Why Chelsea will beat Manchester United?

The Premier League’s top two clash at the Bridge on Sunday but in my mind there’s only going to be one winner and that’s the boys in Blue.

Most teams fear the arrival of the champions Manchester United, but Chelsea thrive on meetings with the Red Devils. They have taken more points off Fergie’s men than any other Premier League club and are unbeaten in their past eight meetings home and away. The Blues also go into the weekend’s title showdown in superb form and with a superior squad.

Chelsea currently top the Premier League table and most people believe they will still be top of the tree come Monday morning. They are in scintillating form having scored 19 goals in their past five league and cup games, conceding just two, and their defence has not been breached at home since Stephen Hunt scored for Hull on the opening day of the season. Fergie will have to have one hell of a game plan in place to beat the Blues.

Carlo Ancelotti has carried on the good work undertaken by Guus Hiddink at the tail end of last season and the Blues have rediscovered their hunger for silverware, none more so than Didier Drogba. There were rumours that he was going to be on his way out of Stamford Bridge in the summer following his shocking Champions League outburst but he has been simply sublime this season. The former Marseille man is arguably the best striker in the Premier League and gives every defender nightmares. He is fabulous at holding the ball up, spinning defenders and you fancy him to score with every opportunity. How will a under pressure United defence, who look like they will be without Rio Ferdinand, cope with him?

But it’s not just Drogba United will have to watch. Nicolas Anelka seems happy at the Bridge, Deco is producing the type of form he showed at Barcelona, Joe Cole is hungry for goals after his long spell on the sidelines and Frank Lampard is also back in amongst the goals.

Manchester United haven’t won at the Bridge since 2002 and they haven’t beaten any of the big four (*away from Old Trafford) since beating Liverpool back in 2007. Not that it has done them any harm as they search for their fourth title in a row, but defeat at the Bridge will see them slip five points behind the leaders.

Now we all United are always better in the second half of the season but this United squad just doesn’t have the same strength in depth as previous sides. Except Wayne Rooney, United don’t have anyone with the same attacking threat of Ronaldo or the work rate of Carlos Tevez. Nani isn’t fit to wear the shirt, the jury is still out on Valencia, Michael Owen still has a lot to prove while Berbatov needs to be seen to be doing more in order to win over the fans.

United seem to be relying too much on the old heads of Giggs and Scholes and no doubt Darren Fletcher will be deployed by Fergie to snap at the Chelsea players’ heels. There is not a lot of creativity at Old Trafford and Fergie will have to address that issue if he has any hope of retaining the title.

Meanwhile Chelsea have international class cover in every area and Ancelotti is blessed with an array of talented and hardworking stars. The Italian has passed on his vast football knowledge to the players and, bar the defeat at Wigan, they appear to have taken everything the Italian has said on board. They are, but then they always have been, solid at the back, but the biggest improvement at Chelsea has been their attacking intentions and I really fancy them to turn United over.

Chelsea will equal an 11-game unbeaten home record on Sunday with a victory and while I think United will make it hard for the Blues I believe Chelsea's strength in depth and vast experience will see them celebrating come the final whistle.

* I missed out this vital section originally. Apologies.

PS. I'm not a Chelsea fan.