Manchester United's Nani in action against Schalke 04
during their Champions League semifinal second leg match at
Old Trafford on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Manchester United host Chelsea on Sunday in a match
likely to decide the outcome of the Premier League title, with
the league leaders in inconsistent form and the defending
champions on a roll.
United could effectively clinch a record 19th English
championship with a victory but manager Alex Ferguson must
decide whether to revert to the lineup that lost 1-0 at
third-place Arsenal last weekend or trust in the players that
reached the Champions League final on Wednesday.
A team showing eight changes outclassed Schalke 4-1 to reach
a third Champions League final in four seasons, but Ferguson
is still likely to give his first-choice players a chance to
show that defeat to Arsenal was an aberration rather than a
turning point in the title race.
"We lacked the same intensity as we normally do against
Arsenal at the weekend," United defender John O'Shea said.
"We have already played Chelsea at home in the Champions
League, so we know we will have to play well.
"Chelsea have hit a bit of form but we know we are a good
team at home."
Arsenal are at Stoke on Sunday and still have an outside
chance of winning the title if United fail to win.
United are unbeaten at Old Trafford this season and beat
Chelsea home and away in the Champions League quarterfinals
but the Blues have momentum after a dismal midseason spell
that seemed to have ended their hopes of retaining the title.
The same weekend United lost to Arsenal, Chelsea won a fifth
straight Premier League match and could now move ahead of
United on goal difference with two games remaining.
Still, Ferguson can recall the likes of Wayne Rooney, Rio
Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic to face Chelsea.
Ferguson said fullback Patrice Evra had recovered from a blow
he took as a second-half substitute in Wednesday's win over
Schalke, while Rooney will be fit after sitting out the match
to rest a tight hamstring.
"Patrice got a kick," Ferguson said. "I was ready to
substitute him but he said he was OK. Wayne will be all
right. I wasn't prepared to take a risk."
Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti paired Didier Drogba and
Fernando Torres in attack for last weekend's 2-1 win over
Tottenham but the Blues only won after Torres' substitution
and only one is likely to start at Old Trafford.
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