Ronaldo on bench for United
Dimitar Berbatov has been recalled by Alex Ferguson for Manchester United’s crunch clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge – but there is no place in the Scot’s starting line-up for Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portugal winger is again on the bench, where he is joined by Carlos Tevez, with Nani also standing down from the side that drew against Villarreal in midweek.
In a surprising move, Ferguson also hands places to Gary Neville, his first Premier League start since March 2007, while Jonny Evans is included alongside Rio Ferdinand in central defence as Wes Brown finds himself among the substitutes.
Chelsea, boasting an impressive 84-match unbeaten record on home soil in league action, are without Deco who injured himself in training - he is replaced by Michael Ballack. Didier Drogba is on their star-studded bench.
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Obi, Joe Cole, Ballack, Lampard, Malouda, Anelka.
Subs: Cudicini, Drogba, Bridge, Kalou, Alex, Belletti, Ferreira.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Fletcher, Hargreaves, Scholes, Park, Berbatov, Rooney.
Subs: Kuszczak, Brown, Ronaldo, Giggs, Nani, O’Shea, Tevez.
Referee: Mike Riley.
