Premier League
play pause open Close
 
Played
May 8, 2011 4:10 PM BST
Old Trafford — Manchester
Referee:‬ H. Webb‎
Attendance:‬ 75445‎
 
1′ Chicharito
Frank Lampard 69′
23′ Nemanja Vidic
 

Manchester United - Chelsea Preview: Carlo Ancelotti's men looking for fourth consecutive Premier League victory over their title rivals

Blues are looking to extend a winning streak in Premier League meetings with the Red Devils, and will go ahead in the title race if they defeat their Champions League conquerors

By Adithya Ananth

More On :  Chelsea FC, Manchester United, Manchester United vs Chelsea FC
Manchester united Vs Chelsea (Rooney VsDrogba)
mahmoud maher


Shop for the latest footy kit


PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Manchester United (4-4-2)
Van der Sar; Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Nani, Carrick, Giggs, Park; Rooney, Hernandez.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson recently admitted that Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra should be able to feature in the blockbuster clash against Chelsea.

The Scot is also expected to make changes to the line-up that he fielded against Schalke, with Michael Carrick, Rio Ferdinand , Ryan Giggs, Javier Hernandez , Park Ji-Sung, Wayne Rooney and Nemanja Vidic all likely to return to the starting XI.

Sir Alex has also confirmed that Darren Fletcher will not start on Sunday, despite having made a cameo appearance against Schalke.

Chelsea (4-3-3)
Cech; Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cole; Essien, Mikel, Lampard; Malouda, Drogba, Kalou.

Carlo Ancelotti has an almost full squad to choose from, with only Jose Bosingwa being out through injury. Yury Zhirkov is expected to undergo a late fitness test to determine whether he can play any part in the clash at Old Trafford.

There have also been reports that Fernando Torres could be dropped from the starting line-up for this clash, as the Spain international has scored only once since his January move to Chelsea.

DID YOU KNOW?
  • Manchester United have not lost a single Premier League game at Old Trafford this season. Their record reads 16 wins, one draw, and no losses.
  • The Red Devils have also scored 43 goals at home this season, which is the most by any team in their own backyard.
  • United have picked up 10 out of a possible 15 points from their last five league games. Their dropped points came in the form of a goalless draw against Newcastle United at St James’ Park, and a defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
  • Sir Alex’s charges are also on course to equal Chelsea’s record of accumulating a mammoth 55 points at home. The Blues won 18 and drew one of their 19 games at Stamford Bridge during the 2005-06 season.
  • No team has scored a first-half goal in the league against United at Old Trafford this season.
  • Chelsea are undefeated in their last 10 Premier League games, with eight wins against their name. But during this period, they did lose twice to the Red Devils in the Champions League.
  • But the Blues have done well away from home in the domestic circuit, as they have scored 29 goals on their travels. Only Arsenal (36) have scored more.
  • But to Carlo Ancelotti’s credit, his players are also the most defensively adept unit when playing away from home, as they have shipped in only 17 goals so far. This is the least number of goals conceded by any team in the top-flight on their travels.
  • Despite having lost two Champions League matches to the OId Trafford outfit, the Blues have the upper hand in league games. They have won the last three league meetings between the two sides. But it has to also be noted that Chelsea have managed to keep only one clean sheet in their last 15 visits to Old Trafford.
  • Florent Malouda (pictured above) is Chelsea’s top scorer in the Premier League with 13 goals to his name.

Follow the Premier League LIVE on Goal.com:
Commentaries, Stats, Player Ratings and much more,
Visit Goal.com Live Scores!


Follow Goal.com on Twitter

Follow Goal.com on Facebook
Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Manchester United 1-2 Chelsea FC
    21.7 %
  • Manchester United 2-1 Chelsea FC
    14.83 %
  • Manchester United 2-0 Chelsea FC
    14.02 %
Head to Head
Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 5 Feb 2012 Chelsea FC 3 - Manchester United 3
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 18 Sep 2011 Manchester United 3 - Chelsea FC 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ 8 May 2011 Manchester United 2 - Chelsea FC 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎ 12 Apr 2011 Manchester United 2 - Chelsea FC 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎ 6 Apr 2011 Chelsea FC 0 - Manchester United 1
  • Player Ratings
  • Match Report
  • Play by Play
  • Preview
Last Five Matches
Manchester United
13 May 2012Sunderland 0 - Manchester United 1EPL
6 May 2012Manchester United 2 - Swansea City 0EPL
30 Apr 2012Manchester City 1 - Manchester United 0EPL
22 Apr 2012Manchester United 4 - Everton 4EPL
15 Apr 2012Manchester United 4 - Aston Villa 0EPL
Chelsea FC
19 May 2012FC Bayern München 1 - Chelsea FC 1UCL
13 May 2012Chelsea FC 2 - Blackburn Rovers 1EPL
8 May 2012Liverpool 4 - Chelsea FC 1EPL
5 May 2012Liverpool 1 - Chelsea FC 2FA
2 May 2012Chelsea FC 0 - Newcastle United 2EPL
Odds
Returns: Manchester United £32.00 188bet Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game
Returns: Draw £80.00 Sportingbet Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets!
Returns: Chelsea £1510.00 Sportingbet Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets!
Team News
Available Squads
1Edwin van der Sar Goalkeeper
16John O'SheaDefender
5Rio FerdinandDefender
15Nemanja VidicDefender
20Fabio Da SilvaDefender
13Ji-Sung ParkMidfielder
16Michael CarrickMidfielder
11Ryan GiggsMidfielder
25Antonio ValenciaMidfielder
10Wayne RooneyStriker
14ChicharitoStriker
29Tomasz KuszczakGoalkeeper
17NaniMidfielder
12Chris SmallingDefender
8AndersonMidfielder
22Paul ScholesMidfielder
9Dimitar BerbatovStriker
6Jonny EvansDefender
1Petr CechGoalkeeper
3Ashley ColeDefender
4David LuizDefender
26John TerryDefender
2Branislav IvanovicDefender
5Michael EssienMidfielder
12John Obi MikelMidfielder
8Frank LampardMidfielder
15Florent MaloudaMidfielder
11Didier DrogbaStriker
21Salomon KalouStriker
22Ross TurnbullGoalkeeper
33AlexDefender
19Paulo FerreiraDefender
7RamiresMidfielder
30Yossi BenayounMidfielder
9Fernando TorresStriker
39Nicolas AnelkaStriker
Players to Watch
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 10
Games Goals YC RC
34 27 1 0
Wayne Rooney has hit form at the right time for United, and has been putting in strong displays in recent weeks.

He missed the clash against Schalke due to injury, but has regained fitness in time to make this game.

The England international will want to stamp his authority in one of the biggest games of the season, and vanquish the demons that haunted him during the first half of the campaign.
Petr Cech
Petr Cech
Position: Goalkeeper
Squad Number: 1
Games Goals YC RC
34 0 0 0
Petr Cech may have some work to do in this encounter, as the Blues have not kept a clean sheet in their last 15 trips to Old Trafford.

His performance between the posts could make all the difference, as the west London side have had no real trouble scoring goals away from home.

The performance put in by the Czech Republic international could make be decisive if the Blues are to retain their hopes of winning the title.
Probable Lineups
Edwin van der Sar 1
John O'Shea 16
Rio Ferdinand 5
Nemanja Vidic 15
Fabio Da Silva 20
Ji-Sung Park 13
Michael Carrick 16
Ryan Giggs 11
Antonio Valencia 25
Wayne Rooney 10
Chicharito 14
Petr Cech 1
Ashley Cole 3
David Luiz 4
John Terry 26
Branislav Ivanovic 2
Michael Essien 5
John Obi Mikel 12
Frank Lampard 8
Florent Malouda 15
Didier Drogba 11
Salomon Kalou 21
Prediction
United and Chelsea are well matched in terms of quality coupled with form, and this should make for a very interesting encounter.

The Red Devils have a chance of parking the bus and carving out a draw that would give them a massive advantage in terms of winning the title, but it appears unlikely that such a system will be adopted by manager Sir Alex Ferguson - particularly as it is a home game.

Ryan Giggs also recently admitted that the gameplan is likely to be an attacking one to kill any real hope that the Blues might have of winning the title. But the likes of Didier Drogba and Malouda pose a significant threat themselves, and could threaten the hosts’ back line.

An entertaining game appears to be in the offing. And considering the home form shown by United pitted against the recent run that Chelsea have been on, a draw would appear to be likely.
Editor's Prediction
Manchester United 2
Chelsea 2
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Match News
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Robin van Persie Robin van Persie
Striker
Arsenal 		30 2
Wayne Rooney Wayne Rooney
Striker
Manchester United 		27 6
Kun Agüero Kun Agüero
Striker
Manchester City 		23 3
Aiyegbeni Yakubu Aiyegbeni Yakubu
Striker
Blackburn 		17 4
Emmanuel Adebayor Emmanuel Adebayor
Striker
Tottenham 		17 3