Premier League Preview: Chelsea v Manchester United

Manchester United will put further distance between themselves and the rest of their rivals with a win away at Stamford Bridge.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side are coming off the back of a 1-0 win against Arsenal at Old Trafford. They were not at their best during the match but a header from Park Ji-Sung was enough to secure the three points. Chelsea are on their worst run of form for a decade but ‘The Bridge’ is never an easy ground to go to.

Ferguson may well go back to a 4-4-2 formation for this game to counter any attacking influence from the home side. Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov would be the most likely pair to start in attack while Berbatov would be replaced by an extra man in midfield if United go with a 4-5-1.

Anderson will be pushing for a place in the United midfield but Ferguson is most likely set to welcome back the experience of Paul Scholes. Scholes missed the clash against Arsenal due to a slight calf problem but Ferguson has insisted that his midfield maestro will be ready for the game.

The only major injury concerns that United have ahead of the game are to Michael Owen, who may miss out due to lack of match fitness, Owen Hargreaves and Antonio Valencia. Ryan Giggs is unlikely to start from the off but should take a place on the substitutes bench.

Park Ji-Sung will be high on form and will continue down either the left or right flank of the team. Park is one of the fittest players in the United team and he will be asked to do a lot of running off the ball when Chelsea have possession. Michael Carrick may start in the middle to do the same sort of job in the central areas.

United don’t have the best recent record against the current Premier League champions as they were beaten home and away by Chelsea last season. The only meeting between the two clubs so far this season was the Charity Shield match, which United won 3-1.

United are not favourites for this game but will have a lot of backers at a best price of 11/4 for victory. Chelsea are a lot shorter at 6/4 due to their home advantage while the draw is a very long price of 23/10 at this moment in time.