Premier League Preview: Chelsea - Manchester United

The cooling of relations between warring managers Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger is perhaps testament to Chelsea's growth in the past five years.

No longer were the Arsenal considered Manchester United's challenger for the Premier League crown - something the north London clique have failed to achieve since 2004, as the balance of power shifted to the west of the capital.

On-form, on-song, and lethal up front, Chelsea look like one of the most dangerous teams in England, and Europe. United, meanwhile, have wobbled. A hat-trick of concessions mid-week against CSKA Moscow partners losses to Liverpool, and an early season 1-0 reverse at Burnley's Turf Moor ground.

Chelsea are undefeated at home, and have picked the ball out of their own net on just the one occasion.

Both Ferguson and Carlo Ancelotti have been careful not to hail Sunday's showdown as a "potential title decider", and even though United have been slow to kick on during the initial rounds of league business, the club will take solace from recent seasons, where their consistency becomes predictable post-Christmas.

The Scotsman will, for the first time since the penalty shoot-out loss in the Community Shield, get a chance to foil his Italian counterpart.

A lot has changed since August 9, as the Blues have become accustomed to Ancelotti's oft lauded diamond tactic.

"He brought a different system to the ones Chelsea have used in the past," Ferguson said during the build-up to the tie.

"It has maybe been easier to adapt tactics because they have very experienced players, who have more tactical knowledge than the younger ones.

"It has probably been a bonus for them in that respect and it seems to have worked well."

Chelsea not only have superiority at Stamford Bridge - United have not won there since 2002 - but have only tasted defeat once in the past ten tussles.

The Blues may have been buoyed by the news that they will be allowed to enter the transfer window due to their appeal of the FIFA transfer embargo inflicted onto them for the "inducing" of Gael Kakuta, but Ancelotti insists it is business as usual this weekend.

"We have to focus our season on the game on Sunday. We can buy," The Italian told the press. "But now we have other questions and it is not important what we can do in January.

"We know it will be a difficult match. We are happy to play this game at this moment because we are doing well, are in good condition, and we have a good mental attitude."

FORM GUIDE

Chelsea

Atletico Madrid 2-2 Chelsea (Champions League)
Bolton 0-4 Chelsea (Premier League)
Chelsea 4-0 Bolton (League Cup)
Chelsea 5-0 Blackburn (Premier League)
Chelsea 4-0 Atletico Madrid (Champions League)

Manchester United

Man United 3-3 CSKA Moscow (Champions League)
Man United 2-0 Blackburn Rovers (Premier League)
Barnsley 0-2 Man United (League Cup)
Liverpool 2-0 Man United (Premier League)
CSKA Moscow 0-1 Man United (Champions League)

TEAM NEWS

Chelsea

Yuri Zhirkov and John Mikel Obi (both foot) are edging closer to Carlo Ancelotti's first-team.

Jose Bosingwa, meanwhile, is out of action with a knee problem.

Last Premier League starting XI (4-3-1-2 v Bolton Wanderers): Cech, Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry, Ferreira, Ballack, Essien, Lampard, Deco, Anelka, Drogba.

Manchester United

Sir Alex Ferguson has a clutch of players who are flirting with full recoveries, including Dimitar Berbatov, Ryan Giggs, and Park Ji-Sung (all knee).

Owen Hargreaves is nearing a first-team return after an arduous battle against tendinitis.

Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic will unlikely feature (both calf).

Dan Welbeck will also be absent (knee).

Last Premier League starting XI (4-4-2 v Blackburn Rovers): Foster, O'Shea, Brown, Evans, Evra, Valencia, Anderson, Carrick, Nani, Berbatov, Rooney.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Chelsea

It is hard to ignore powerful Ivorian Didier Drogba right now. Not only does he appear to be one of the greatest goalscoring threats in the world, but he has also been supplying Nicolas Anelka with numerous crosses. Whether it's a goal or an assist, Drogba is responsible for 2/3rds of Chelsea's goals in the Premier League alone.

Manchester United

Due to the absence of Bosingwa, Antonio Valencia may look to test Juliano Belletti after the Brazilian's unconvincing display midweek against Atleti. The Ecuadorian wideman has started to up his form of late, and his pace may prove problematic to his marker.

PREDICTION

Chelsea 2-1 Manchester United

Alan Dawson, Goal.com

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