Manchester United against Chelsea

Ashley Cole is booked for bringing down Ronaldo. Those two have had quiet a tussle today, not for the first time.

Ronaldo accelerates past Makelele as if he wasn't there then when Robben and Cole surround him the Portuguese winger concedes a foul.

Ronaldo is well tackled by Ashley Cole after he skipped away from the challenge of Lampard.

Great pass from Rio Ferdinand and it finds Ronaldo who turns inside and hits a fine shot which Cudicini parries behind for a corner. When that comes in, the keeper is able to punch it away and is fouled by Vidic at the same time.

Nice ball in from Joe Cole but United deal with it. Chelsea too are not prepared to settle for a point.

Saha lazily gives the ball away and then Drogba very nearly gets in on goal. Heinze just did enough to put him off and Van der Saar is able to clear it up.

Great tackle by Heinze on Robben, who has failed to get in to this game since he came on.

Lampard again has a long-range effort. Again it is well wide.

Shevchenko comes off after a disappointing game and Joe Cole replaces him.

United are playing with the urgency of a team who know they have let Chelsea back in to the game. They are running out of time to win this and from the way they are going about their business now are not content with just a point.

Terry takes the ball from Saha's feet just as he was preparing to let fly on the edge of the area. The ball breaks to Scholes but it hits Saha and goes behind for a goal-kick.

GOAL - Chelsea have got the equaliser from a set-piece. Carvalho powers home a header, rising highest amongst a melee of players, from twelve yards out to fire Chelsea right back in to this game. The next goal will surely win this.

Saha is fouled by Terry in the middle of the park but United manage to lose ground and concede a throw. Now Chelsea get a ball in to the box and Essien is able to win a corner.

Chelsea win a corner but when it comes in it is quickly lost. Ronaldo then sprints seventy yards with the ball but runs out of room and support and Chelsea have it back.

Mourinho is being urged to sit down by the Old Trafford faithful as he cuts a rather animated shape on the touchline.

Lampard has another try but this time it is well over the bar.

At the other end a typical Frank Lampard long range effort brings a good stop from Van der Saar.

Giggs cuts inside from the right and tests Cudicini with a low show which the keeper has to get down to smother.

Ronaldo tries to find Rooney but his cross is headed away. The Portuguese gets it back though and has a run at Cole who once more does well to block his path and win the ball back.

Ballack floats it in to Drogba who gets a good header with his back to goal. It's just wide though but Chelsea are beginning to threaten much more now.

Great work from Heinze on the left and he delivers a cross towards the back post where Ronaldo is lurking. He can't get a clean strike on it though and it comes to Saha. He seems surprised to receive it and Chelsea are able to scramble back and clear it.

Carvalho now goes in high on Neville and United get a free-kick to relieve the pressure a little.

Essien goes down and wins a free-kick after Ronaldo clips him. Chelsea are responding with the vigour of champions and United can't get the ball at the moment.

Ballack rises to meet the high ball in from Terry but not high enough and the ball goes behind for a goal-kick.

Good tackle by Makelele on Ronaldo. Now Carrick is booked for hacking down Frank Lampard.

Wasteful shot from Shevchenko which he spoons well over. Kind of sums up his day so far.

Saha loses out carelessly in the middle and Chelsea attack. Lampard tries to free Drogba but he is two yards offside.

Chelsea need to take the game to United here but are sure to be stretched at the back if they do so.

The corner is steered away but United come again through Rooney. He holds off a challenge and then gets the ball across the Chelsea six-yard box. It misses Saha and Ronaldo is unable to reach it properly to get a touch on it.

Nice play from Carrick in the middle and Rooney then releases Ronaldo but Cole does well to block his cross and concede a corner.

Ashley Cole hits a ball high and wide from a decent position on the left.

Chelsea signal their intent by bringing on an attacker for a defender - Arjen Robben is on for Geremi and the second half is underway.

HALf-TIME - Not a great game but the commitment and passion from both sides show how much is at stake here today. Louis Saha replied to those who doubted his mental state following his misses in mid-week with a wonderful goal which separates the teams. Chelsea will need to step up a gear in the second half as they have yet to fashion a serious goal-scoring opportunity.

Lampard has a shot from twenty-five yards out but Van der Saar has it covered.

A nice pass from Rooney to Giggs who has cut inside and then beats two Chelsea challenges. He is unable to deliver the final ball though and Chelsea will hope that is the end of United's attacking for this half.

Saha has collided in the middle of the park with John Terry and there have been a few of these crunching tackles on display so far.

Vidic holds off Drogba to shepherd the ball back to Van der Saar.

Shevchenko now goes in late on Vidic who is receiving some special treatment from Chelsea this evening.

A slip from Geremi lets in Heinze but when he slips it to Giggs, the Welshman is unable to return the favour with his pass.

Essien bursts from midfield but Ballack dwells too long on the ball when he gets it and Chelsea are crowded out. Then Geremi collects it about thirty yards out and drills a swerving shot which Van der Saar punches away from his goal.

Drogba this time goes in hard on Vidic and the ref is speaking to the big Chelsea man. In fact, he is booking him for use of the elbow.

Drogba is receiving very little sympathy from the home crowd as he insists he is injured and limps around. I wonder why that could be?

Heinze seemed to foul Drogba but the ref waves play on. United then go on the attack and Louis Saha finds himself in a good position in the Chelsea box but he has not got enough support and is crowded out.

John Terry makes another great tackle, this time on Ronaldo.

Geremi fouls the goalscorer and Saha is down on the ground receiving treatment.

GOAL - Louis Saha has scored. The man who could not find the back of the net on tuesday scores a beauty. Rooney plays a wonderful ball through the middle to him and the Frenchman curls one from twenty yards out around both Carvalho and the outstretched hand of Cudicini. Old Traffod erupts.

Giggs shows fine control but then hits the ball towards nobody.

Ballack penalised for a foul on Ronaldo who did not go down initially. The referee allowed advantage but then gave the foul.

Ferdinand knocked a header straight in to the path of Shevchenko but his shot is weak and anyway Frank Lampard was offside.

The game is being played at a furious pace but there have been no real chances so far and the quality on show has been mainly the defensive attributes of both sides. United are probably ahead on points though.

Good tackle from Carvalho on his fellow Portuguese Ronaldo.

Terry this time tackles Rooney as he comes at the Chelsea defence.

Lampard plays a clever cross-field ball to Geremi but the right-back's control is clumsy and he can not control it.

Carrick plays a long ball over towards Rooney but it is just too hard and goes out of play.

Chelsea enjoy a bit of possession and get a couple of throws deep in United's half. Eventually Ballack gets a ball in to the box which Ferdinand deals with easily. Makelele is then booked for kicking the ball away.

From the corner Chelsea are able to push out and clear the danger.

Ronaldo hits a straight one which Cudicini directs behind for a corner.

Ballack concedes a handball and United have a free-kick thirty yards out.

Cole clears a Giggs free-kick with his head but United still have it. Rooney's ball in to the box is straight at Cudicini though.

Chelsea work it out of defence well, Terry and Cole looking cool under pressure, but the ball from Lampard towards his strikers is poor.

Ashley Cole advances and hits a great ball between the United defence and Van der Saar but there is nobody in a blue shirt near enough.

United make nothing of it though and Cudicini is grateful for a touch.

Inviting cross whipped in from Ronaldo but Chelsea clear. However, Ashley Cole then fouls Ronaldo and Chelsea are still under pressure from a free-kick.

Rooney charges towards the Chelsea defence but is a little over-excited and the Chelsea man stays calm to make a good challenge.

Ronaldo comes inside again and feeds Saha but Carvalho tackles him easily.

Rooney comes in hard to the back of Geremi and Chelsea get the free-kick.

Giggs cuts inside Geremi and gets a good ball in to the box which is headed away by John Terry.

Geremi, in a good position on the right, delivers a poor cross which is hit too hard. United have the ball back.

Giggs gives the ball away to Makelele and when the ball is played up towards Shevchenko Van der Saar has to come tearing off his line to clear for a throw.

Chelsea build a move slowly through the middle but then concede a foul when Drogba tangles with Vidic.

Terry chests back a stray ball from Carrick to Cudicini.

Chelsea get the free-kick which is hit towards Ballack but he is being 'marshalled' by Vidic who ensures he can not get off the ground to head the ball.

Rooney bursts through the middle but Carvalho steps in to take the ball from him. Just after that Vidic and Ballack collide and the German is spoken to when perhaps he should have been cautioned.

Neville tries to unleash Saha down the right but over-hits it and Chelsea have a throw.

Giggs floats it in but Rooney is never going to score with his head from eighteen yards and the ball bounces well wide.

Some nice feet from Ronaldo but Ballack takes him down to concede a free-kick.

Geremi hits a long ball but Vidic does well to stretch and head it away.

A win for United would give them a six point cushion at the top of the table. Chelsea get us away in a game they have to win.

It's the big one and Alex Ferguson keeps faith with the team who were so unfortunate to lose to Celtic on tuesday night. For Chelsea, Geremi continues at right-back and Shevchenko starts up front with Drogba. Cudicini plays in goal. It should be interesting.

Lampard has another try but this time it is well over the bar.

At the other end a typical Frank Lampard long range effort brings a good stop from Van der Saar.

Giggs cuts inside from the right and tests Cudicini with a low show which the keeper has to get down to smother.

Ronaldo tries to find Rooney but his cross is headed away. The Portuguese gets it back though and has a run at Cole who once more does well to block his path and win the ball back.

Ballack floats it in to Drogba who gets a good header with his back to goal. It's just wide though but Chelsea are beginning to threaten much more now.

Great work from Heinze on the left and he delivers a cross towards the back post where Ronaldo is lurking. He can't get a clean strike on it though and it comes to Saha. He seems surprised to receive it and Chelsea are able to scramble back and clear it.

Carvalho now goes in high on Neville and United get a free-kick to relieve the pressure a little.

Essien goes down and wins a free-kick after Ronaldo clips him. Chelsea are responding with the vigour of champions and United can't get the ball at the moment.

Ballack rises to meet the high ball in from Terry but not high enough and the ball goes behind for a goal-kick.

Good tackle by Makelele on Ronaldo. Now Carrick is booked for hacking down Frank Lampard.

Wasteful shot from Shevchenko which he spoons well over. Kind of sums up his day so far.

Saha loses out carelessly in the middle and Chelsea attack. Lampard tries to free Drogba but he is two yards offside.

Chelsea need to take the game to United here but are sure to be stretched at the back if they do so.

The corner is steered away but United come again through Rooney. He holds off a challenge and then gets the ball across the Chelsea six-yard box. It misses Saha and Ronaldo is unable to reach it properly to get a touch on it.

Nice play from Carrick in the middle and Rooney then releases Ronaldo but Cole does well to block his cross and concede a corner.

Ashley Cole hits a ball high and wide from a decent position on the left.

Chelsea signal their intent by bringing on an attacker for a defender - Arjen Robben is on for Geremi and the second half is underway.

HALf-TIME - Not a great game but the commitment and passion from both sides show how much is at stake here today. Louis Saha replied to those who doubted his mental state following his misses in mid-week with a wonderful goal which separates the teams. Chelsea will need to step up a gear in the second half as they have yet to fashion a serious goal-scoring opportunity.

Lampard has a shot from twenty-five yards out but Van der Saar has it covered.

A nice pass from Rooney to Giggs who has cut inside and then beats two Chelsea challenges. He is unable to deliver the final ball though and Chelsea will hope that is the end of United's attacking for this half.

Saha has collided in the middle of the park with John Terry and there have been a few of these crunching tackles on display so far.

Vidic holds off Drogba to shepherd the ball back to Van der Saar.

Shevchenko now goes in late on Vidic who is receiving some special treatment from Chelsea this evening.

A slip from Geremi lets in Heinze but when he slips it to Giggs, the Welshman is unable to return the favour with his pass.

Essien bursts from midfield but Ballack dwells too long on the ball when he gets it and Chelsea are crowded out. Then Geremi collects it about thirty yards out and drills a swerving shot which Van der Saar punches away from his goal.

Drogba this time goes in hard on Vidic and the ref is speaking to the big Chelsea man. In fact, he is booking him for use of the elbow.

Drogba is receiving very little sympathy from the home crowd as he insists he is injured and limps around. I wonder why that could be?

Heinze seemed to foul Drogba but the ref waves play on. United then go on the attack and Louis Saha finds himself in a good position in the Chelsea box but he has not got enough support and is crowded out.

John Terry makes another great tackle, this time on Ronaldo.

Geremi fouls the goalscorer and Saha is down on the ground receiving treatment.

GOAL - Louis Saha has scored. The man who could not find the back of the net on tuesday scores a beauty. Rooney plays a wonderful ball through the middle to him and the Frenchman curls one from twenty yards out around both Carvalho and the outstretched hand of Cudicini. Old Traffod erupts.

Giggs shows fine control but then hits the ball towards nobody.

Ballack penalised for a foul on Ronaldo who did not go down initially. The referee allowed advantage but then gave the foul.

Ferdinand knocked a header straight in to the path of Shevchenko but his shot is weak and anyway Frank Lampard was offside.

The game is being played at a furious pace but there have been no real chances so far and the quality on show has been mainly the defensive attributes of both sides. United are probably ahead on points though.

Good tackle from Carvalho on his fellow Portuguese Ronaldo.

Terry this time tackles Rooney as he comes at the Chelsea defence.

Lampard plays a clever cross-field ball to Geremi but the right-back's control is clumsy and he can not control it.

Carrick plays a long ball over towards Rooney but it is just too hard and goes out of play.

Chelsea enjoy a bit of possession and get a couple of throws deep in United's half. Eventually Ballack gets a ball in to the box which Ferdinand deals with easily. Makelele is then booked for kicking the ball away.

From the corner Chelsea are able to push out and clear the danger.

Ronaldo hits a straight one which Cudicini directs behind for a corner.

Ballack concedes a handball and United have a free-kick thirty yards out.

Cole clears a Giggs free-kick with his head but United still have it. Rooney's ball in to the box is straight at Cudicini though.

Chelsea work it out of defence well, Terry and Cole looking cool under pressure, but the ball from Lampard towards his strikers is poor.

Ashley Cole advances and hits a great ball between the United defence and Van der Saar but there is nobody in a blue shirt near enough.

United make nothing of it though and Cudicini is grateful for a touch.

Inviting cross whipped in from Ronaldo but Chelsea clear. However, Ashley Cole then fouls Ronaldo and Chelsea are still under pressure from a free-kick.

Rooney charges towards the Chelsea defence but is a little over-excited and the Chelsea man stays calm to make a good challenge.

Ronaldo comes inside again and feeds Saha but Carvalho tackles him easily.

Rooney comes in hard to the back of Geremi and Chelsea get the free-kick.

Giggs cuts inside Geremi and gets a good ball in to the box which is headed away by John Terry.

Geremi, in a good position on the right, delivers a poor cross which is hit too hard. United have the ball back.

Giggs gives the ball away to Makelele and when the ball is played up towards Shevchenko Van der Saar has to come tearing off his line to clear for a throw.

Chelsea build a move slowly through the middle but then concede a foul when Drogba tangles with Vidic.

Terry chests back a stray ball from Carrick to Cudicini.

Chelsea get the free-kick which is hit towards Ballack but he is being 'marshalled' by Vidic who ensures he can not get off the ground to head the ball.

Rooney bursts through the middle but Carvalho steps in to take the ball from him. Just after that Vidic and Ballack collide and the German is spoken to when perhaps he should have been cautioned.

Neville tries to unleash Saha down the right but over-hits it and Chelsea have a throw.

Giggs floats it in but Rooney is never going to score with his head from eighteen yards and the ball bounces well wide.

Some nice feet from Ronaldo but Ballack takes him down to concede a free-kick.

Geremi hits a long ball but Vidic does well to stretch and head it away.

A win for United would give them a six point cushion at the top of the table. Chelsea get us away in a game they have to win.

It's the big one and Alex Ferguson keeps faith with the team who were so unfortunate to lose to Celtic on tuesday night. For Chelsea, Geremi continues at right-back and Shevchenko starts up front with Drogba. Cudicini plays in goal. It should be interesting.