Manchester United, Chelsea set for first leaders’ summit

Manchester United manager David Moyes (left) and Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.

AFP/London

Just a week into the new season, the Premier League will witness its first major head-to-head of the campaign when Chelsea face off against champions Manchester United on Monday.

United began their title defence with an impressive 4-1 win at Swansea City last weekend, but Chelsea’s visit marks the start of a testing four-game sequence that includes matches against Liverpool and Manchester City. New United manager David Moyes could not have asked for a sterner start to the season and in Chelsea he faces a side who are already building up a head of steam.

Chelsea won 2-0 against Hull City on manager Jose Mourinho’s return to Stamford Bridge last weekend and followed that up with a gritty 2-1 success at home to Aston Villa on Wednesday, in a game brought forward due to the Europa League champions’ involvement in the UEFA Super Cup. It means the London side can open up a six-point lead over their title rivals by winning at Old Trafford, and having seen United twice left in the starting blocks by Chelsea during Mourinho’s first stint at the club, United midfielder Ryan Giggs is determined not to let it happen again.

“In Mourinho’s first spell at Chelsea, they obviously got off to a few good starts and we didn’t manage to catch them,” said the Welsh veteran.

“You always want to get off to a good start. It has obviously been well documented that we have got a tough start, but we started well with a good win at Swansea on Saturday and hopefully we can carry that on.”

Although it is early in the season, Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech knows that a positive result in Manchester would give his side an early advantage in the fledgling title race.

“We’ve won games at Manchester United and we’ve lost games there. It’s always tight,” Cech told the Chelsea website, www.chelseafc.com.

“It’s still at an early stage of the season, but any advantage you can gain over your rival is always good.”

Moyes admits he will put faith in the club’s youngsters if the Premier League champions are unable to land their major transfer targets. Moyes has found it a challenge to strengthen United’s squad since he replaced fellow Scot Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.

Spain international Cesc Fabregas had been Moyes’ main target but Barcelona rejected United’s £30 million ($46.8m, 34.9m euros) offer and the player subsequently pledged his future to the Catalan club.

The Red Devils were linked with Thiago Alacantara, Fabregas’ midfield colleague for club and country, but he left the Camp Nou for German club Bayern Munich.

Moyes reaffirmed United’s stance that striker Wayne Rooney will not be sold to Premier League rivals Chelsea. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho suggested he will make a third bid for the England international following the game.

But when asked if there had been anything further on Rooney’s future Moyes said: “We have said it haven’t we? It is still the same message.”

Today, Arsenal will hope to carry the momentum from their mid-week Champions League victory over Fenerbahce into their trip to London rivals Fulham. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger came in for heavy criticism after his side crashed to a 3-1 loss at home to Villa on the opening weekend of the season, with the north London club’s lack of activity in the transfer market the subject of particular scrutiny.

However, they planted one foot in the Champions League group phase by winning 3-0 in Istanbul on Wednesday, and winger Theo Walcott says the setback against Villa is now out of their system.

“You don’t want to start a season like that, but that’s out of the window now,” he told www.arsenal.com.

“We’ve forgotten about that and we’re concentrating on Fulham. And if we perform like that, with that intensity, we can beat anyone.”

Villa, who were unfortunate not to be awarded a stoppage-time penalty in the mid-week loss to Chelsea after an apparent handball by John Terry, host Liverpool in the evening kick-off today.

Manchester City opened their campaign with a stylish 4-0 win at home to Newcastle United last Monday and they visit promoted Cardiff City tomorrow.

City dropped 24 points away from home last season, fatally undermining their title defence, and left-back Gael Clichy says Manuel Pellegrini’s side must start reproducing their home form on the road. “We did work hard during the whole pre-season and that is what the manager wants from us,” he told the club website, www.mcfc.co.uk.

“Away from home it will be more difficult, but it is a good way of starting the season.”

FIXTURES

Today (1400GMT unless otherwise stated):

Fulham v Arsenal (1145GMT), Everton v West Bromwich Albion, Hull City v Norwich City, Newcastle United v West Ham United, Southampton v Sunderland, Stoke City v Crystal Palace, Aston Villa v Liverpool (1630GMT)

Tomorrow (1500GMT):

Cardiff City v Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur v Swansea City

Monday (1900GMT):

Manchester United v Chelsea