different prospect this term. They sit atop the table after 20 games and have shown they are capable of winning in all manner of ways.
What's more, the Anfield giants have proved themselves against their direct rivals: Man United fell on Merseyside in September, and a month later Xabi Alonso dealt the Pensioners their first league loss at Stamford Bridge since 2004.
And Ballack reckons the 18-time champs have what it takes to snare their long overdue 19th title.
He said, “They have shown in the past few games that they have the character to deal with being top of the league. They have shown they can handle pressure. Liverpool is a team we respect.
“It’s not like the past few seasons when they were inconsistent. It’s not like it is the middle of October or November — it’s the middle of January and they look like they can sustain a challenge for the title.”
Chelsea lie second in the standings and will reclaim top spot if they down the third-placed Red Devils today. -
You guys seem very optimistic... I think a draw could be the result.
-
VDS
G.Nev Rio Vida Evra
Ron Carrick Scholes Park
Berba
Rooney
IMO, if you can stop Chelsea's marauding wing backs, you've got a very good chance of winning against them.
Therefore, I think G.Nev should start in front of Rafael cause defensively, Nev is more reliable.
Lucky we've got Evra back on the left.
Cannot trust O'shea against Bosingwa. -
I think Scholes may not start... Cos firstly he started on Wed and secondly, he is also a little too slow for start of the match when all the Chelsea players will still be very fresh and strong... I think Fletcher may start alongside Carrick instead... Fletcher can run and run and run just like Park... and he scored that goal also against Chelsea...Maybe Fergie thinks he can do it again...
-
carrick will start becos he sprays the ball.
but i think he will play fletcher and park to mark the wingers..
unless he wants new tactics, i hope to see anderson! ;p
-
Oh no there's no Rio!!!
-
Originally posted by omgukilledkenny:
Oh no there's no Rio!!!
y?
when he has his off days, omg terrible.
-
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Giggs, Park, Berbatov, Rooney.
Subs: Kuszczak, Anderson, Carrick, Scholes, Welbeck, O'Shea, Tevez.
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Mikel, Joe Cole, Lampard, Ballack, Deco, Drogba.
Subs: Cudicini, Ivanovic, Di Santo, Ferreira, Kalou, Belletti, Anelka.
Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire) -
wad the hell?
he playing revolving midfield????
fletch n park mark wingers??
-
wth is this formation man..giggs as CM?
-
Got 3 CMs on the bench and he chose Giggs.
-
HAHA. i am equally lost, we shall see!
-
lose le this game...i think
-
Hopefully Scolari is as equally "WTF-ed" as us.
-
one thing, I suspect the referee may have Rafa's comments and play hard ball with SAF. So decisions will be swayed towards Chelsea, I think.
Also Howard Webb was the one who sent off Ronaldo, and Vidic, and Gunners players, so he seems to be pro-Liverpool.
I just hope that United get the first goal and invite Chelsea to come forward.
also hope for an entertaining game, unlike the one Stoke vs Pool, super boring..
-
Oh no... No Rio!
This is very bad...
-
Giggs and Fletcher in the middle? Whats happening?
-
saf ..kana bribe..why giggs why fletcher...why not carrick and giggs or anderson carrick scholes ???? ...
-
man utd are the favourites in this match.. chelsea just doesnt seem to be able to win the big teams anymore.
but im going for a 1-1 draw.