Chelsea vs Manchester United EPL 08-09: Preview and Live Score

If you want to get the live score and updates of the match between Manchester United and Chelsea, then visit the following link:

Manchester United vs Chelsea Live Score and Updates: 11 January 2009

In the second ‘Big Four’ clash of the season, Chelsea is going to take on Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday (21 September 2008). Stamford Bridge is considered to be one of the most formidable fortresses in English premier league. Stumbling Manchester United would find it very difficult to crack high-flying Chelsea in the premier league encounter on Sunday. Last season’s runner up Chelsea will look to open up a staggering 9-point lead over defending Champion Manchester United in this early stage of the league by defeating the defending champions in the match.

Match: Chelsea vs Manchester United; English Premier League 2008-2009

Date: 21 September 2008, Sunday

Venue: Stamford Bridge, London, England

Kick off: 14:00 BST (British Standard Time)

Live on TV: Sky Sports

Chelsea is currently leading the league table with 10 points from 4 matches, while Manchester United is not even in the top ten with only 4 points from 3 matches. A victory for Chelsea will definitely give them a real boost in their title hopes, while the visiting side can hardly afford to suffer any more defeat at this moment in English premier league. With another Manchester United meeting coming up, Chelsea is gearing up to take revenge of their defeat in last season’s Champions League final.

Chelsea has been in a superb form so far this season. The West London club has got their Champions League campaign off to an emphatic start in midweek when they thrashed Bordeaux 4-0 in their Champions league opener at home. Manchester United, on the other hand, started their title defense campaign of Champions League with a goal less stalemate against Spanish side Villarreal, despite Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to action in the match.

Manchester United suffered a morale-denting defeat away to Liverpool last weekend in premier league. Now, the Red Devils are facing a threat of suffering second successive defeat for the first time in 122 premier league matches. Moreover, another defeat at Stamford Bridge will ensure the worst ever start for Manchester United in premier league.

Chelsea has a number of things to relish ahead of the upcoming high-profile match up against Manchester United. In fact, Chelsea is perhaps the most successful premier league team against Manchester United. The Red Devils lost to Chelsea highest 10 times in premier league than any other English clubs. Moreover, Manchester United dropped highest 56 points to Chelsea in premier league. Another interesting fact is that Manchester United was the last club to have won over Chelsea by more than a goal in premier league. Similarly, Manchester United suffered their last defeat by more than a goal to Chelsea.

Chelsea will go into Sunday’s match on 25-match unbeaten streak in premier league since their defeat to Arsenal last December. Chelsea holds a formidable home record as they are on 84-match unbeaten streak in the league. Last time Chelsea suffered a home defeat came in February 2004 as Chelsea lost to Arsenal 2-1. For Manchester United, there is hardly anything to take inspiration from ahead of the visit to West London. With 4 points from 3 outings, Manchester United’s start to this season has been one of the poor starts to premier league in the history of Manchester United. In three matches, Manchester United could only score three goals in the league; no other club scored less than three goals so far this season in premier league. Manchester United managed to win only one match so far this season out of six games in all competitions. No doubt, it is a more than a bad start by Manchester United’s standard.

Last season’s highest scorer both in premier league and in Europe, Cristiano Ronaldo, made a substitute appearance in midweek’s Champions league fixture against Villarreal. This is in fact his first appearance following an ankle surgery that he underwent couple of months back. Though he could not bring out three points for Manchester United against Villarreal, he looked set to be back with his prime form very soon and it seems that the Portuguese winger will be handed a place in the starting line up for the first time this season at Stamford Bridge. Manager Sir Alex Ferguson is happy with the return of Ronaldo and he has no fear to feature Ronaldo in the starting line up for the Chelsea encounter on Sunday. Moreover, Ferguson also thinks that Manchester United can not afford to lose the match against Chelsea.

Thisislondon reported:

“The boy is a natural athlete and he has trained very well, so I would have no qualms about him playing against Chelsea. It is just a questionas to whether this is the right time, but I have no fears about him and he is bursting to play. He has been nibbling at my ear all week………..

“We did well against the Big Four last season, but with what happened at Liverpool last week, we have lost one of those big games already and we can't afford another one. I'm not worried about our performances, though and once October comes, we'll be fine, I'm sure.”

Sir Alex Ferguson, however, has to take a crucial decision with his defense line up. With Nemanja Vidic out on suspension, Ferguson is left with only two options ahead of the Chelsea meeting. First, he might hand Jonny Evans, who impressed against Villarreal, a second successive start for United in the heart of their defense in what it would be a direct replacement of Vidic. However, there could not another way to cope with the suspension of Vidic. Ferguson can shift Wes Brown’s role as a right back into a centre defender with Captain Gary Neville playing in right back position against Chelsea. After a long time, Neville has returned in action in the midweek encounter with Villarreal in midweek.

Setanta Sports reported:

"I need to work out whether I go with Evans' ability but lack of experience or whether I opt for Wes' experience and Gary at full-back," Ferguson said.

Though Michael Carrick is injured out with broken bone in his foot, Manchester United may not consider it as a big problem as they have a number of options to fill up the gap. Another important decision that Ferguson must contend with is about his attacking line up. Dimitar Berbatov is expected to be in the contention of the Ferguson’s starting line up, but he might be featured in the substitute bench for the match against Chelsea as he has just recovered from knee injury that kept him out for Champions League opener against Villarreal. Another important question is that whether Ferguson will play both Ronaldo and Barbatov together, putting Carlos Tevez in the substitute line up. However, what seems to be pretty sure is that Ferguson will feature both Cristiano Ronaldo as well as Wayne Rooney in the starting line up against Chelsea in the match.

On Sunday, Luiz Felipe Scolari will face first real test of his boys since he took over the Chelsea job during summer. Though the world cup winning Brazilian coach has had an impressive start as a coach of Chelsea, Scolari might find it a bit difficult to break the defending champions Manchester United. Chelsea is in good from at this moment, but their home draw against Tottenham Hotspur indicated a few problems that Chelsea must avoid while facing Manchester United.

The good news for Chelsea fans is that Ivorian striker Didier Drogba will be available for the Manchester United clash, even though he missed Chelsea’s 4-0 emphatic victory over Bordeaux in Champions League opener due to suspension. The Blues will be without their Ghanaian midfielder Michael Essien who has been out of action for a long time after sustaining a serious injury in international duty and recently underwent a surgery. However, Michael Ballack’s return against Bordeaux as a substitute gives some hope to the Chelsea fans, though he is less likely to make it to the starting line up against Manchester United.

Chelsea’s Frank Lampard will play his 400^th premier league match against Manchester United and he is just three goals shy of his 100-goal mark. Chelsea has received a boost as they have won the appeal for lifting John Terry’s suspension. It is apparent that Chelsea is not missing any key player for the match, except Michael Essien.

Online Live Score and Updates

Here, I am giving some online live score websites from where you can get live score and updates of the match:

Live Score

Goalzz

Live Football Scores

Goal.com

Footie Scorez

Chelsea seems to be slightly favorite considering their recent form and home record. However, it will be a risky venture to write off a team like Manchester United who has players capable of producing match deciding performance while at their best. Finding their back at the wall, Manchester United will try their best to come out of their bad patch. So, I think, an exciting encounter is waiting at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Related articles:

BBC