Tomorrow’s match between Manchester United and Chelsea has been dubbed as a title decider, with Wayne Rooney out injured it has become a slightly harder task. Many have labelled United as a one-man team but it is now time for the rest of the United players to prove that it isn’t a one-man show.
In their last two Premier League matches against Portsmouth and Aston Villa, Chelsea have scored 12 goals, they have been boosted by the news that Didier Drogba has been passed fit to play.
Man United’s last two Premier League matches have been a 2-1 win over Liverpool and a 4-0 win over Bolton with Rooney being unavailable for the latter.
Not only is Rooney out for United but so are Anderson, Danny Welbeck, Michael Owen and Wes Brown. Owen Hargreaves has been training with the first team this week and could possibly be on the bench along with John O’Shea, who could also return.
Chelsea have Ashley Cole, Michael Essien, Ricardo Carvalho, Branislav Ivanovic all out injured. Hilario is a doubt with a groin injury.
There have been a total of 155 matches played between Chelsea and Man United. Of those 155, 66 have been Man United wins, 42 Chelsea wins and there has been 47 draws.
The referee for tomorrow’s vital game is the one and only Mike Dean. This season he has refereed 35 games, showing 124 yellow cards and seven red cards.
He has refereed three games for United, the 2-1 win over Arsenal, 4-1 win over Portsmouth and 2-1 loss to Manchester City. Dean has taken charge of five matches for Chelsea, their 2-1 win over Stoke, 1-1 draw with West Ham, 2-0 win over Preston, 2-0 win over Arsenal and most recently, their 4-2 loss to Man City.
If there is a winner tomorrow, then I think it is likely that who ever wins will be lifting the trophy in May. I’m not discounting Arsenal, they obviously will be hoping for a draw, but if one of the teams do take all three points that will be vital. The confidence of the win could also take them on a run of unbeaten games, resulting in winning the title.
Much has been made of United not having Rooney and with the form he’s been in this season, of course we will miss him but it is now time for some players (not naming names) to step-up the plate and score some more goals.
The good news for United is that we will have both Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand at the back for United protecting Edwin Van Der Sar in goal. If anyone can keep Drogba quiet, they can.
A draw for United tomorrow wouldn’t be the end of the world but a win would obviously be much better. The other title contenders Arsenal play after the game at Old Trafford, with Wolves down in London to play at the Emirates.