Clash of Titans

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.



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."

This eagerly awaited heavyweight clash at Old Trafford could be a defining match in the title race, as both clubs bid to make up ground on leaders Liverpool.

Chelsea go into the weekend three points behind the Merseysiders; Manchester United are seven points off the pace, and four points behind the Blues with two games in hand on both.

The top home club faces the top away club, going into this round of top division fixtures. United are unbeaten at Old Trafford; Chelsea unbeaten on the road so far in this Premier League campaign.

Chelsea are the first of the 'Big Four' clubs to visit Old Trafford this season; United have drawn one (at Chelsea) and lost two (v Arsenal and Liverpool).

The Red Devils are the first of the 'Big Four' Chelsea have faced away from home; Scolari's side have already lost to Liverpool and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.

The last time Chelsea turned up at Old Trafford for a Premier League match, Jose Mourinho had just left the club, and Avram Grant took charge for the first time. The Blues lost 2-0.

Defeat for the home club will be their 150th league loss under Sir Alex Ferguson, and 300th home defeat in top-flight football; defeat for the Blues will be their 100th Premier League loss away from home.

Chelsea had to rely on a headed goal from Salomon Kalou 10 minutes from time to salvage a point from a pulsating reverse fixture in September. Park Ji-sung had given United the lead in the 1-1 draw.

Manchester United have conceded more goals (43) and dropped more points (58) to Chelsea than to any other club in the Premier League.

The Red Devils were the last club to beat Chelsea in a Premier League game by more than a single goal (23 September 2007); Chelsea were the last club to beat United by more than a single goal (29 April 2006).

Distance between the clubs: 204 miles (328 kilometres)

Key Players:

MANCHESTER UNITED

Cristiano RONALDO is yet to score a Premier League goal against Chelsea.

Edwin VAN DER SAR is leading the race for the Barclays Golden Glove, along with Jose REINA of Liverpool and Chelsea's Petr CECH. All three have kept 11 clean sheets, ahead of this current round of fixtures.

If selected:-

Rio FERDINAND will be making his 200th Premier League appearance for Manchester United.



CHELSEA

Kose BOSINGWA and Frank LAMPARD are the only remaining players to have started all of Chelsea's Premier League matches this season.

Nicolas ANELKA is the top-scoring Premier League player with 16 club goals in all competitions, and is leading the race for the Barclays Golden Boot with 14 Premier League goals.

Petr CECH is level with Liverpool's Jose REINA and Manchester United's Edwin VAN DER SAR, in the race for the Barclays Golden Glove. All three have kept 11 clean sheets (going into this weekend's fixtures).

Chelsea 1 Arsenal 2

Two goals from Robin Van Persie were enough to hand Chelsea a second home defeat of the season and give the Gunners a title life-line.

Team News - For the fixture Luiz Felipe Scolari had to do without the injured quartet of Michael Essien, Ricardo Carvalho, Franco Di Santo and Joe Cole, whilst Didier Drogba was absent through suspension.

Although Alex was declared fit, Scolari chose to keep his recent centre back partnership of John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic intact whilst Deco, who was suspended in midweek, returned at the expense of Joe Cole who picked up an ankle knock in France. Salomon Kalou made the starting eleven ahead of Florent Malouda who had to be content with a place on the bench. Also on the bench was our promising youngster Miroslav Stoch

First Half - Arsenal got the action underway in what was to be a scintillating first forty-five minutes. Chelsea had an early appeal for a penalty turned down when Anelka tumbled after a Fabregas tackle but Mike Dean probably called it right.

Arsenal then went on the attack and Van Persie won a corner that Chelsea were forced to clear at the near post. Chelsea responded with an Anelka shot, after a great Kalou run, that was deflected for a corner but the Arsenal defence easily cleared it.

Ivanovic, playing his fifth consecutive game, then conceded a corner but once again it was cleared at the near post. Cech then produced a save after the ball was played back in but the lurking Gallas couldn`t force the rebound home.

Arsenal, thankfully, were playing football instead of parking the bus and Cech had to react smartly to save from Fabregas from twenty-five yards. Denilson then fired over from a decent position before Bosingwa, on a great forward run, skipped past two defenders but made a hash of his cross.

Chelsea were, by now, matching Arsenal and a great ball from Deco saw Almunia rush out to smother the danger, before another swift attack saw Almunia save smartly after Lampard had headed a great cross from Bosingwa straight at the keeper.

Arsenal were struggling to contain Chelsea and Kalou was fouled on the edge of the box but Balalck saw his shot cannon off the wall. As the half hour mark approached, Chelsea opened the scoring.

Almunia caught a Lampard corner but hastily threw it out and Chelsea regained posession. Some slick passing saw Bosingwa fire in a good low cross and Djourou turned the ball into his own net.

Chelsea pushed on, Deco won a corner but it was cleared before Sagna had to react smartly to cut out a great Deco ball. Arsenal tried to get on level terms and Cech had to react quickly to save a Van Persie effort before denying Fabregas from twenty yards.

Deep into the two minutes of stoppage time Chelsea launched a quick counter attack and Anelka almost glanced a header past Almunia but it went just passed the upright.

Second Half - The second half though didn`t turn out as we planned.

Lampard had the first effort of the half but fired wide after some good approach work from Kalou and Anelka. And then just before the hour mark, the roof fell in.

Van Persie got the better deal from an offside decision that clearly saw Bosingwa play him offside before lashing the ball past Cech. Two minutes later, Chelsea conceded a free kick and when it was played into the box Adeybayor headed it down for Van Persie to spin and drill it past Cech.

The goals stunned Chelsea and, to be honest, we never looked like getting back on level terms. Lampard saw a shot blocked by Nasri before Van Persie`s dreams of a hat trick were quashed when he drilled a free kick over the bar.

Scolari tried to shuffle the pack by introducing Malouda in place of Mikel and the Frenchman showed that he didn`t have his shooting boots on by firing over on a couple of occasions. As time ran out Lampard drifted a shot wide before Deco`s last contribution was to unleash a woeful shot that went high and wide.

Miroslav Stoch came on for the last ten minutes but was never given a chance to show his skills and, in the end, it was left to Cech to deny Denilson with a smart save as Arsenal threatened to turn it into a rout.

One lasting memory on a day when Stamford Bridge showed it`s far from a fortress is the fact that we failed to test Almunia on a single occasion in the second half.

Chelsea Team - Cech, Bosingwa, Terry, Ivanovic, A.Cole, Mikel (Malouda - 68), Lampard, Ballack, Deco (Stoch - 81), Anelka, Kalou

Unused Subs - Cudicini, Bridge, Ferreira, Alex, Mineiro,

Chelsea Scorers - Djourou (og)

Chelsea Yellow Cards Terry, Ivanovic

Chelsea Red Cards - None

Chelsea 0-0 Newcastle United

Chelsea dominated the game but were frustrated by a hardworking Newcastle side who fully deserved their battling point.

Frank Lampard had the best chance of the first half for the home side, but his point-blank header was saved well by Shay Given.

Newcastle worked hard and grew in confidence as the half progressed with decent spells of possession but were unable to create any clear-cut chances.

It was more of the same after the break and Chelsea had a goal ruled out for offside in the 55th minute. Shay Given parried Florent Malouda's powerful effort into the path of Joe Cole who scrambled the ball over the line only to see the flag raised.

The league leaders stepped up the pressure and thought they'd scored seven minutes later when Given appeared to have taken Lampard's free-kick over the line but the appeals were waved away.

Chelsea continued to monopolise possession but the Magpies hung on for a well-earned draw, with Danny Guthrie and Nicky Butt both outstanding for the visitors.

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Blackburn 0-2 Chelsea

Chelsea ensured it was many happy returns for manager Luiz Felipe Scolari with a confident victory at Blackburn to send them back to the top of the Barclays Premier League table.


There would have been more welcoming places for Scolari to celebrate his 60th birthday than Blackburn on a cold and rain-drenched afternoon but the three points made the perfect present for the Chelsea manager.

Nicolas Anelka scored both goals, one by luck and the other by pure finisher's skill, to make it a scoreline that accurately reflected the balance of the match.

Blackburn, who have now not won in six Premier League matches, had promised to give Chelsea a searching test, and it was one the league leaders passed with some comfort as only Paul Robinson in the Rovers goal kept the score respectable.

Victory was achieved without Didier Drogba even making the trip to the north-west, and question-marks remain over his long-term future at the club, especially now Anelka has established himself as the manager's favourite.

Blackburn must have hoped the pouring rain would be in their favour but Chelsea took to the conditions like ducks to water.

Disaster nearly struck early on for the home side when Keith Andrews' awful back-pass was intercepted by Anelka, who appeared to be felled by the sliding Robinson.

Referee Chris Foy ignored the shouts for a penalty however, due perhaps to Anelka's over-theatrical tumble.

Blackburn put their faith in hard work but again were nearly undone by lapses of concentration. Anelka was completely unmarked when Jose Bosingwa sent over a straightforward cross and Robinson was forced to save his downward header with his feet.

After John Terry had landed a header on the roof of the net, Robinson was forced to save again with his feet to deny John Obi Mikel from close range.

Florent Malouda was the next Chelsea player to be wasteful, slicing wide from 15 yards after a poor clearance, before Robinson was in action again, this time pushing aside a low drive from Frank Lampard.

Blackburn finally put a good passing move together, and what a move it was - only Petr Cech's acrobatics prevented Carlos Villanueva giving Rovers an undeserved lead.
Morten Gamst Pedersen's first-time cross found Villanueva and the Chilean's fierce left-footed shot was brilliantly parried by the Chelsea goalkeeper.

That near-miss seemed to hearten Blackburn and they started to push back Chelsea - and now the conditions were getting really tricky, with the ball being held up by standing water.

It still seemed only a matter of time before Chelsea broke through and Robinson had to be at his very best to keep out Anelka's shot which came through the legs of a defender.

Lampard thumped in another 25-yard effort that the Rovers goalkeeper clubbed away, before - almost as soon as the rain stopped - Chelsea took the lead in freakish circumstances.

Bosingwa's long-range hit-and-hope was heading wide until it struck Anelka and trickled across the line with Robinson wrong-footed and unable to change direction in the slippery conditions.

Rovers began with more purpose in the second half and Jason Roberts had a gilt-edged chance for an equaliser when Pedersen lofted a pass to the edge of the box, and the striker turned away from John Terry to give himself a clear sight of goal but Cech's looming presence blocked out the shot.

The spell of pressure continued as Villanueva hammered a strike over the bar after Roberts had again got the better of Terry.

With less than half an hour remaining, and concerned no doubt by the apparent change in the direction of the game, Scolari stiffened the side by taking off Salomon Kalou and sending on Juliano Belletti.

It certainly had the desired effect as Anelka scored his second to put the game beyond Blackburn's reach.

Malouda and Lampard combined on the edge of the box and the England midfielder stabbed a short pass to put Anelka in the clear and he finished with aplomb, lifting the ball over Robinson to make it 2-0.

Aaron Mokoena sidefooted a half-chance past the post as Rovers tried to find some hope, then Chelsea nearly extended their lead with Robinson tipping Lampard's dipping free-kick onto the crossbar.

Anelka raced through in the closing minutes searching for another hat-trick and the icing on the birthday cake but once more Robinson was heroic.

Chelsea 5 : Sunderland 0

If the mission was to make Stamford Bridge the fortress it had been for the past four and a half years before Liverpool barged down the gates last week then this was a splendid start.

A short-range effort from Brazilian defender Alex notched up the 1,000th Chelsea goal in the Premier League. A Frank Lampard header gave the Chelsea midfielder the 100th league goal of his career. And a Nicolas Anelka hat-trick completed a rout which had the home jokers chanting sarcastically "Boring, boring Chelsea."

In truth Chelsea hardly required a fortress to repel a Sunderland side who all but waved a white flag in the teeming rain which drenched Stamford Bridge.

The Wearsiders, dismal in defeat against Stoke in midweek, were as woeful as Chelsea's passing and movement was wonderful.
So woeful that manager Roy Keane was sent to the stands by referee Martin Atkinson as his frustration boiled over in the half-time tunnel when he verbally remonstrated with the officials.

Before the match Keane had warned it takes at least four days for him to recover his karma when he loses his temper. After this performance it might take him until Christmas.

Keane had made five changes to the starting line-up, dropping Djibril Cisse and El-Hadji Diouf to the bench and handing striker Kenwyne Jones his first start of the season after recovering from the knee injury which had kept him out for four months.

But not one Sunderland player would have passed the exacting Keane contribution test on an afternoon when the Chelsea fans taunted them with chants of 'Cheerio.'

The tone was set from the kick-off as Chelsea penned Sunderland in their own half, dominating possession, fizzing the ball around the greasy surface with precision.

They signalled their intentions as early as the 16th minute when Deco swivelled sweetly on the edge of the area and sent a swerving angled shot thundering against the Sunderland crossbar. It was the shot of the match, a demonstration of Portuguese quality. But there was more, much more, to come.

And Chelsea confirmed their authority with two goals in two first-half minutes.

The first arrived from Rodrigo Dias de Costa, otherwise known as Alex, who started the move in midfield. The ball was switched to Joe Cole out on the right and when it fizzed across the penalty area it deflected off goalkeeper Marton Fulop into the path of Alex, who had continued his run, and he swept the goal home from three yards.

Not the grandest of strikes but it will still grace the record books as Chelsea's 1,000th Premier League goal.

Number 1,001 was scored by Anelka, but again owed much to the prescience of Alex.

This time it was Lampard who provided the angled cross, which skidded across the penalty area off the rain-drenched surface.

Alex again got the touch as he slid in and although the ball was about to cross the line Anelka made sure, smashing the ball home from no more than 12 inches.

Anelka slotted his second, again from close range, on the stroke of half-time.

It got worse for Sunderland in the 51st minute when Joe Cole supplied the cross for Lampard to head home and two minutes later Anelka completed his hat-trick, again from close-range with the ball looping off the body of goalkeeper Fulop and dropping agonisingly over the line.

Sunderland raids were rare but one did bring the save of the match from Petr Cech, who dived bravely at the feet of Cisse to palm the ball away.

But that was scant consolation for Keane who sat in the stand, hunched into his overcoat, whispering into his mobile phone.

He might well have been telling chairman Niall Quinn how many reinforcements he needs in the January transfer window.

As for Chelsea, they go to Roma in midweek in buoyant mood. The fortress as secure as ever.

Chelsea v Sunderland preview

Sunderland will have to buck the trend if they are to beat Chelsea in this weekend’s Premier League encounter at Stamford Bridge.
There was a startling difference between these two sides in midweek as Chelsea dismantled fifth-placed Hull, while Sunderland were beaten 1-0 by lowly Stoke.

Roy Keane’s side is further hampered by their dreadful recent record against the former Premier League champions with Chelsea having won their last seven league games.

Sunderland find scoring against Saturday’s opponents a difficult task with just two goals in their last eight top-flight encounters against The Blues.

The Black Cats are likely to start with the fit-again Kenwynne Jones who came off the bench at the Britannia Stadium.

This means plenty of aerial combat for the Chelsea rear guard, but one player who will not be locking horns with the Trinidad & Tobago striker is Ricardo Carvalho who is out for a minimum of three weeks with a thigh strain.

Chelsea boss Luis Felipe Scolari may partner captain John Terry with Alex in the heart of the defence and Joe Cole is a doubt with an ankle knock suffered in the midweek game at Hull.

Scolari's team will be looking to banish memories of the Liverpool reverse which ended the 86-match unbeaten home record last Sunday, but the wayward form of Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka, in front of goal, will be a cause of concern for the Brazilian as they chase their 1,000th Premier League goal.

Influential goalkeeper Craig Gordon is struggling with an ankle injury, so Marton Fulop is expected to start his third consecutive game for Sunderland.

Phil Bardsley has a dead leg but should travel to West London, while Teemu Tainio, Nyron Nosworthy and Grant Leadbitter are pushing for places in the starting Xl.

PIVOTAL PLAYER: Frank Lampard. With the continuing absence of Didier Drogba in the Chelsea attack, lampard continues his dual roles of playmaker and goalscorer.

Scolari praise for Lampard goal

Luiz Felipe Scolari has given Frank Lampard his vote as World Player of the Year after his wonder goal at Hull City.



Lampard is one of five Chelsea players on the 23-man FIFA shortlist for the award.

In total there are 10 Barclays Premier League players nominated and Lampard showed the reason for his inclusion with a superb opener in his side's 3-0 win at the KC Stadium.


The England star picked up the ball on the left edge of the area and carefully flighted a delicate chip over Boaz Myhill and just inside the far post after just two and a half minutes.
It left Scolari purring: "It was one of the best goals I have seen in my life. It was fantastic.

"Maybe only Frank Lampard could have scored that! It was very intelligent play to watch the keeper and put the ball where he did.

"My vote goes to Frank Lampard for World Footballer of the Year. He is one of the best goalscorers in the world and very clever.

"He played well all game and never tired, he is fantastic. It was an important goal because it was hard for Hull going behind inside three minutes."

Chelsea had plenty of chances to stretch their lead but still led only 1-0 at the break with Florent Malouda missing four great opportunities.

Nicolas Anelka saw a powerful drive across goal turned away by Myhill to his right and was also just off target with another effort.

Geovanni struck the base of a post for Hull City whose hopes of a second-half revival were dashed just four minutes after the re-start when Anelka nicked the ball away from Myhill and slotted into the empty net.


Malouda added a third 16 minutes from time with a simple tap-in but Scolari added: "The second goal killed them.

"After that we played with more freedom and confidence. They offered us a lot more of the pitch to counter-attack.

"At 2-0 the game opens up and it becomes easier to score three or four."

The Chelsea manager though was full of praise for the newly-promoted club who have made such an impressive start to their first ever campaign in the top flight.

He said: "I like Hull. They are very difficult to beat. Their players jump well and fight well and they have quality.

"I like this team. They want to show people that Hull are a good team. And I like Geovanni.

"I know him very well from Brazil. He is a big friend and I know his family. He is one of the best players for Hull."