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Saturday, Mar 15, 2008
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A perfect chance for Manchester United

LONDON: Manchester United gets the perfect chance to demonstrate the strength of its challenge for the Premier League title when it plays at Derby on Saturday.

Chelsea, another championship contender, beat the last-place Rams 6-1 in midweek. A similarly comfortable win for United would boost its already superior goal difference.

And United gets to show the depth of its squad because of injury to first-choice goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar and the suspension of backup Thomas Kuszczak. United will expect to hand Derby a 22nd loss from 29 matches and keep the pressure on leader Arsenal, which hosts Middlesbrough the same day.

United is just two points behind the Gunners with a better goal difference, so would take top spot if Arsenal fails to beat Boro. Chelsea is at lowly Sunderland, again without injured goalkeeper Petr Cech, but could strengthen its side from the one that routed Derby by recalling striker Didier Drogba and intend to be just as merciless.

Chelsea is three points behind United and both teams have played a game fewer than Arsenal. Liverpool, which is five points further back in fourth, hosts Reading, while fifth-place Everton is at 19th-place Fulham on Sunday.

Portsmouth hosts Aston Villa, and West Ham hosts Blackburn in Saturday’s other matches, while Tottenham is at Manchester City, and Bolton is at Wigan a day later.

Struggling Newcastle goes for its first league win in three months when it plays at Birmingham on Monday. — AP

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