Barclays Premier League

FULL TIME

They may have been outplayed and created very few chances, but Chelsea have somehow just beaten one of the world's best sides at Stamford Bridge. The sign of champions? Perhaps, but for now the Blues sit five points clear at the top of the Premier League thanks to John Terry's winner. United, and Wayne Rooney in particular, can feel very hard done by tonight. Full time at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0.

POOR

Obertan's inswinger is met by Carrick at the near post but he heads comfortably wide.

LATE SUB

Chelsea waste a couple of seconds, replacing Anelka with Alex. United are waiting to take another corner, after Ivanovic nodded behind...

EVANS HEADER

Pressure from United who are chucking everyone forward. Ashley Cole heads behind for a corner - Valencia whips it to Jonny Evans and he nods over from 12 yards.

ADDED TIME

We've got five minutes of added time.

BOOKING

Valencia is late on Lampard and Mr Atkinson gets his yellow card out yet again.

CORNER

Corner for United. Rooney sends it in but Lampard clears. Time running out for the visitors.

DOUBLE CHANGE

Do-or-die time for United and here come the reinforcements. Michael Owen and Gabriel Obertan replace Anderson and Ryan Giggs.

VALENCIA CHANCE

A Giggs corner drops to Valencia who should do better, but lashes wide from the edge of the box.

CHELSEA SUB

Salomon Kalou on for Chelsea, with Drogba the man to be withdrawn.

BOOKINGS

Carvalho fouls Rooney but tries to keep the ball and stop United taking a quick free kick. Evans then clatters into the Portuguese defender and handbags ensue. Booking apiece for Carvalho and Evans.

UNDESERVED?

Well, it may be what you call an undeserved lead, but Chelsea won't care one jot. To be fair they have defended superbly, particularly through Terry and Carvalho.

BOOKING

Wayne Rooney remonstrated furiously with the referee about the goal and duly saw yellow.

CHELSEA 1-0 MAN UNITED

A hugely important, controversial moment at Stamford Bridge, one which could have serious ramifications in the title race. Lampard whips in a free kick from the left and JOHN TERRY nods into the corner. I say controversial, because a clearly offside Didier Drogba was stood in front of Van der Sar, and indeed stuck his leg out to try and get a touch on the ball.

BOOKING

Drogba, who as per usual makes the most of his near-death experience, picks up a yellow card from Atkinson, presumably for moaning.

DROGBA DOWN

Evans catches Drogba with a high foot and the Ivorian needs some treatment.

UNITED ON TOP

Only one team looking like winning this in the final 19 minutes. United, with Rooney, Fletcher and Giggs are the forefront, are regularly testing this Chelsea defence. I repeat, though, we're still waiting for a genuine chance to break the deadlock.

TIPPED OVER

All of his own making, Wayne Rooney is getting closer to breaking the deadlock. He turns and shoot from 30 yards, a real testing curler which Cech has to tip over. The corner comes to nothing.

ROONEY CHANCE

Rooney hears my call but can't quite put United ahead. Chance of the half for either side as the former Evertonian takes a quick free kick which is played back to him, and he then fires just wide from 15 yards.

NEEDS A GOAL

Well the free-flowing football of the first half has subsided a little and it's a bit stop-start at Stamford Bridge right now. A goal would change all that though...

TREATMENT

Clash of heads between Ivanovic and Giggs and both players require treatment.

CHELSEA SUB

Joe Cole, on his 28th birthday, enters the fray to a buoyant reception from the home fans. No surprise to see Deco taken off.

GIGGS HEADER

O'Shea has plenty of room on the right flank and takes his time before picking out Giggs with a cross. The Welshman nods over, from a difficult angle.

BREAD AND BUTTER

Lampard hits a left-footed half volley which is bread and butter for Van der Sar. Still we await a genuine clear cut chance for either side.

TIME FOR JOE?

Joe Cole is warming up on the sidelines and it surely won't be long before he enters the fray. Deco is bang in line to be withdrawn - he's been woefully ineffective.

SUPERB BLOCK

Hero-of-the-hour stuff from Carvalho who throws himself at a goalbound Darren Fletcher drive.

BOOKING

Ivanovic gets the slightest touch on the ball but also tags back Giggs, and picks up the game's first booking.

CLAIMED

Rooney flicks to Evra from a Giggs throw and the Frenchman's low cross from the byline has to be well claimed by Cech.

POOR SHOT

Plenty of build up for Didier Drogba as he lines up a 35 yard free kick, but the end result is a poor shot into the wall.

TURN AND SHOT

A Cech lump up field is controlled exquisitely by Drogba who turns and shoots from 30 yards, but can't find the target.

OPTIONS

So what is Carlo Ancelotti going to do to arrest this United dominance? Favourable options on the bench are probably Joe Cole and/or Florent Malouda. The Blues desperately need some creativity to unlock this stern United back line.

CHIPPED WIDE

Rooney plays to Giggs who is in acres on the left of the area. He probably should shoot but chooses to chip to Anderson and it's out for a goal kick.

FLETCHER SHOT

The long range bombardment of Chelsea's goal continues. Rooney tees up Fletcher and the Scot hammers one into the second tier from 20 yards.

SECOND HALF

We're back playing again at the Bridge.

HALF TIME

United definitely edged the first half and I imagine Sir Alex will be delighted with how his understrength side have controlled the game. The Red Devils have peppered Petr Cech's goal with long shots, while Rooney has led the line superbly with intelligence and unbelievable work rate. At the other end Chelsea just aren't clicking in the final third, with Ballack and Lampard in particular having a minimal effect on proceedings.

SELFISH

Extremely selfish play from Drogba who, with all the subtlety of a Simon Cowell critique, lashes high and wide from a tight angle with Lampard screaming for a pass on the penalty spot.

CURLER

Anderson and Valencia combine to set up Carrick for a 25 yard curler which isn't too far over Cech's bar. The midfielder is annoyed with himself.

SHOULD DO BETTER

Ballack and Drogba should both do better with a cross from the right wing but the German practically misses the ball and then Drogba's touch is too heavy and through to Van der Sar.

CLASH

Ashley Cole clatters into his own team mate John Terry as the two both go for a loose ball. Terry comes off worse and needs a breather for a minute.

ROONEY EVERYWHERE

Rooney is everywhere for United with his seemingly limitless energy. He turns up at left back now to smother a Chelsea attack.

BLOCKED

Again Rooney on the break for the visitors. He could play to Valencia but elects to shoot and the effort is blocked. Carrick then hits a long ranger wide.

OVERHIT

Decent chance for United on the brak. Rooney does superbly to keep the ball with two defenders chasing him, before playing to Giggs. He really should play in the gallivanting Anderson but the Welshman's pass is uncharacteristically overhit.

ANELKA SHOT

The shots are coming thick and fast now. Ivanovic cuts inside to Anelka, who curls a beauty towards the far corner and Van der Sar has to make a sprawling save. Chelsea's brightest moment of the game.

ENTERPRISING

More enterprising play from United, the culmination of which is a 30 yard Carrick shot which Cech saves after an awkward bounce.

GIGGS VOLLEY

Fletcher plays to Giggs who hits a sumptuous left-foot volley on the turn, which isn't too far away.

SNAPSHOT

Anelka gets a snap shot away which Van der Sar saves fairly comfortably.

INTO THE WALL

Free kick for Chelsea, 30 yards out. Lampard lines it up but strikes straight into the wall.

STRETCHED

We're a quarter of the way in and the game is starting to get a bit stretched. Midfield is where United are controlling proceedings at the moment.

SMOTHERED

Anderson plays to Rooney who is the only United player in the Chelsea third. The striker nearly has the beating of Terry, but the England captain stays cool and smothers the danger.

VALENCIA SHOT

If Antonio Valencia takes the slightest of glances to his right, John O'Shea is completely free and sprinting for the penalty area, but the Ecuadorian only has eyes for the net and lashes a 30-yarder over the bar.

DROGBA HEADER

Michael Ballack finds Drogba with a dinked ball into the box and the Ivorian does well to evade Brown and Evans before heading wide.

GOOD HEADER

Drogba curls in a vicious cross which John O'Shea does well to head clear of danger, while facing his own goal.

BETTER START

United have certainly made the better start and are playing the ball comfortably around Chelsea's half of the pitch.

NO PEN

Ashley Cole carelessly concedes possession to Valencia. He plays a one-two with Rooney and heads for the penalty area where John Terry unceremoniously shoulder barges him to the floor. Seen them given.

MILES OVER

Giggs whips in an outswinger but Fletcher nods miles over the bar.

ROONEY SHOT

Evra marauds down the left and cuts inside for Rooney. He turns Carvalho and arrows a left-footed shot wide from a tight angle. Referee Atkinson says corner, but I can assure you that wasn't deflected.

UNDER PRESSURE

Brown has to keep a cool head, literally, when nodding back to his keeper under severe pressure from Anelka. Good defending.

OFFSIDE

Anderson releases Rooney behind the Chelsea defence but the striker is flagged offside. Good call from the linesman, but only just.

MAKESHIFT

Big test for a makeshift United back four today, which is missing Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Gary Neville. If Branislav Ivanovic can cut them through them like a knife through butter, it could be a long afternoon for United fans...

VIRTUOSO

Virtuoso stuff from Ivanovic who combines beautifully with Drogba on the right with a give-and-go. The Serb's cross is cleared back to him and he then shoots low at Van der Sar.

IN THE BROWN STUFF

Cracking atmosphere inside Stamford Bridge. Deco increases the noise level, breaking from midfield and trying to release Anelka, before Wes Brown intercepts.

STOPPAGE

Bit of an unscheduled stoppage in the opening couple of minutes as some plonker Chelsea fan keeps the ball. He has to have it wrestled off him by a steward.

KICK OFF

And we're playing at Stamford Bridge. Man United kick us off.

MINUTE'S SILENCE

As at grounds throughout the country this weekend, Stamford Bridge falls silent for a minute to commemorate Remembrance Sunday.

CHELSEA TEAM NEWS

Five changes for Chelsea from the 2-2 draw against Atletico Madrid. Nicolas Anelka is recalled up front to partner Didier Drogba, while Ricardo Carvalho, Branislav Ivanovic, Michael Ballack and Deco also start. Joe Cole, Florent Malouda, Alex and Salomon Kalou drop to the bench where they're joined by John Obi Mikel, back from a six-week absence with an ankle injury. Full line up: Cech; Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole; Essien, Lampard, Ballack, Deco; Anelka, Drogba. Subs: Hilario, Ferreira, Alex, Mikel, Joe Cole, Malouda, Kalou.

UNITED TEAM NEWS

Sir Alex Ferguson makes six changes from the midweek Champions League draw with CSKA Moscow, with John O'Shea, Patrice Evra, Michael Carrick, Anderson, Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney all included. Nemanja Vidic and Dimitar Berbatov both miss out through injury, although the Serb does make the bench. It's 4-5-1 for United. Full line up: Van der Sar; O'Shea, Evans, Brown, Evra; Valencia, Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson, Giggs, Rooney. Subs: Kuszczak, Vidic, Fabio, Scholes, Gibson, Obertan, Owen.

KICK OFF 1600 BST

I'm pretty sure you're not going to want to miss a minute of this one, so join us from 1530 BST when we'll bring you all the team news followed by live text commentary on Chelsea v Manchester United.

THE REF

Yorkshireman Martin Atkinson takes charge of this one. The 38-year-old is fast becoming one of English football's more respected referees and gave an unflustered performance in last month's 2-0 win for Chelsea over Liverpool. He's yet to send anyone off this season, but did have his timekeeping abilities seriously called into question after Man United's 4-3 epic win over Manchester City.

HEAD TO HEAD

United have a surprisingly poor recent record at Stamford Bridge – they haven't won there since April 2002 when a team containing Laurent Blanc and Quinton Fortune triumphed 3-0. Since then Chelsea have won four of seven meetings in the Premier League, while last year's game finished 1-1 with Salomon Kalou's last equaliser cancelling out Park Ji-Sung's opener.

TEAM NEWS

The Blues have few injury worries, with Jose Bosingwa their only first-teamer definitely out, which gives Carlo Ancelotti plenty of selection issues - Nicolas Anelka, Deco, Yuri Zhirkov and John Obi Mikel are all pushing for starting roles. Man United have Gary Neville suspended and Rio Ferdinand (calf) out injured. Ryan Giggs and Nemanja Vidic should both be fit to start after recovering from knee and calf injuries respectively.

PREVIEW

So often these ‘big four' clashes can be a bit of a let-down in the entertainment stakes, but personally I've got a good feeling about this one today. Chelsea and Manchester United compete for top spot in the Premier League in a mouth-watering encounter at Stamford Bridge with both sides nearing top form. Chelsea in particular look almost unbeatable at the moment, particularly at Stamford Bridge where they've knocked in 25 unanswered goals. This year's title is surely set to be won by one of these clubs, so it goes without saying that this afternoon will have a major bearing on the destiny of the Premier League trophy.