Chelsea vs Manchester Unite

Chelsea plays its first home game of 2014 when it hosts Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday in what looks to be the game of the week in the English Premier League.

The Blues return home to West London on the heels of three straight wins in which the Europa League champions outscored their opponents, 7-0. Chelsea is unbeaten in its last six games overall (10-1 goals) and hasn't allowed a goal yet in 2014. Heading into this clash with the defending league champion Red Devils it looks like manager Jose Mourinho has finally got his club playing like he wants.

For seventh-place United (11-4-6, 37 points), the transition from Sir Alex Ferguson to David Moyes appears to be like having gone from a Porsche to a Toyota right now. Looking at this particular game of the schedule before the season started, the Red Devils and their fans would have at least liked to have been going into this game with big guns Robin van Persie (seven goals) and Wayne Rooney (nine goals). But that seems to be working against United as reports indicate the dynamic duo will likely miss this contest.

So it can’t get any worse for the Red Devils, can it? I’m afraid it can. Patrice Evra (knee), Marouane Fellaini (wrist), Ashley Young (shoulder) and Nani (hamstring) have all been ruled out while the availability of Rio Ferdinand (knee), Phil Jones (ankle) and Jonny Evans (back) will be determined after late fitness tests.

So, limping United will start the weekend out 11 points off EPL leaders Arsenal (15-3-3, 48 points), but these Mancunians are most likely just aiming for a UEFA Champions League spot in the wake of their incredibly average and somewhat disappointing start, much to the pleasure of the fans of their Noisy Neighbors, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, Newcastle United, Fulham...well, let’s just say the entire rest of the Premier League just to be safe.

The Red Devils have been fairly decent on the road (6-2-2), but without RvP and Rooney—who have not played together since Dec. 10—and the rest of United’s walking wounded, the club will have to look to guys like Danny Welbeck (eight goals), Javier Hernandez and budding star Adnan Januzaj for scoring here against a Blues side which is unbeaten at home so far this season (9-1-0). Chelsea is in the midst of the aforementioned scoreless streak this calendar year and has never lost in league play under The Special One at Stamford Bridge.