This weekend will see Andre Villas-Boas bring his Chelsea side to Old Trafford for arguably the most important game of the Premier League season so far. With the Blues trailing both Manchester United and Manchester City by two points already, a defeat would certainly put them at a huge disadvantage so early in the campaign. While United and City have got their campaigns off to flying starts, Chelsea have been a bit more subdued with not particularly convincing wins over West Brom, Norwich and Sunderland following on from a goalless draw at Stoke. However, Villas-Boas will see the showdown with Sir Alex Ferguson, a man 36 years his senior, as an ideal catalyst for his club's season.
It has been an odd quirk of the fixture list that many previous Chelsea managers have begun their reigns with games against the Red Devils. Claudio Ranieri began with a 3-3 draw at Old Trafford back in September 2000, Jose Mourinho won 1-0 at Stamford Bridge in August 2004, Avram Grant lost 2-0 just over three years later and Carlo Ancelotti won on penalties after a 2-2 draw in the 2009 Community Shield. Unlike his predecessors, Villas-Boas has had the advantage of a summer of preparation as well as four league fixtures and one Champions League game before taking his men to Manchester.
What we have seen in that time is a Chelsea team undergoing transition. Finally the likes of Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and John Terry don't quite seem guaranteed their place in the team. A new regime is in the making at Stamford Bridge and Juan Mata, Danny Sturridge and David Luiz look to be at the heart of it. Fernando Torres is still a far cry from the confident, free-scoring forward seen in his early Liverpool days but his two assists against Bayer Leverkusen this week offered promise that he may soon be finding the back of the net himself. While results so far are yet to be spectacular, Villas-Boas would appear to have the Pensioners on the right track.
As for their opposition, the Red Devils have gone goal-crazy with what is very much a new-look team. With Paul Scholes, Edwin Van der Sar, Gary Neville, John O'Shea and Wes Brown all gone, and the likes of Michael Carrick, Dimitar Berbatov, Park Ji-Sung and Ryan Giggs so far playing peripheral roles, a new era seems to have dawned at Old Trafford. With Wayne Rooney, Nani and Anderson cast in the new role of 'senior players' and Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, David de Gea and the now injured duo of Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck adding much youthful zest to the team, it is a far cry from the squad that some people foolishly labelled too old at the start of last season.
United fans would be foolish themselves to get over-confident though, as is exemplified by the end result of Chelsea's similar flying start to last season. Ferguson will be determined not to let the same thing happen to his team and will realise the importance of this Sunday's game, even though it is so early in the season. A draw would not be disastrous for either team, but a win for United could really increase their already substantial momentum, and a win for the away team could mark an early twist in a title race which many are identifying as the 'battle of Manchester'.
Key battles across the pitch will include the duo of Rooney and Javier Hernandez taking on Chelsea's centre-backs, presumably Terry and Luiz, although Branislav Ivanovic and Alex are also in contention. Hernandez's pace and Rooney's guile punished Chelsea in the three defeats they suffered at the hands of United late on last season. Mata will be looking to continue his early strong form and might fancy his chances against United full-backs Patrice Evra and Smalling. The experience of Evra could be vital in shackling the Spaniard and Sturridge, who may well be played wide as well. In the centre of the park Anderson and Carrick (although Fletcher is also vying for a place) will look to Rooney to help them combat Chelsea's midfield trio, likely to be Ramires, Lampard and Raul Meireles. This is a big game for Lampard who has been doubted, perhaps unfairly, by many pundits this season.
But the most important factor could well be the plight of Torres against United's centre-backs. With old foe Nemanja Vidic out injured, the ex-Atletico Madrid man is likely to face Rio Ferdinand (rested in mid-week) and either Jonny Evans or Jones. The forward has shone in front of the Old Trafford crowd before in his Liverpool days, and if he can capitalise on Ferdinand's slight loss of pace, Evans occasional rash decision-making or Jones' inexperience, he could well put his career back on track and make himself a Chelsea hero. If Ferdinand's experience combined with his youthful defensive partner successfully contain the Spain international, then United would have a great opportunity to show the Premier League that this season they really mean business.
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