Chelsea v Manchester United preview

Manchester United face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge knowing they must deliver if they are to keep pace at the top of the table.

United have only beaten Portsmouth so far this season and, after the 2-1 defeat at Liverpool on Saturday, have plenty of ground to make up.

Sir Alex Ferguson will hope the return of Cristiano Ronaldo will provide the spark to reignite his team’s form, but Chelsea do not appear fazed: “We are strong enough to deal with him,” Deco said, while Frank Lampard claimed he was “not too concerned, really”.

However, the stats suggest they may be underestimating his powers: United have scored only five goals in the last eight games without him. With him, they looked like the best team in the world.

Whatever the benefits of Ronaldo’s return, Ferguson still has plenty to think about for the game.

For one thing, Dimitar Berbatov is struggling with the knee injury he picked up at Anfield and, while he is expected to play, he may not be fully fit; for another, that game saw Nemanja Vidic sent off and hit with an automatic suspension.

As a result, the United boss is deciding whether to bring Northern Ireland centre back in as a direct replacement or shift Wes Brown into the centre and give Gary Neville another game as he comes back from long-term injury.

"I need to work out whether I go with Evans' ability but lack of experience or whether I opt for Wes' experience and Gary at full-back," Ferguson said.

Either way, the Rio Ferdinand and Vidic partnership has been hugely important for United and it is little wonder that Ferguson was frustrated to see Chelsea centre back John Terry let off the hook for his red card against Manchester City on the same day.

But, on the whole, Chelsea would have to start the game as favourites with or without the England captain.

Luiz Felipe Scolari’s men have looked ready to reclaim the title from the outset and have little reason to fear anyone – but this will be their first real test of the season, and the draw at home to Tottenham suggested frailties that must not be allowed to resurface.

Didier Drogba came on against City last weekend and, although he was suspended for the 4-0 win over Bordeaux on Wednesday, he could be back in the side and will no doubt feel he has a point to prove – he was sent off against United in the Champions League final in May.

In midfield, Michael Essien is out until around March next year after surgery but Michael Ballack should be back among the substitutes after playing the final 30 minutes against Bordeaux.

Regardless, Scolari has enough options in every position and – as such – he seems less likely to gamble on unfit players for the match.

In the Chelsea camp, the talk before the game has been all about winning the game and sending a message out to United that they want their title back and you would not bet against them.

But Scolari will be aware that his team can still afford to draw or even lose the game and stay in the title race. For United, defeat – and all that would bring – could well cause terminal damage to their hopes of retaining the league for a third successive season.

Player To watch:

DIDIER DROGBA:
If he plays then he will no doubt feel he has a point to prove – he was sent off against United in the Champions League final in May.

Cristiano Ronaldo:
There are any number of players capable of stealing the show at Stamford Bridge and Ronaldo has not always risen to the big occasion. But – the departure Carlos Queiroz aside – his absence has been the big difference for United this season and, after a promising showing against Villarreal on Wednesday, Ronaldo may be responsible for keeping the title dream alive on