(AP Photo/Paul White)

Chelsea looking to expose Man United defense

By STUART CONDIE,

LONDON (AP) Chelsea and Manchester United contest top spot in the Premier League on Sunday with the Blues hopeful of exposing clear weaknesses in the defending champions' side this season.

United's hitherto solid defense has been hit by injury and poor form and could be especially fragile at Stamford Bridge against a vibrant Chelsea side that has scored 19 goals in its past five games.

And while Chelsea's attack of Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka has been further boosted by the return from injury of midfielder Joe Cole, United is still figuring out how to compensate for the goals it lost when it sold Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid.

United won just one of its six matches against the other so-called top four sides last season and has not won at Stamford Bridge since 2002, hinting that the champions could struggle.

"There's a long way to go yet in the title race, but Sunday's game could be important psychologically," United midfielder Darren Fletcher said. "We'll just concentrate on ourselves: we know we're capable of going there and winning.

"It won't be easy, but we'll go there with a game plan and the manager will have a lot of options for the side he wants to pick and we'll try and get a result."

Fletcher's return has been a welcome fillip for United, with the midfielder's ability to shield the defense taking pressure off the out-of-form Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.

Both sat out Tuesday's Champions League match against CSKA Moscow but their replacements, Jonny Evans and Wes Brown, looked even shakier as United needed two late goals to draw 3-3 at Old Trafford.

Chelsea, meanwhile, has no such problems.

The two goals it conceded to draw 2-2 at Atletico Madrid in midweek were the first it had let in for five matches.

Victory for Chelsea would take it five points clear of United almost a third of the way into the season, while defeat for United could leave it susceptible to being overtaken by resurgent Arsenal.

The Gunners are at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday seeking to stretch a two-month unbeaten streak in which it has outscored its league opponents 19-5.

"Maybe we were a little bit underestimated at the start of the season," Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen said. "A lot of people were talking about Arsenal not being good enough to be at the top, but we have done well so far in the Premier League and Champions League."

The Gunners lost to United this season so is seeking to build momentum ahead of a crucial match against Chelsea on Nov. 29.

"We have some big games coming up including Chelsea," Vermaelen said. "If we have a good result there, then it will be very big for us."

Arsenal is just three points behind United, which, with Chelsea, has occupied the top two spots since Sept. 13.

Liverpool, meanwhile, has spent less than three weeks in the top four since the season started in mid August and is desperate for victory over Birmingham on Monday after its fifth Premier League loss last weekend.

Hit by injuries to key players and the sale of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid, Liverpool is already nine points behind Chelsea. It followed a shock 2-0 win over United with a 3-1 defeat at Fulham and has lost six of its past eight games in all competitions.

Liverpool is also on the verge of elimination from the Champions League after conceding late to draw 1-1 at Lyon on Wednesday, leaving manager Rafa Benitez hopeful of bringing Martin Skrtel back into his side to shore up the defense.

But captain Steven Gerrard is set to miss out again and striker Fernando Torres could be absent after playing with a groin injury against Lyon.

"When he is playing with pain it is not easy," Benitez said. "We have some time and we will be working with him."

Also Saturday, fourth-place Manchester City hosts Burnley, Tottenham hosts Sunderland, Aston Villa hosts Bolton and Portsmouth is at Blackburn.

West Ham hosts Everton on Sunday, when Fulham is at Wigan and Stoke is at Hull.

Newcastle seeks to stay top of the second-tier League Championship when it plays Peterborough on Saturday, with second-place West Bromwich Albion at fourth-place Leicester.

Updated November 5, 2009