Drogba on the bench for Chelsea

Didier Drogba has once again been left on the bench to ensure neither Manchester United nor Chelsea began today’s crucial Barclays Premier League encounter with their main striker.

Wayne Rooney has been ruled out for at least a fortnight following the ankle injury he suffered in Munich on Tuesday, but even though Drogba recovered from the minor leg problem which kept him out of last week’s seven-goal hammering of Aston Villa, Carlo Ancelotti has kept faith with Nicolas Anelka as his lone frontman.

Table-toppers United start the day with a one-point lead over the Blues, and bidding to prevent Chelsea recording only their fourth win in 10 games away from Stamford Bridge.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Valencia, Fletcher, Giggs, Scholes, Park, Berbatov.

Subs: Kuszczak, Carrick, Nani, Rafael Da Silva, Macheda, Gibson, De Laet.

Chelsea: Cech, Paulo Ferreira, Alex, Terry, Zhirkov, Joe Cole, Deco, Lampard, Mikel, Malouda, Anelka.

Subs: Turnbull, Drogba, Ballack, Kalou, Sturridge, Belletti, Bruma.

Referee: Mike Dean.