Ahead of TheGame: Chelsea will come out top against United

Patrick Barclay answers our questions on the weekend's big game between Chelsea and Manchester United.

How will the result of Sunday's match influence the outcome of the season?

PB: It could have a massive impact. This is the best Chelsea team since the peak of the Jose Mourinho era and if they were to take a five-point lead over United with a victory on Sunday, it would have a significant influence on the destination of the Premier League trophy.

Chelsea will not lose many more games, but United will lose at least two or three more unless their defence magically solidifies. So the result could genuinely be an indication, no matter how early it is in the season, of where the title will end up.

Where will the match be won and lost?

PB: Up front there is not an awful lot to choose between the sides, although Didier Drogba is probably the best centre forward in Europe at the moment. Wayne Rooney is vying with him, especially as both players produced outstanding performances in the Champions League in midweek.

In almost every other area of the field Chelsea are way ahead. How many United players would get into Chelsea's midfield? Maybe Darren Flether or Ryan Giggs at a push. On the other hand, you could name five Chelsea players - Joe Cole, Michael Essien, Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and Deco - who would all waltz into the United midfield.

If you look at the back four it becomes even worse for United. Chelsea have a settled look to their defence. They have arguably the best left back in the world in Ashley Cole and John Terry is one of the best central defenders. United did, until six or seven months ago, have the best central defensive partnership in the country. But as everyone knows they have struggled to perform of late.

Only in goal do United have a clear advantage, where Edwin van der Sar is slightly ahead of Petr Cech this season.

Could a Chelsea victory start a power-shift at the top of the English game?

PB: It could. Back in 2005 when Chelsea first won the league under Mourinho, everyone thought "goodbye Fergie". Since then United have won three league titles and Chelsea one. United have won one Champions League and Chelsea none, United have had one manager, and Chelsea, including Mourinho, have had five. So you can never rule Sir Alex Ferguson out.

But I do think Chelsea will win and if they do they will be established as mine, and I expect everybody else's, firm favourites for the title.

We also reported on the suspension of Chelsea's transfer ban, Rio Ferdinand's injury situation and South Africa's investment in World Cup security, including prison trains.

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Comments

[Reddevil]

I have to say these are utterly myopic views from Patrick. Yes, United have problems but they are still better off than at the same stage last season so even if they do lose its far from over. They could only improve from here and Chelsea on other hand are so good at the moment that they cant get much better!

[andrew scott]

Chelsea clearly have more world class players than United and look very strong this year.

Without Ronaldo, Tevez and playing an unfit Ferdinand, United will struggle to reach the heights of last season. Chelsea are an oldish side, they hav a lot of players the wrong side of thirty. They probably have a couple of seasons before major rebuilding is necessary. But this year they could win everything.

[Jp]

people like Andrew make me laugh - your points on Cristiano & an un-fit Rio are justifiable but why is it that in the few months since Tevez has left Old Trafford he has gone from being a very good player who's work-ethic outweighed his abilities to a World Class superstar - if United win the League or not this season they will do it inspite of Carlito either way.

as far as Barclay goes - he mentions Ashley Cole perhaps being the best left-back in the world (fair opinion) without even mentioning United have the left-back closest in opposition to him; Evra - he then talks about United's defence having gotten worse while failing to mention Rio & Vidic have started fewer than 10 games as a partnership in this period.

also - the 5 midfielders you mentioned! the fact you put deco in there signifies the comment was made for effect rather than decency.; he's playing no better now than he started last season & look how ended.

also i see no mention of Hargreaves who has been out for far longer than Essien was last season or Joe Cole that & this although all i heard from yourself of a SunDay morning on Sky was how much they missed these players whilst continually forgetting United miss players too.

all i ask for is abit of parity in your comments; i can care less about if you regard Chelsea to be better than United as in the end it's all opinion until the end of the season but this snippet is sensationalist & weak.

[Matthew Lloyd]

To say that Deco and Ballack would waltz into United's midfield is laughable. It wasn't that long ago that Chelsea lost a couple of games, yet now all of a sudden they are invincible again. Chelsea players are still there more for the money than anything else and they think too much of themselves. Terry has far too much influence, shown by his roles in gettin Mourinho and Scolari sacked. No United player would dream of trying that with Ferguson, even Keane didn't. United may struggle on Sunday but there's an equal chance they will surprise everyone.

[peter grant]

Chelsea may edge by Man U on Sunday but it is to early to say that wraps up the League. I am an Arsenal fan and dream every night that they have signed Terry and Essien in the January transfer window. That would wrap the title up. Essien to me is Makelele and Roy Keane combined.

[paul]

Deco? and Ballack? walk into the united team. I think not.

[Damien]

Patrick,

So, you have it that Chelsea's home form on Sunday will decide the title. They will not lose many more etc. - did you see them at Wigan?

I am not knocking your analysis, but, surely their roadwork will be of greater import than what they do against Man Utd at home? All the more so as they have to travel to all the top grounds, having been beaten on their travels twice already.

How do you conclude that the other top sides will less capable of turning over a defence that can not defend the crossed ball? As you say re DD - top man at the minute, - they have been turned over twice and he is on fire - what happens when his knee starts up again?

Avram Grant's team was better anyway.

[Kristiina]

Patrick's views are spot on. Man United has a lot to do. Chelsea's main opponent this season seems to be themselves and the African Cup.

[Oilrag]

I believe that the Premiership is at a lower standard this year than previously.
Chelsea may well win it, but they are no better than before. United have problems, and also having won 3 consecutive titles, it is hard to keep doing that.
Arsenal. I think will bottle it, when crunch time comes.
The rest will be scrapping for fourth place.

[OM]

Chelsea won't lose many more games? The best team since 2005? Surely a bit premature to say that when they've got a new manager who won nothing last season and have lost 2 games already. they had only lost 1 game under Scolari by the same stage last season and the london media were hyping chelsea in the same way then. Look what happened.

Man u may lose on Sunday because they have injuries at the back and are bedding in a new midfield but it's early November - thats plenty of time for chelsea dad's army to get found out.

And Ballack and Deco to waltz into utd's midfield - give me a break!

[tom]

Chelsea are far superior to United, largely because their midfield is an absolute joke in comparison to 2 seasons ago. Im sorry but no matter how much ridiculous media hype surrounds him, Darren Fletcher is a squad player AT BEST.

However this article is dismissive of other sides chances of the title, particularly Arsenal - who look far and away to be Chelsea's main rivals. Compare those two lineups and see how many chelsea players get selected.

Also lets not forget that age becomes a far greater hinderance in the second half of the season, where it becomes impossible for a player of 30 years+ to recover as effectively from accumulated fatigue as somone in the early-mid 20's for games every 2-3 days.

[Ezee-T]

Think about it.

If Ballack and Deco were available to United do you seriously think that Ferguson would leave them out in favor of Carrick or Anderson.

Deco is more creative than anyone on the United roster and Ballack gives Chelsea that assurance and consistency in defense and attack that no one in United can replicate.