EPL Super Sunday Game 14 ~ Main Event ~

zocoss SG

Essien: United are my enemy

MICHAEL ESSIEN has declared war on Manchester United and insisted: We will conquer our enemy.

The Chelsea hardman says the Blues are preparing for tomorrows clash at Old Trafford like troops going into battle.

Ghana star Essien, 23, said: We are like soldiers going out to perform our duty. It is a big battle ahead and we have to conquer the enemy to move forward and succeed.

Afterwards we can have fun but first we have to give 100 per cent and fulfil our duty at our posts.

United hold a three-point lead over the champions but Essien reckons Chelsea will still win the Premiership as well as the Champions League.

The midfielder added: I think if we keep going at the same tempo, we can win more trophies this time.

Were on top of our Champions League group and keeping up the pressure in the Premiership. We want it to stay that way. We are committed to making it happen but we are taking one step at a time.

I want to win the Champions League and the title this year with Chelsea and I know we can do it.

The African star has a reputation for getting stuck in on the pitch but he reckons he can step up another gear against United.

He added: I am a passionate player. I have to give 100 per cent every time nothing less will do.

zocoss SG

Clash of the giants

Manchester United and Chelsea face each other in the most anticipated match of the Premiership season to date at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Former Chelsea and Scotland star Pat Nevin analyses the strengths of the two giants for BBC Sport and investigates the key areas where a crucial three points could be won or lost at Old Trafford.

THE GOALKEEPERS

Chelsea must choose between Carlo Cudicini and Hilario, and there is not that much difference. I would probably go with Cudicini for his experience of these types of games.

He may have weaknesses, but we are comparing him with Petr Cech, who is arguably the best in the world.

In the absence of Cech, you have to say United have the edge in the goalkeeping department.

Edwin van der Sar brings vast experience and has been an excellent signing.

It took United a long time to get Peter Schmeichel's successor sorted out, with Mark Bosnich, Massimo Taibi, Roy Carroll and Tim Howard all getting a chance prior to Van der Sar's arrival.

A club of Manchester United's size and stature deserves a world-class keeper and Van der Sar is in that category.

THE DEFENCES

Some interesting selection decisions here. I think Chelsea will go for Khalid Boulahrouz at right-back because of his power, and despite criticism from some quarters, Ashley Cole will always get the vote as first choice ahead of Wayne Bridge on the other flank.

If you don't play an expansive game in terms of having wingers on the pitch, you need width from elsewhere, and there is no defender better than Cole at getting up and down the line.

Cole is not easy to pass, and he has relished clashes with Cristiano Ronaldo before at club and international level.

Patrice Evra has done well for United, but I regard Gabriel Heinze as the best left-back in Britain - and I think he is even better as a left-sided central defender. He would be my man for a game like this.

Defensively, I think United have the slight edge purely because of Van der Sar.

I think Chelsea are better through the middle with John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho, but United are better in the full-back department with Heinze and Gary Neville.

I think Neville has been outstanding this season. Much was made of his playing relationship with David Beckham, but I think he's better without him.

He gets beyond the midfield on more occasions and gets into better attacking positions, with Ronaldo inclined to move into the middle while Beckham remained static. Neville is playing a bolder game than we have seen from him and he has excelled.

THE MIDFIELD

Fascinating. You have United's classic midfield four, with two wide men, up against Chelsea's diamond formation without a traditional wide man.

Chelsea used a 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 last season, but the arrival of Andriy Shevchenko means they have switched to a 4-4-2.

I think if you cut Jose Mourinho open, it would reveal that in his heart he likes to play with wingers, but he is a pragmatist and will not play square pegs in round holes.

Claude Makelele will lie the deepest of the four, playing a role that is not about tackling and negativity, but about intelligence and reading the game.

I can see him killing the space in front of the back four that Wayne Rooney is so brilliant at exploiting.

Neil Lennon did it in Celtic's Champions League win against United, and an added difference is that Makelele is the best in the world at it.

Louis Saha plays up front with Rooney just off, but I can see Makelele sitting in there to nullify this.

Chelsea will have Michael Essien on the left and Frank Lampard on the right of the diamond, with Michael Ballack at the point in the most attacking formation.

In truth those three are interchangeable, but I would have Ballack pushed forward.

United's midfield is more traditional, and it will be interesting to see if either manager blinks and changes formation. I would be surprised if they did.

I really admire United's attacking approach. Ryan Giggs, Ronaldo and Paul Scholes are all forward-thinking midfield players.

Michael Carrick has had criticism this season, but with that positive attitude, he is occasionally being asked to be the midfield. You can be out-numbered and it can lead to this sort of unfair criticism.

Usually United are in control of a game so it's not a problem. It is more of a problem when they come up against the best in the business and you are not controlling the game - so Sunday will be very interesting.

THE STRIKERS

People argue that Wayne Rooney is world-class. There is no argument that Andriy Shevchenko is world-class.

Throw in that Didier Drogba is playing as well as any striker on the planet at the moment, and you have quite a formidable strike force.

Shevchenko has not flown off the blocks as he adapts to the Premiership, but do not question him. He is world class.

I spoke to Drogba recently and put the point to him about whether he has benefited from Shevchenko's arrival.

He told me he is more mature now, and also that there was never any question of him leaving to accommodate Shevchenko.

Mourinho told him as soon as it became clear Shevchenko was coming that he would be playing alongside him, not being replaced by him. Bold words from Mourinho, but a decision that is proving fruitful.

He realised they would have adapt to each other, and that is what they are doing.

The credit, however, must be given to Drogba's development as opposed to Shevchenko's arrival.

Comparisons were made between Drogba and Saha some time ago, but now you would have to say Drogba is some way ahead.

This is not to say Saha is a bad player, it is simply a sign of how well Chelsea's striker is playing.

Rooney will be key, but watch out for Makelele.

zocoss SG

Man Utd v Chelsea
Sunday - Ch 23 - 11:55 PM - (LIVE)

Manchester United have no new injury worries ahead of the top-of-the-table clash with champions Chelsea.

Rio Ferdinand had been a doubt after picking up a foot injury but has been passed fit, while Patrice Evra could come in for left-back Gabriel Heinze.

United go into this clash on a seven-match winning League run, and have the edge on Chelsea in almost every department. They have one more League win than their west London opponents, one less defeat, have scored six more goals, conceded one fewer and have gained three more points. Top League matches involving the Red Devils have generated more goals than any other club, and they head the "Form" table.

Louis SAHA is United's leading scorer with eight League and Cup goals.
Wayne ROONEY is the club's top marksman in the Premiership with seven.
ROONEY is one shy of 50 career Premiership goals

Chelsea should have top scorer Didier Drogba (ankle) and midfielder Michael Ballack available after slight knocks.

Frank Lampard returns to the squad and Ricardo Carvalho (ankle) has recovered, but Salomon Kalou is still sidelined.

CHELSEA cannot really afford a defeat in this Sunday showdown if they're to eventually collect a third consecutive Premiership title. Indeed they need a victory to close the gap on Manchester United, and only a clear four goal triumph would see the Blues overhaul the Red Devils.

Didier DROGBA is the highest scoring Premiership player this season with 14 goals, eight of which are League goals putting him at the top of the table for the Barclays Golden Boot award. Jointly with Nwankwo KANU of Portsmouth.

LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Manchester United 1-0 Chelsea
6 November 2005
Man United scorer: Fletcher 31

HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
Home and away
League: Man United 54 wins, Chelsea 36, Draws 38
Prem: Man United 8 wins, Chelsea 9, Draws 11

at Man United only
League: Man United 25 wins, Chelsea 17, Draws 22
Prem: Man United 4 wins, Chelsea 4, Draws 6

Man Utd (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Neville, O'Shea, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Silvestre, Heinze, Evra, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs, Richardson, Rooney, Saha, Smith.

Chelsea (from): Cudicini, Hilario, Ferreira, Geremi, Terry, Carvalho, Boulahrouz, Bridge, A Cole, Lampard, Essien, Ballack, Makelele, Drogba, Robben, Shevchenko, Wright-Phillips, J Cole, Diarra, Mikel.

REFEREE
Howard Webb (Yorkshire)

anhydrouscoppersulphate SG

Newcastle United v Portsmouth
Tottenham Hotspur v Wigan Athletic
Manchester United v Chelsea

used SG

portsmouth win 2-1
draw 0-0
draw 0-0

ghimpheng SG

i already told you to remove my name from this prediction game

used SG

don worry it wont be there next week

anhydrouscoppersulphate SG

finally one month over Laughing

used SG

looks like i gonna win unless CuSO4 can produce a miracle

anhydrouscoppersulphate SG

still got next month Evil or Very Mad

used SG

but i'll have the honour of being the first winner of this game Mr. Green

anhydrouscoppersulphate SG

still got watford game and tonight game and la liga Evil or Very Mad

Dead_Man_Inc SG

Newcastle United v Portsmouth - home win win (1-0)

Tottenham Hotspur v Wigan Athletic - away win (1-2)

Manchester United v Chelsea - home win (2-0)

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HT Newcastle U. 0 – 0 Portsmouth

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53' Newcastle U. [0 - 0] Portsmouth

37' D. Thompson (yellow)
42' D. Stefanovic (yellow)

zocoss SG

vs

Newcastle United 1 - 0 Portsmouth

What happen to David James hair?

He looks like Mr Kent from superman... Laughing

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Newcastle U. [1 - 0] Portsmouth

69' [1 - 0] A. Sibierski

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FT Newcastle U. 1 - 0 Portsmouth

31' Tottenham H. 0 - 1 Wigan Athletic

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hits so far

zocoss
me
agenda
sand king
dead man 3pts for correct full time score Mad

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Scoreboard

1. used 48pts

2. anhydrouscoppersulphate 39pts

3. zocoss 30pts

4. Dead_Man_Inc 21pts

5. lpx88 20pts

6. T.Ryousuke 19pts

7. Patrik 9pts

8. LazerLord 9pts

9. a-Lost-9uY 9pts

10. Agenda 6pts

11. striderz_o405 4pts

12. CKeer 3pts

13. sand king 3pts

==========Relegation Zone==========

14. ghimpheng 3pts

15. RSP 2pts

16. dragg 2pts

Champions League: 1st, 2nd
Champions League qualifying: 3rd, 4th
UEFA Cup: 5th
Relegation: Bottom Three

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