MX23RW : Thursday, January 23 20:59:33| >> :120:4437:4437:
Chelsea logo
Premier League
Oct 28, 2012 at 4pm UK
 
Manchester United logo

2-3

Ramires (53'), Mata (44')
FT(HT: 1-2)
Luiz (4' og.), Van Persie (12'), Hernández (75')

Preview: Chelsea vs Manchester United

Preview: Chelsea vs Man Utd
© PA Photos
Sports Mole previews Sunday's top of the table clash between Chelsea and Manchester United, which provides many talking points both on and off the field.

The Premier League's top two will meet in one of the biggest matches of the season this Sunday as Chelsea host Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues will be looking to extend their lead over the Red Devils to seven points with a win, but could be affected by a long trip to Donetsk in midweek, where they lost 2-1 to Shakhtar.

Roberto Di Matteo will be without captain John Terry, who will serve the second game in his four-match ban for racially abusing Anton Ferdinand, while Frank Lampard will also miss out due to a calf injury.

United, meanwhile, were forced to come from 2-0 down against Braga in their midweek game, eventually winning 3-2.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men could close the gap on Chelsea to one point, but will have to do so without Shinji Kagawa, who has been ruled out for up to four weeks. Phil Jones and Nemanja Vidic will also be unavailable due to ongoing injury troubles, but Chris Smalling could make a return to the squad.

All eyes will be on the pre-match handshake between the two sides, where it is believed that Rio Ferdinand will shake hands with Ashley Cole, despite the pair being embroiled in a racism row earlier this year.

Recent form:

Chelsea: DWWWW

Man Utd: WWLWW

Possible starting lineups:

Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Luiz, Cole; Mata, Ramires, Obi Mikel, Hazard, Oscar; Torres

Man Utd: De Gea; Rafael, Evans, Ferdinand, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs; Van Persie, Rooney

Sports Mole says: 2-2


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Written by
Barney Corkhill

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