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Thursday, 20 November, 2008 12:00 pm
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| Red Devils in Daunting Trip to Stamford Bridge Fortress |
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| Written by Adeleke Afolayan | ||||||
| Saturday, 20 September 2008 | ||||||
     The Red Devils have had an indifferent start to the season with the loss at Liverpool last weekend the Reds' first over their archrivals since 2001 to leave the Old Trafford side six points behind top of the table Chelsea. Drogba could also make his first league appearance after missing the 4-0 Champions League in midweek due to suspension while the Blues receive further boost with captain John Terry winning an appeal against the red card; and a three-match suspension, from last weekend's win at Manchester City. John Obi Mikel will likely maintain his starting place in the absence of Michael Essien who is out for five months after surgery on his injury. United meanwhile will have to make do without defender Nemanja Vidic, suspended after a red card at Anfield while Michael Carrick is on the injury headache of Sir Alex Ferguson. The match between both sides is the first since the dramatic Champions League final of last season which the Blues lost on penalties and also serves as Luiz Felipe Scolari's first big test in the league. The task becomes even harder for United on the fact that Chelsea have not conceded in its last 12 league outings and remains the only Premier League club yet to lose in 2008, stringing an unbeaten league run of 25 matches since December 2007. A loss for United meanwhile will equal the club's worst ever start to a league season and leave them nine points behind Chelsea after just five matches, though there is a game in hand for United. At the Reebok Stadium on Saturday, third placed Arsenal will look to maintain its momentum of three wins and a draw in all competitions against Bolton Wanderers that may welcome back record signing Johan Elmander from injury. However, Arsenal have won only one match on its travel to the Reebok with the Trotters winning three of the last five league encounters between both sides at home. In other matches this weekend, second placed Liverpool; level on 10 points with Chelsea, play host to Seyi Olofinjana's Stoke City on Saturday while Yakubu Aiyegbeni will be out to continue his scoring form on Sunday away at Hull City with Everton though compatriot Victor Anichebe is a doubt for the match at the KC Stadium. Obafemi Martins could make a return from injury for Newcastle United when the Magpies visit West Ham United on Saturday, looking to get matters on the pitch right even if those off the pitch remain mudded. The rest of the fixtures sees Gabriel Agbonlahor's Aston Villa make the short trip to face Midlands neighbours West Brom on Sunday while Nwankwo Kanu and John Utaka's Portsmouth face Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur play host to Wigan Athletic on Sunday in search of its first league win this season.  Quote this article on your site | Views: 218 | Print | E-mail
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