Old Trafford
Sunday, 26 November
Kick-off: 1600 GMT
Coverage on the BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live & highlights on MOTD

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.

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.

Interview: Chelsea's Frank Lampard

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.

BIG-MATCH FACTS

MANCHESTER UNITED against Chelsea is not only the Battle of the Titans, but a gladiatorial top-of-the-table joust between two of the superpowers of English soccer. It is not a title decider, but will go a long way to determine who will be in the driving seat in what's increasingly looking like a two horse race.

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.

There's little to choose between these clubs in the Premiership head-to-head standings. Chelsea lead by nine wins to eight, with 11 of the 28 meetings drawn.

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, who are seeking their first Premiership crown in four seasons.

Despite both losing 1-0 away in the Champions League this week (United at Celtic, Chelsea at Werder Bremen), the Londoners will take heart from the fact that they qualified for the knock out stages, while United have not yet done so. The Blues have scored in every League game this season - United have not. Indeed, the Stamford Bridge side have taken the lead in every League game and have kept one more clean sheet than their arch rivals.

The Blues are making their 15th Premiership visit to the Theatre of Dreams, and are looking for a fifth victory. Last season, Darren Fletcher scored the only goal of a high quality match at Old Trafford, which ended Chelsea's 40-match unbeaten League run.

CHELSEA
Squad profiles

Frank LAMPARD needs one goal to become Chelsea's highest scoring midfield player in their history. He has scored 76 goals from 287 appearances (only two were headers), and is equal with Dennis Wise, who needed 445 games to score his 76 goals for the Blues.

If he plays, LAMPARD will be making his 200th Premiership appearance for Chelsea.

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.

If on the field from the outset, Claude MAKELELE will be making his 100th League start for the Blues.

Only Michael ESSIEN has figured in every minute of every one of Chelsea's League and Cup matches this season.

If he plays, Shaun WRIGHT-PHILLIPS will be making his 150th career Premiership appearance (Manchester City and Chelsea).