Chelsea: Besides Rooney, would any Manchester United stars get into your starting XI?

Premier League leaders Chelsea welcome the champions Manchester United to the Bridge this weekend in arguably the biggest game of the season so far. Just two points separate the English giants but the Red Devils know a defeat in West London would severely damage their hopes of lifting a fourth successive league title.

Manchester United have not been their vintage best this season but, worryingly for the rest of the top flight, they have grounded out results and are in a healthy position for this time of the season. Yet the lack of real quality at Old Trafford must be a massive concern for Sir Alex Ferguson, especially when compared to the players at Ancelotti’s disposal at the Bridge.

Traditionally when teams line up against Manchester United the opposition fans would gladly swap five or six of their own players for those in red. Over the years the likes of Cantona, Giggs, Scholes, Keane, Van Nistelrooy, Beckham, Ronaldo, Schmeichal and co could have played for any club in the world. However, how many of the current squad do you think would get a game for Chelsea this weekend? Personally I can think of only one man and that’s the all-action England international Wayne Rooney.

When you look at the Chelsea squad you see international class players from front to back. Didier Drogba is on the top of his game at the moment and is one of the most feared strikers in the game. Frank Lampard may have struggled in the goals department this season but his all-round play and creation of goals has been first class. Not forgetting Mr Chelsea in the heart of defence and the cat like presence of Petr Cech in between the sticks.

Cech, Terry, Lampard and Drogba make up one of the best spines to a team you will ever see and you could surround them with amateurs and they’d still win games. However, unfortunately for Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United, Carlo Ancelotti has quality in every area of his squad.

Defensively he has Ashley Cole, who is arguably one of the world’s greatest left-backs right now, Ricardo Carvalho, who is solid as a rock and silky on the ball, Jose Bosingwa, who bombs down the right like a gazelle, and he can also rely on Ivanovic, Alex, Belletti and Ferreira when injuries and suspensions occur.

Manchester United had one of the best defensive partnerships in Ferdinand and Vidic but that has gone a bit awry in recent months. Rio has suffered a huge dip in form and confidence and has had his fair share of injury problems. While Vidic, who was a colossal figure in both penalty areas when he first arrived, has also looked a yard off the pace. Rio should be available for the crunch game on Sunday but he is likely to be partnered by Johnny Evans following Vidic’s red card at Anfield. The Irish international is a quality defender who has a bright future ahead of him but he is not quite at the same level as Terry and Carvalho.

At left-back, Patrice Evra would give Ashley Cole a stern challenge for the shirt but I don’t think either set of fans would swap their man for the other. While on the other flank United have the likes of Wes Brown, John O’Shea and Gary Neville to choose from. Neville has enjoyed a glittering career but it looks as though the curtain is coming down quicker than he imagined while Brown and O’Shea are good versatile players with lots of heart but they just don’t offer the same threat as the options at Chelsea.

In midfield Chelsea are blessed with steel, skill and scorers. We’ve already talked about Lampard but is there a better ball winner in the English game than Michael Essien? The Ghanaian international puts his life on the line to protect the back four but is always willing to get involved further up the park. Essien has the engine of a Ferrari and packs a ferocious shot.

Michael Ballack is easily one of the best players in the world and has really adapted to life in the English game. Strong, combative and creative, the German international is always in the right position at the right time and never lets his team-mates down.

Chelsea also have the likes of Deco, who is back to his scintillating best under Ancelotti, Joe Cole, who is itching to get back to full fitness with the World Cup coming up, Malouda, Zhirkov and Mikel to call on.

In contrast Manchester United have a midfield that seriously needs some reinforcements in January. Michael Carrick is in danger of missing out on South Africa next June following some sloppy displays, Valencia needs to do more in the attacking third while Nani makes Yordi Cryuff look like a world beater! Anderson would run through walls for United but he’s never likely to turn a game with one moment of brilliance while Scholes and Giggs, who have been great servants to the club and are still liable to produce magical moments, are in the twilight of their careers. Darren Fletcher is another player with a huge heart and has been a major player for Fergie in the big games, but personally I can’t see many Chelsea fans swapping Essien for him.

Then up front do you go for the directness and bloody single mindedness of goal machines Drogba and Anelka or the craft and guile of Rooney and Berbatov. Drogba has been untouchable this season and seems determined to make up for last season’s Champions League shame by helping the Blues to glory on all fronts. The former Marseille man has all the power in the world to hold the ball up and play in team-mates, but he also has the pace to turn defenders and the coolness in front of goal to see off opponents.

Anelka has finally matured as a player and looks to be really enjoying himself at Stamford Bridge, even though he isn’t playing in his preferred position. Anelka is as fast as lightening and remains one of the best finishers in the business.

Rooney is undoubtedly one of the game’s most precocious talents and he works his socks off for the team. He can score with both feet, is good in the air and as strong as an ox. The former Everton man could walk into any team in the world, however, I wonder how many people could say that about his partner Dimitar Berbatov? The former Spurs man can do unbelievable things with a ball but his lackadaisical misdemeanour at Old Trafford has not gone down well with the fans who want to see their stars bust a gut for the team. In saying that, Berbatov has started to repay Ferguson’s faith in him with some glorious strikes.

Manchester United also have the former Liverpool and England international Michael Owen. A decade ago he was the most feared striker in the world, but injuries have taken their toll and he is not as quick across the ground as he once was. He can still score (as he proved against CSKA Moscow on Tuesday) but he is not as effective as Drogba, Anelka or Rooney.

Now, I am not a Blues fan in any way, shape or form, nor am I a cynical Liverpool fan trying to run down United. I support Aberdeen, so I’m as impartial as they come – even though Fergie will always be a legend in the Granite City. I also know that you should never write off United, especially when it comes to the big games, however, my honest opinion is that if Ancelotti was allowed to pick any United players for his team this weekend, only Rooney would stand a chance of making it. But what do you think? I’d love to hear from you.

· Calling all Chelsea fans. Which United stars would you like to see in your team? The Blues have a decent record over United, how confident are you of seeing that continue this weekend? What do you think the score will be on Sunday? If you could pick a starting XI from the two squads who would you choose and why? I’d love to hear from you.

· Calling all Manchester United fans. Which Chelsea players would you like to see in your starting line-up? How confident are you of beating Chelsea and reclaiming top spot in the Premier League? If you could pick a starting XI from the two squads who would you choose and why? I’d love to hear from you.