Manchester United travel to Stamford Bridge on Sunday knowing a win will increase the gap to six points with the Old Trafford outfit still to play a game in hand.
The news that Paul Scholes will not make the trip, and possibly remain absent until the New Year, is not good for United, who have dropped points against Chelsea in London over the best part of the decade.
Experience seems to be the key over the festive season and the Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson will know that he is now missing one of his trump cards for what is usually United’s better part of the season.
However, the form of the Brazilian midfielder Anderson, and the fact he has now signed a new five year deal, could be the perfect situation for Sir Alex to be in, as he seldom uses the same team twice in a row these days. Sir Alex’s options to mix his first eleven around depending on who they might be facing is a tactical tool any manager would want at their disposal.
With Chelsea’s current poor form, and Manchester United beginning to find their feel for the competition, Sir Alex is in a position to compensate for Paul Scholes’ absence whilst sticking to a formidable back four that thwarted Arsenal last Monday night.