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Premier League Preview: Manchester United - Portsmouth
While Red Devils pursue first place, Pompey strive for first league win of 2010
5 Feb 2010 16:43:00
By Steven Saunders
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Kick-off 15:00 GMT, Old Trafford, Manchester
By 5pm on Saturday, the entire length of the Premier League table could separate these sides, an indication of the differing circles in which Manchester United and Portsmouth now move.
Some sections of the Manchester United support are fretting over the financial predicament of the Red Devils, but even that is vastly different to the clouds of doom lingering over Fratton Park.
The latest twist to Pompey’s wretched season is that their new owner, Balram Chainrai - the fourth custodian of the club this season – has explicitly said he has zero interest in them.
Add in the missed payments to players, and it is not difficult to see why Portsmouth head to Old Trafford looking for just their fifth league win in 24 attempts.
United, meanwhile, can usurp Chelsea as top dogs in the table with a victory and can then sit back in the full knowledge that come Sunday, one or both of the Blues and Arsenal will drop points in the title race.
FORM GUIDE
Manchester United
Jan 31: Arsenal 1-3 Manchester United (Premier League)
Jan 27: Manchester United 3-1 Manchester City (League Cup)
Jan 23: Manchester United 4-0 Hull City (Premier League)
Jan 19: Manchester City 2-1 Manchester United (League Cup)
Jan 16: Manchester United 3-0 Burnley (Premier League)
Portsmouth
Feb 3: Fulham 1-0 Portsmouth (Premier League)
Jan 31: Manchester City 2-0 Portsmouth (Premier League)
Jan 26: Portsmouth 1-1 West Ham (Premier League)
Jan 23: Portsmouth 2-1 Sunderland (FA Cup)
Jan 12: Coventry 1-2 Portsmouth (FA Cup, after extra time)
TEAM NEWS
Manchester United
Nemanja Vidic returned to training this week and is in line for a recall at the heart of defence, while Rio Ferdinand is suspended. Owen Hargreaves and John O'Shea are among United's long-term absentees.
Possible starting XI: Van der Sar, Rafael, Vidic, Brown, Evra, Scholes, Carrick, Fletcher, Nani, Giggs, Rooney
Portsmouth
Herman Hreidarsson is ruled out, while Papa Bouba Diop, Michael Brown and Tommy Smith are doubtful. Ricardo Rocha could feature after remaining on the bench for the 1-0 defeat by Fulham in midweek.
Possible starting XI: James, Finnan, Ben-Haim, Wilson, Belhadj, Yebda, Basinas, Boateng, O'Hara, Dindane, Piquionne
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Manchester United
It’s almost impossible to take your eyes off Wayne Rooney at present, with the Manchester United striker currently in the form of his life.
However, Nani eclipsed even Rooney with a star turn against Arsenal. It is a matter of weeks since the Portuguese looked to have destroyed his Old Trafford future by complaining to a newspaper in his homeland that not getting a regular game was shattering his confidence.
With that confidence brimming over against Arsenal, it would be a huge surprise if Nani wasn’t on the teamsheet on Saturday.
Portsmouth
Tal Ben-Haim has begun to rebuild a career that thrived at Bolton before stagnating and eventually falling away after a move to Chelsea in 2007.
Since joining Portsmouth at the beginning of this season from Manchester City, the Israeli has benefited from a regular starting place in finding his form, and has been present for each of the five clean sheets Pompey have kept in the league this season. Another one must be strived for at Old Trafford.
PREDICTION
It is difficult to see Portsmouth getting any much-needed good news from this game. United are flying and they have entered that key time of the season where Champions League commitments fall by the wayside and a genuine push for the title begins.
From the low of losing to Leeds United in the FA Cup followed by a dismal performance against Birmingham in the league, Sir Alex Ferguson’s men have gone from strength to strength and the chance to move top of the league is unlikely to be spurned.
Manchester United 3-0 Portsmouth
Kick-off 15:00 GMT, Old Trafford, Manchester
By 5pm on Saturday, the entire length of the Premier League table could separate these sides, an indication of the differing circles in which Manchester United and Portsmouth now move.
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Some sections of the Manchester United support are fretting over the financial predicament of the Red Devils, but even that is vastly different to the clouds of doom lingering over Fratton Park.
The latest twist to Pompey’s wretched season is that their new owner, Balram Chainrai - the fourth custodian of the club this season – has explicitly said he has zero interest in them.
Add in the missed payments to players, and it is not difficult to see why Portsmouth head to Old Trafford looking for just their fifth league win in 24 attempts.
United, meanwhile, can usurp Chelsea as top dogs in the table with a victory and can then sit back in the full knowledge that come Sunday, one or both of the Blues and Arsenal will drop points in the title race.
FORM GUIDE
Manchester United
Jan 31: Arsenal 1-3 Manchester United (Premier League)
Jan 27: Manchester United 3-1 Manchester City (League Cup)
Jan 23: Manchester United 4-0 Hull City (Premier League)
Jan 19: Manchester City 2-1 Manchester United (League Cup)
Jan 16: Manchester United 3-0 Burnley (Premier League)
Portsmouth
Feb 3: Fulham 1-0 Portsmouth (Premier League)
Jan 31: Manchester City 2-0 Portsmouth (Premier League)
Jan 26: Portsmouth 1-1 West Ham (Premier League)
Jan 23: Portsmouth 2-1 Sunderland (FA Cup)
Jan 12: Coventry 1-2 Portsmouth (FA Cup, after extra time)
TEAM NEWS
Manchester United
Nemanja Vidic returned to training this week and is in line for a recall at the heart of defence, while Rio Ferdinand is suspended. Owen Hargreaves and John O'Shea are among United's long-term absentees.
Possible starting XI: Van der Sar, Rafael, Vidic, Brown, Evra, Scholes, Carrick, Fletcher, Nani, Giggs, Rooney
Portsmouth
Herman Hreidarsson is ruled out, while Papa Bouba Diop, Michael Brown and Tommy Smith are doubtful. Ricardo Rocha could feature after remaining on the bench for the 1-0 defeat by Fulham in midweek.
Possible starting XI: James, Finnan, Ben-Haim, Wilson, Belhadj, Yebda, Basinas, Boateng, O'Hara, Dindane, Piquionne
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Manchester United
It’s almost impossible to take your eyes off Wayne Rooney at present, with the Manchester United striker currently in the form of his life.
However, Nani eclipsed even Rooney with a star turn against Arsenal. It is a matter of weeks since the Portuguese looked to have destroyed his Old Trafford future by complaining to a newspaper in his homeland that not getting a regular game was shattering his confidence.
With that confidence brimming over against Arsenal, it would be a huge surprise if Nani wasn’t on the teamsheet on Saturday.
Portsmouth
Tal Ben-Haim has begun to rebuild a career that thrived at Bolton before stagnating and eventually falling away after a move to Chelsea in 2007.
Since joining Portsmouth at the beginning of this season from Manchester City, the Israeli has benefited from a regular starting place in finding his form, and has been present for each of the five clean sheets Pompey have kept in the league this season. Another one must be strived for at Old Trafford.
PREDICTION
It is difficult to see Portsmouth getting any much-needed good news from this game. United are flying and they have entered that key time of the season where Champions League commitments fall by the wayside and a genuine push for the title begins.
From the low of losing to Leeds United in the FA Cup followed by a dismal performance against Birmingham in the league, Sir Alex Ferguson’s men have gone from strength to strength and the chance to move top of the league is unlikely to be spurned.
Manchester United 3-0 Portsmouth
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| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
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