F365 Features

Manchester United
As has been mentioned a fair few times on these pages, Manchester United's problem this season (in the league at least) has been against their 'Big Four' rivals.

Two losses so far this season, against Liverpool and Arsenal.

While the big four 'mini league' will not take on as much importance as it has in previous years, United still have to start picking up points against their title rivals if they are to overhaul the current seven-point gap and put in a concerted bid.

While United have only lost once against Chelsea at Old Trafford since Roman Abramovich swaggered into Stamford Bridge, pockets overflowing, there are suggestions that they could be in for a tough ride at the weekend.

The first and most obvious thing to consider is Chelsea's away record. Curiously flat at home, Chelsea have only dropped four points away from home this season, and haven't yet lost.

The other thing to take into account is United's own form. An optimist would say they are unbeaten in seven, while a pessimist would point to three unconvincing wins and uneven performances against Sunderland, Stoke and Middlesbrough, as well as draws with Aston Villa and Spurs.

Finally, don't expect an avalanche of goals on Sunday. Since the start of December, United and Chelsea have played nine games between them, and have scored only ten goals in that time. United have conceded none (in fact the last time they let a league goal in was in the defeat to Arsenal in November), and Chelsea three.

Chelsea's Attack
On that point, a Chelsea forward line for whom plenty of chances have been created but few converted must somehow penetrate United's backline.

Luiz Felipe Scolari has said he would like to play 4-4-2 with Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba up top, but lack of a left-winger prevents such a tactic. In the absence of Florent Malouda (good lord) a 4-3-3 looks more likely.

However, if such a set-up struggles to break down Southend, then problems ahoy for Big Phil.

Middlesbrough
On November 16, after impressive wins over Manchester City and Aston Villa, then a creditable draw with Everton, Middlesbrough were eighth with a handy 18 points.

A couple of months and seven games later, Boro have collected just two additional points, and are kept out of the relegation zone by goal difference.

They have lost their last three games, and although reverses to Everton and Fulham were damaging, it might be the manner of the performance against Manchester United that will trouble Boro fans.

On the face of it, a 1-0 loss to the European Champions might not look like a disaster, but United played in a manner not suited to such a lofty title, and still won easily.

They won easily primarily because Middlesbrough showed an astonishing lack of ambition. Playing a 4-5-1 that appeared attacking on paper (Tuncay and Aliadiere played on the wings, with Stewart Downing in the middle), Boro came looking for a draw before Dimitar Berbatov scored in the 69th minute, and seemed happy with the narrow defeat after.

Even at Old Trafford, a team going a goal behind should at least give the impression that they want something out of the game. Hull were 4-1 behind in November but launched a comeback that irked Alex Ferguson so much he was given a touchline ban for his outburst against referee Mike Dean.

On Saturday Boro host Sunderland, and it will be interesting to see how they bear up against their local rivals, to whom they lost 2-0 earlier in the season.

Harry Redknapp
A month ago 'Arry could do no wrong. The honeymoon was still in full swing, and Spurs fans were looking forward to the rest of the season in which, in such a tight league, a challenge for Europe was unlikely but not out of the question.

Over the festive period Tottenham faced three games from which nine points could reasonably have been expected, but in reality just one was gained from Newcastle, Fulham and West Brom.

Spurs have another such encounter on Sunday, travelling to play Wigan in a game that must be won, otherwise the likelihood is that they will be back in the relegation zone and scrapping.

In a busy season in which Spurs are still involved in four competitions, it is vital that league survival is placed as the priority, and league survival will be secured with wins against teams like Newcastle, Fulham, West Brom and Wigan.

Jermain Defoe
Defoe has managed a goal on each of his previous four debuts, so solve those new year/recession financial woes by sticking a pony on him to bag against Wigan.

Wayne Bridge
It's been the accepted wisdom that, by having Bridge and Ashley Cole, the Chelsea manager was essentially picking the England left-back for the past three seasons.

In the absence of any convincing competition, and without Bridge having any sort of run in the Chelsea team to dis/prove the theory, we have all more or less assumed that Bridge is the second best in his position.

Now, with Michael Ball and Javier Garrido the slightly less intimidating competition, Bridge's chance to establish how good he is begins at Portsmouth on Saturday.

Portsmouth and Manchester City
It doesn't happen all that often in the Premier League, but this is a game that both sides will regard as emminently winnable, and indeed may regard as a 'must win' game.

With Pompey on a run of four straight defeats and now shorn of arguably their two best players, City will feel three points are there for the taking.

And Portsmouth will surely believe that if Nottingham Forest can make short work of City, then they can too.

Mark Hughes may have already splashed £12million on Bridge and is making more bids left, right and centre, but there is still time for ADUG to change their minds and keep the chequebook in the drawer for the moment.

Nick Miller