Football Focus : Chelsea face United title test

This is probably the worst time to face Manchester United. And unfortunately for Chelsea, that is what they will do on Sunday as their title credentials face the toughest possible test yet.

The Blues’ task is made all the more daunting as they travel to Old Trafford, where United have already hit the net 11 times in just two home games (3-0 against Tottenham and 8-2 against Arsenal) so far this season.

While the defending champions’ start to their Barclays Premier League campaign has been nothing short of spectacular, you can’t really say that of the Blues — although they have managed to stay just two points behind joint-leaders United and Manchester City in third place after four games.

Andres Villas-Boas’ ageing squad has been boosted by the signings of Juan Mata from Valencia and Raul Meireles from Liverpool. But there remains an air of anxiety over the club’s title hopes this season.

For the first time in recent years, they have had to settle as outside favorites for the Premier League crown with the red and blue halves of Manchester tipped to duke it out at the top.

Past clashes between Chelsea and United have always been looked upon as potential title deciders. But the meteoric rise of Roberto Mancini’s men coinciding with the Blues’ faltering fortunes last season have many that this season’s league clashes between the Red Devils and the Blues may not hold as much significance as in the past.

But Sir Alex Ferguson knows he would be a fool to write Chelsea off.

Even though Old Trafford is the last place the Blues would want to visit at this point of time, I do not expect them to sit back and play for a draw — not when they have the likes of Mata, Meireles and dare I say Fernando
Torres, in their attacking armory.

Meanwhile, another mouth-watering clash will take place at White Hart Lane on Sunday, where a troubled but strengthened Tottenham welcome Liverpool.

Both teams are under equal pressure to prove their credentials as a top four candidate, with Harry Redknapp’s men moving in the right direction, following their disastrous start to the season with a 2-0 win over Wolves last weekend and Kenny Dalglish’s Reds hoping to put their disappointing defeat at Stoke City behind them.

Spurs may have secured the loan signing of Emmanuel Adebayor from City to boost their firepower up front, but I see the Togolese striker as more of a troublemaker than a valuable addition for the North
London club.

Liverpool on the other hand could finally welcome the return of captain Steven Gerrard. While there have been talks that the midfielder’s place in the starting lineup is under threat from the likes of Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson, there’s no doubt that he remains the Reds’ key player for this season.

Another team desperate to kick-start their Barclays Premier League season are none other than Arsenal. The Gunners may have beaten Swansea at the Emirates last week and earned a credible draw against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Tuesday, but I can’t foresee their troubles going away in a snap.

The signing of Mikel Arteta from Everton may have appeased the fans and silenced Arsene Wenger’s critics for now, but the Spanish midfielder is nothing more than a cheap replacement for Cesc Fabregas.

I do, however, expect the Gunners to take all three points from Ewood Park — not because of their form, but because of Blackburn’s. The Rovers are already looking strong candidates for the drop this season, having lost three of their four opening league games and are now rooted at the bottom of the table.

But there is no doubt all eyes will be fixed at Old Trafford this Sunday.

Former Liverpool and England International Steve McMahon is a soccer expert with ESPN’s Monday Night Verdict at 8 p.m.