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Showdown at the Bridge

Author: Brandon Barker
Date: 08/11/2009
Football betting

Chelsea host Manchester United in this weekend's headline match on Sunday, with a place at the top of the Premier League table on offer.

The Stamford Bridge clash brings together the two online betting favourites to win this season's Premier League title, but it is Carlo Ancelotti's side that holds the advantage after almost a third of the season.

Chelsea have a two-point lead over United and enjoy a perfect home record, having gone almost 13 hours since last they conceded a goal at Stamford Bridge.

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In contrast, United have looked out-of-sorts since Liverpool beat them at Anfield 2-0 two weeks ago, hindered by an injury list that has recently included all of their first-choice back four.

The Red Devils could be missing only Rio Ferdinand this weekend, much to the relief of Sir Alex Ferguson, who saw a second-string defence torn apart by CSKA Moscow on Tuesday, only for two late goals to dig United out of a hole and earn a 3-3 draw.

Ferguson will have to choose between Jonny Evans and Wes Brown in the centre of defence should Ferdinand fail a fitness test, while John O'Shea should continue at right-back with Gary Neville suspended following his red card at Barnsley.

Rounding off the back four is Patrick Evra, who is returning from a foot injury.

The Blues have a number of players in danger of missing out through injury, with several requiring fitness tests including Ashley Cole, Yuri Zhirkov and Salomon Kalou.

Should Cole recover from a knee complaint, Ancelotti could pick a similar side to that which drew 2-2 at Atletico Madrid, with Nicolas Anelka starting ahead of Kalou being the only likely change.

Elsewhere, Phil Brown will be wanting to claw his Hull City side out of the relegation zone when they host ninth-placed Stoke City.

Brown's position has come under heavy scrutiny over the past few weeks as Hull have failed to get going in the Premier League, with last weekend's dismal 2-0 defeat to Burnley increasing the pressure on the manager.

At Goodison Park, Everton try to end a run of six games without a win when they play West Ham United.

David Moyes' side have excelled against the Hammers in recent years, winning five of the past seven meetings between the two clubs, but have found themselves in free-fall recently having looked in excellent form in September.

Wigan Athletic have a mid-table clash with Fulham to look forward to, with the Cottagers on a high after their stunning defeat of Liverpool last weekend.

In sharp contrast, Wigan contrived to lose 4-0 at bottom club Portsmouth, an amazing result considering the Latics have already beaten Chelsea this season and drawn with Manchester City this season.

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