Chelsea v Manchester United - Matchthread

[shoreham4eva 10]

Chelsea v Man Utd

Stamford Bridge

Sun 19th Dec

4:00pm,

SS1 / SS1HD.

 

Odds: Chelsea 23/20, Man Utd 5/2, Draw 9/4

 

Sunday afternoon promises to be a cracker for us when top of the league Manchester United travel to bitter rivals and follow title contenders Chelsea who currently sit fourth in the Barclays Premiership.

 

Alex Ferguson hopes to travel back up north with 3 points in his pocket as Sunday afternoon is set to see him break a club record as he's set to overtake Sir Matt Busby as the clubs longing serving manager. However flip the coin and theres supposedly speculation Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has been issued an ultimatum that should he lose Sunday he's on his bike, therefore should this be true theres far more significance in this fixture to him.

 

Recent form wise Chelsea are hoping to build on a good draw at Tottenham last time out which they would have won had Drogba not seen his spot kik saved by Spurs keeper Gomez, before that game however they have been a bit Jekyll and Hyde and have Lacked consistancy having not won in 5 league games. Manchester United on the other hand hold the top spot and are currently in the middle of an impressive unbeaten run.

 

Early Team News:

 

Chelsea - Ancelotti will face a selection headache in the centre of the park in a bid to accommodate newly-fit Frank Lampard, a welcome returnee for Chelsea last weekend.

 

Paulo Ferreira looks set to retain his place at right-back and, after dealing with Gareth Bale last weekend, his attention will turn to stopping United's roaming wide men. (courtesty of SSN)

 

Possible Starting XI - Cech, Ferreira, Terry, Ivanovic, Cole, Ramires, Essien, Lampard, Malouda, Anelka, Drogba.

 

Manchester United- United will be without Paul Scholes after it was revealed this week that the midfielder will be out until the New Year after stuggling with a niggling groin injury.

 

John O'Shea is the other injury concern for the Reds, with the defensive utility man set to miss out due to a calf strain.

 

Despite being the Premier League's top scorer with 11 goals this season, it remains to be seen whether Dimitar Berbatov will again warm the bench, victim of the trusted 4-5-1 formation shown in the Arsenal win. (courtesy of SSN)

 

Possible Starting XI - Van der Sar, Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Nani, Fletcher, Anderson, Carrick, Park, Rooney.

[CorkerSWFC 10]

Can't wait i know the Blues have been on a bad run but i think the result against Spurs has shown that once Chelsea get there players back there a team to be reckoned with.

Lamps and Essien being back is massive plus, i expect Chelsea to win Sunday.

COME ON CHELSEA !!!!

[matt1889 10]

**POSTPONED** - Sky Sports News @ 1:30pm

[CorkerSWFC 10]

Yeah found out earlier pal, it might be a blessing in disguise for both teams being called off.