Chelsea v Man Utd preview
Team news ahead of Wednesday night's Champions League clash between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea will be without the cup-tied David Luiz for the quarter-final first leg as well as his fellow Brazil defender Alex, who is still building up his fitness following knee surgery.
But Yossi Benayoun might make his first appearance since September after recovering from a serious Achilles injury.
Sir Alex Ferguson on the other hand is pondering whether to hand Rio Ferdinand his first start since February 1 as United's defensive problems start to ease.
Ferdinand has been in full training for a week after his calf strain but Chris Smalling's excellent form leaves Ferguson with a major dilemma.
Rafael is also available after a hamstring strain, whilst Jonny Evans returns from his three-match domestic suspension.
Chelsea (from): Cech, Bosingwa, Ferreira, Terry, Ivanovic, Zhirkov, Cole, Mikel, McEachran, Essien, Lampard, Ramires, Kalou, Malouda, Anelka, Torres, Drogba, Turnbull.
Manchester United (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Smalling, Evans, Fabio, Evra, Valencia, Obertan, Park, Gibson, Anderson, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Nani, Berbatov, Hernandez, Owen, Rooney.
Current Premiership Table
Team | P | W | D | L | PTS | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Chelsea | 21 | 17 | 1 | 3 | 52 |
2 | Tottenham Hotspur | 21 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 45 |
3 | Liverpool | 21 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 45 |
4 | Arsenal | 21 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 44 |
5 | Manchester City | 21 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 42 |
6 | Man Utd | 21 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 40 |
7 | Everton | 21 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 33 |
8 | West Brom | 21 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 29 |
9 | Stoke City | 21 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 27 |
10 | Burnley | 21 | 8 | 2 | 11 | 26 |
11 | AFC Bournemouth | 21 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 25 |
12 | West Ham | 21 | 7 | 4 | 10 | 25 |
13 | Southampton | 21 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 24 |
14 | Watford | 21 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 23 |
15 | Leicester City | 21 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 21 |
16 | Middlesbrough | 21 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 20 |
17 | Crystal Palace | 21 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 16 |
18 | Hull City | 21 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 16 |
19 | Sunderland | 21 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 15 |
20 | Swansea | 21 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 15 |