Chelsea v Man Utd

Ronaldo and Berbatov have played one game each for United this season

Cristiano Ronaldo and Dimitar Berbatov could start up front for Manchester United against Chelsea on Sunday.

Berbatov has recovered from a knee injury, while Ronaldo made his comeback from ankle surgery as a substitute in the 0-0 draw with Villareal.

Chelsea defender John Terry is available for the match after a successful appeal against a red card.

But Blues manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has said striker Didier Drogba is still not fit enough to play for 90 minutes.

With uncertainty over the Ivory Coast international's fitness, Scolari could be tempted to name the same starting XI that has beaten Manchester City and Bordeaux in the past week.

Ferguson faces selection dilemmas over Nemanja Vidic's replacement after the centre-back was suspended after he was sent off in the 2-1 defeat by Liverpool.

Wes Brown could move into the centre of defence, with the fit-again Gary Neville slotting in at right-back.

But Jonny Evans, 20, is also in the Scot's thinking after he played very well in the 0-0 draw with Villarreal on Wednesday.

"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," said Ferguson.

Neville played just once for United last season - as a substitute in the 1-0 Champions League quarter-final second-leg win over Roma - due to an ankle injury.

"Gary was only playing his second competitive match on Wednesday but he did very well," added Ferguson.

"That will bring him on if I decide to play him on Sunday but Evans was excellent as well."

"Jonny was the big plus. For a young man of 20, he shows great maturity in his game.

"He reads the game well, which is a fantastic asset to have at such a young age.

"He is commanding in the air and a good user of the ball and that gives me confidence that he could step right into the first team with no worries."

While Evans impressed, there were signs of rustiness in Neville's game, particularly in his crossing, but it was his first competitive start since breaking his ankle against Bolton in March 2007.

"I just need games," said the 33-year-old defender. "Having been out for so long I need a run in the side.

"But it is difficult to get that at the moment because Wes Brown has performed so well and deserves to play.

"It is just a case of remaining patient, keeping fit and training well every day.

"I have made steady progress and when you look at the programme of matches we have coming up I am sure there will be enough games for everyone."

Chelsea get a first opportunity to avenge their defeat to Manchester United in the Champions League final. Victory would see them open up a nine point advantage over the domestic and European champions in the Premier League table.

Both clubs had differing fortunes in Europe in midweek; Chelsea equalled their record home win in the Champions League with a 4-0 eclipse of Bordeaux, while a much changed United were held to a goalless draw by Villarreal at Old Trafford in their opening group match.

This is Manchester United's second successive 'Big Four' match-up in the Premier League, after last Saturday's 2-1 away loss to Liverpool. They are in danger of suffering successive league defeats for the first time in 122 outings.

Luiz Felipe Scolari has made a most impressive start as manager of Chelsea with four wins and one draw from five matches in all competitions; defeat for United here will equal the Red Devils' worst ever start to a Premier League season.

United have been beaten more times by Chelsea in the Premier League than by any other club (10) and have dropped more points to them than any other team (56).

The Red Devils were the last club to beat Chelsea in a Premier League game by more than a single goal (23 September 2007); Chelsea were the last club to beat United by more than a single goal (29 April 2006).

Distance between the clubs: 204 miles (328 kilometres)

CHELSEA

Going into the weekend: 1st 10 points

(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures)

1. Unbeaten in 25 Premier League matches; won 18 and drawn seven since losing 1-0 away to Arsenal on 16 December 2007 - their only defeat in 35 league outings.

2. The only club with an unbeaten Premier League record in 2008; won 16 and drawn six of 22 matches. Their 54 points is five more than the return of Liverpool, and eight more than that of Manchester United, over the same period.

3. Matched last season's start when they had 10 points after their first four, and the first five fixtures.

4. On the longest current run in the Premier League of 12 matches, since conceding more than a single goal in a game.

5. Scored in each of their last 16 league outings since Liverpool held them to a 0-0 draw on 10 February; the only occasion in 25 Premier League matches they failed to score.

6. Completed 35 top-flight fixtures since losing by more than a single goal; 2-0, away to Manchester United.

7. Undefeated in a record 84 home Premier League matches. Not lost a league game at the Bridge since the 1-2 reverse to Arsenal on 21 February 2004 (won 61, drawn 23).

8. Won 52 and drawn 19 of 71 at home in all competitions since the 1-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League on 22 February 2006. Also, not lost in 105 domestic matches in front of the home faithful if penalty shoot-outs are excluded.

9. Won the last two against 'Big Four' clubs, home to Arsenal and Manchester United, and not lost in three to the trio of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United, since the 1-0 defeat by the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium on 16 December 2007.

10. Unbeaten in 13 games against north-west clubs; won nine and drawn four since Manchester United's 2-0 victory on 23 September 2007; their only loss in 21 league matches against clubs from the region.

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MANCHESTER UNITED

Going into the weekend: 14th 4 points

(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures)

1. Four points after three matches is twice as many points as were accumulated at this same stage last season.

2. Only had as few as four points after the first four games of a Premier League season once before; in the inaugural campaign of 1992-93.

3. No club has scored fewer Premier League goals this season (three).

4. Not lost consecutive Premier League matches since beaten away to Norwich and Everton on 9 and 20 April 2005 respectively.

5. On the longest current sequence of 27 Premier League matches since they failed to score; the 1-0 defeat away to Bolton on 24 November 2007 being the most recent.

6. Also on the longest current run in the highest league of 81 matches since a loss by more than a single goal; 3-0, away to Chelsea.

7. Not registered a no score draw in 40 top-flight games. Again this is the longest current such sequence; the goalless stalemate, home to Reading on the opening day of last season, 12 August 2007, being the most recent.

8. Lost their last two league games against 'Big Four' clubs; away to Chelsea last season, and away to Liverpool last weekend .

CHELSEA

Frank LAMPARD is a hat-trick shy of 100 career league goals (West Ham, Swansea and Chelsea).

If selected:-

LAMPARD will be making his 400th Premier League appearance (West Ham and Chelsea).

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MANCHESTER UNITED

If on the field from the outset:-

Gary NEVILLE will be making his 350th Premier League start for Manchester United.

John O'SHEA will be making his 150th English league start (Manchester United and Bournemouth).

Suspended:-

Nemanja VIDIC (one match)

Sir Alex Ferguson's side have not returned with three points from Stamford Bridge since their 0-3 triumph over Claudio Ranieri's side on 20 April 2002, when Paul Scholes, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer all scored.

Home and away
League (inc PL): Chelsea 37 wins, Man United 55, Draws 40
Prem: Chelsea 10 wins, Man United 9, Draws 13

at Chelsea only
League (inc PL): Chelsea 20 wins, Man United 29, Draws 17
Prem: Chelsea 6 wins, Man United 4, Draws 6

Chelsea 2-1 Manchester United
26 April 2008 - Ref: Alan Wiley
Chelsea scorers: Ballack 45, 86 pen
Man Utd scorer: Rooney 57

Mike Riley (Leeds, Yorkshire)