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Man Utd v Chelsea
Sunday, 8 May 2011
TEAM NEWS
Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Ryan Giggs are among those expected to return to the Manchester United line-up.
Darren Fletcher has recovered from a debilitating virus, while Patrice Evra is expected to shake off a minor knock.
Chelsea have a clean bill of health for Sunday's crucial trip to Old Trafford.
Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti must decide whether to stick with Fernando Torres up front, or recall Salomon Kalou or Nicolas Anelka.
Man Utd
Injured: Hargreaves (shoulder)
Chelsea
Injured: None
MATCH PREVIEW
So this is what Sir Alex Ferguson means by 'squeaky-bum time'. A faltering Manchester United host a resurgent Chelsea in a match likely to decide the outcome of the Premier League title. No pressure.
To use a sandwich analogy: sweet bread at the top, sour filling and more sweet bread at the bottom
Michael Essien on Chelsea's season
Victory for United would all but seal a record 19th league title; three points for Chelsea would propel them to the top of the table and put the destiny of the Premier League crown back in the hands of the champions.
It is a thrilling climax to a remarkable season that has seen Carlo Ancelotti's side claw back a deficit that stood at 15 points less than 10 weeks ago, a revival inspired by a 2-1 victory over United in March's reverse victory.
United will bank on their extraordinary home record to see off the London club's challenge. Ferguson's men, who beat Chelsea home and away in last month's Champions League quarter-finals, have amassed 49 points out of a possible 51 on home soil this season, and are unbeaten at Old Trafford since April 2010.
That defeat came at the hands of Chelsea, who leapfrogged their opponents at the top of the table with five games to go and went on to clinch the Double. Squeaky-bum time indeed.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• Chelsea have won the last three league matches between these sides, while United have won all three cup meetings this season (including the Community Shield).
• Chelsea have only managed one clean sheet in their last 15 league trips to Old Trafford.
Man Utd
• No opposition player has scored a first-half goal at Old Trafford in the Premier League this season. The last player to do so was Chelsea's Joe Cole in this fixture last April.
• United need two wins from their two remaining home games to equal the record of 55 points at home set by Chelsea in 2005/06.
• Referee Howard Webb has awarded penalties to Manchester United in three of the last four competitive games he has officiated at Old Trafford. United have also won the last seven Premier League matches at Old Trafford that Webb has officiated.
• The Red Devils have won an average of 2.04 points per game in the Premier League in May, a better average than any other side.
• John O'Shea could make his 300th start for Manchester United.
Chelsea
• Chelsea were 15 points behind United prior to the reverse fixture at the beginning of March, but victory in that game has sparked their current run of 25 points from a possible 27, the best current form in the Premier League.
• Victory on Sunday would put them top on goal difference (for the first time in more than five months) with two matches remaining.
• They have the best defensive record in the top flight, conceding only 28 goals this season.
• Carlo Ancelotti's side are yet to lose a game in which they scored the opening goal (W16, D2).
• Nicolas Anelka is hoping for his 100th start for Chelsea.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
Man Utd
Berbatov: 22 goals (21 league);
Hernandez: 19 goals (12 league)
Chelsea
Anelka: 16 goals (6 league); Malouda: 14 goals (13 league)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Howard Webb
Assistant referees: Darren Cann & Mike Mullarkey
Fourth official: Phil Dowd
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Man Utd (L0-1 v Arsenal, a): Van der Sar, Fabio Da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Park, Carrick (Owen 85), Anderson (Valencia 55), Nani, Hernandez (Berbatov 74), Rooney. Subs not used: Kuszczak, Smalling, Rafael Da Silva, O'Shea.
Chelsea (W2-1 v Tottenham, h): Cech, Ivanovic, David Luiz, Terry, Cole, Essien (Ramires 57), Mikel, Lampard, Malouda (Anelka 73), Drogba, Torres (Kalou 62). Subs not used: Turnbull, Benayoun, Zhirkov, Alex.
Sunday, 8 May 2011
TEAM NEWS
Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Ryan Giggs are among those expected to return to the Manchester United line-up.
Darren Fletcher has recovered from a debilitating virus, while Patrice Evra is expected to shake off a minor knock.
Chelsea have a clean bill of health for Sunday's crucial trip to Old Trafford.
Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti must decide whether to stick with Fernando Torres up front, or recall Salomon Kalou or Nicolas Anelka.
Man Utd
Injured: Hargreaves (shoulder)
Chelsea
Injured: None
MATCH PREVIEW
So this is what Sir Alex Ferguson means by 'squeaky-bum time'. A faltering Manchester United host a resurgent Chelsea in a match likely to decide the outcome of the Premier League title. No pressure.
To use a sandwich analogy: sweet bread at the top, sour filling and more sweet bread at the bottom
Michael Essien on Chelsea's season
Victory for United would all but seal a record 19th league title; three points for Chelsea would propel them to the top of the table and put the destiny of the Premier League crown back in the hands of the champions.
It is a thrilling climax to a remarkable season that has seen Carlo Ancelotti's side claw back a deficit that stood at 15 points less than 10 weeks ago, a revival inspired by a 2-1 victory over United in March's reverse victory.
United will bank on their extraordinary home record to see off the London club's challenge. Ferguson's men, who beat Chelsea home and away in last month's Champions League quarter-finals, have amassed 49 points out of a possible 51 on home soil this season, and are unbeaten at Old Trafford since April 2010.
That defeat came at the hands of Chelsea, who leapfrogged their opponents at the top of the table with five games to go and went on to clinch the Double. Squeaky-bum time indeed.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• Chelsea have won the last three league matches between these sides, while United have won all three cup meetings this season (including the Community Shield).
• Chelsea have only managed one clean sheet in their last 15 league trips to Old Trafford.
Man Utd
• No opposition player has scored a first-half goal at Old Trafford in the Premier League this season. The last player to do so was Chelsea's Joe Cole in this fixture last April.
• United need two wins from their two remaining home games to equal the record of 55 points at home set by Chelsea in 2005/06.
• Referee Howard Webb has awarded penalties to Manchester United in three of the last four competitive games he has officiated at Old Trafford. United have also won the last seven Premier League matches at Old Trafford that Webb has officiated.
• The Red Devils have won an average of 2.04 points per game in the Premier League in May, a better average than any other side.
• John O'Shea could make his 300th start for Manchester United.
Chelsea
• Chelsea were 15 points behind United prior to the reverse fixture at the beginning of March, but victory in that game has sparked their current run of 25 points from a possible 27, the best current form in the Premier League.
• Victory on Sunday would put them top on goal difference (for the first time in more than five months) with two matches remaining.
• They have the best defensive record in the top flight, conceding only 28 goals this season.
• Carlo Ancelotti's side are yet to lose a game in which they scored the opening goal (W16, D2).
• Nicolas Anelka is hoping for his 100th start for Chelsea.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
Man Utd
Berbatov: 22 goals (21 league);
Hernandez: 19 goals (12 league)
Chelsea
Anelka: 16 goals (6 league); Malouda: 14 goals (13 league)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Howard Webb
Assistant referees: Darren Cann & Mike Mullarkey
Fourth official: Phil Dowd
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Man Utd (L0-1 v Arsenal, a): Van der Sar, Fabio Da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Park, Carrick (Owen 85), Anderson (Valencia 55), Nani, Hernandez (Berbatov 74), Rooney. Subs not used: Kuszczak, Smalling, Rafael Da Silva, O'Shea.
Chelsea (W2-1 v Tottenham, h): Cech, Ivanovic, David Luiz, Terry, Cole, Essien (Ramires 57), Mikel, Lampard, Malouda (Anelka 73), Drogba, Torres (Kalou 62). Subs not used: Turnbull, Benayoun, Zhirkov, Alex.