LONDON - Chelsea face the prospect of having veteran Didier Drogba as their only fit striker for their visit to Manchester United on Sunday in what is usually one of the standout matches of the Premier League season.
Jose Mourinho's league leaders will definitely be without their nine-goal top scorer Diego Costa, who has a hamstring problem.
Frenchman Loic Remy is also a doubt after injuring himself while scoring Chelsea's opening goal in their club record 6-0 Champions League victory over Maribor on Tuesday.
Drogba is Chelsea's only fully fit regular first-team striker, but Mourinho could include 17-year-old Dominic Solanke in the squad for the visit to Old Trafford, after the teenager came on as a late substitute to make his senior debut against Maribor this week.
"We know Solanke's talent is there, but he is in the phase of being far from [complete]," Mourinho said.
Chelsea will be seeking to extend their unbeaten run from the start of the season to 13 matches and seven straight wins in all competitions against a Manchester United side that are sixth on the table after an indifferent start under new coach Louis van Gaal.
United, however, also have a problem in attack with captain Wayne Rooney suspended, following his sending off against West Ham United on September 27.
Yet United defender Luke Shaw cannot wait to face the London side.
"I think you can safely say this is one of the biggest games in world football. I really hope I am part of it, I want to show people what I can do in games like this," he said.
Whatever the outcome, Chelsea will stay top of the pile as they are five points clear of champions Manchester City with the first quarter of the season nearly completed.
City travel to West Ham after a miserable couple of days in a bleak and cold Moscow, where they allowed a 2-0 lead to slip against CSKA Moscow, who came back to draw 2-2 and leave City's progress to the knockout rounds of the Champions League in the balance.
Southampton are also in unfamiliar territory in third spot after their top-flight club record 8-0 win over Sunderland at St Mary's last weekend. They are at home again to mid-table Stoke City tomorrow.
Liverpool face Hull City at Anfield tomorrow.
Arsenal left it late to beat Anderlecht 2-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday and will hope to end a poor run of one win in their last seven league matches when they go to Sunderland.
Chelsea's hopes once again rest on Drogba
LONDON - Chelsea face the prospect of having veteran Didier Drogba as their only fit striker for their visit to Manchester United on Sunday in what is usually one of the standout matches of the Premier League season.
Jose Mourinho's league leaders will definitely be without their nine-goal top scorer Diego Costa, who has a hamstring problem.
Frenchman Loic Remy is also a doubt after injuring himself while scoring Chelsea's opening goal in their club record 6-0 Champions League victory over Maribor on Tuesday.
Drogba is Chelsea's only fully fit regular first-team striker, but Mourinho could include 17-year-old Dominic Solanke in the squad for the visit to Old Trafford, after the teenager came on as a late substitute to make his senior debut against Maribor this week.
"We know Solanke's talent is there, but he is in the phase of being far from [complete]," Mourinho said.
Chelsea will be seeking to extend their unbeaten run from the start of the season to 13 matches and seven straight wins in all competitions against a Manchester United side that are sixth on the table after an indifferent start under new coach Louis van Gaal.
United, however, also have a problem in attack with captain Wayne Rooney suspended, following his sending off against West Ham United on September 27.
Yet United defender Luke Shaw cannot wait to face the London side.
"I think you can safely say this is one of the biggest games in world football. I really hope I am part of it, I want to show people what I can do in games like this," he said.
Whatever the outcome, Chelsea will stay top of the pile as they are five points clear of champions Manchester City with the first quarter of the season nearly completed.
City travel to West Ham after a miserable couple of days in a bleak and cold Moscow, where they allowed a 2-0 lead to slip against CSKA Moscow, who came back to draw 2-2 and leave City's progress to the knockout rounds of the Champions League in the balance.
Southampton are also in unfamiliar territory in third spot after their top-flight club record 8-0 win over Sunderland at St Mary's last weekend. They are at home again to mid-table Stoke City tomorrow.
Liverpool face Hull City at Anfield tomorrow.
Arsenal left it late to beat Anderlecht 2-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday and will hope to end a poor run of one win in their last seven league matches when they go to Sunderland.
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