While the visitors linger dangerously only a few points above the relegation zone, the hosts badly need the three points to keep up the pace with Manchester City, who are running away at the top of the Premier League table and are the bookies’ favourites with the best football odds to win the title.

The result will be even more important to Sir Alex Ferguson’s side as they will respond appropriately after humiliating bowing out of the UEFA Champions League at the group stage phase. Four wins in their last five league outings suggest it is not time to panic just yet though for the Red Devils.

United’s blistering start to the season has been long forgotten as complacency has seemingly seeped its way into the players in recent weeks. Indeed this school of thought can be bolstered by the fact that the champions have won just one of their last five games, with two of those games being losses. Wednesday night’s defeat to Basel meant that it was also the second competition in the space of seven days that the Old Trafford outfit have been eliminated in by a scoreline of 2-1.

Despite their cup troubles, last season’s Champions League finalists have won four of their last five league matches, the sole blemish being the controversial draw at home to Newcastle United. These results have come on the back of United’s self-destruction in the Manchester derby and things seemed to be looking up after that. However their most recent results, in all competitions, gives reason to worry for the majority of the 76,000 crowd at Old Trafford as the rarity of United struggling will mean an air of apprehension hangs over the red side of Manchester until after the Wolves game.

The 19-time league champions can put their troubles partially down to their injury-strewn squad which only got worse against Basel. Nemanja Vidic’s 4 month absence means he is the 8th first team player to be injured at the moment. However that burden could be lightended slightly if Dimitar Berbatov and the da Silva twins can shake off their knocks.

Tom Cleverley is unlikely to return before Christmas while his midfielder partner, Anderson, is ruled out until the spring at least. Javier Hernandez and Michael Owen won’t be back until the New Year as the 69-year-old manager tinkers with his line-up to ensure his best 11 available are out on the pitch.

Wolves, on the other hand, are extremely fortuitous with their injuries as Jody Craddock and Kevin Foley are their only absentees for their visit to Old Trafford. Mick McCarthy will be fielding his strongest team against as he hopes to build on last weekend’s win over Sunderland. Last season’s corresponding fixture was a very tense affair as a solo strike from Ji-Sung Park in the 93rd minute stole all three points for the hosts in a 2-1 victory. However the last time these two sides locked horns, it was Wolves who won 2-1 with Kevin Doyle grabbing the winners for his team.

Premiership betting odds have arch-rivals Manchester City as title favorites, but with six league matches this month, a perfect month could see things shifting in United’s favor going into the new year.

Along with their packed Premier League slate, United have a pivotal match at Basel that will decide whether United will be participating in the Champions League or the Europa League come February.

United will be favored to win all of their December fixtures, but will they do so?

Premier League

at Aston Villa, 3 December

Manchester United have dominated Villa in recent history, with Villa’s 1-0 win at Old Trafford being their only win over United in the last 31 league meetings between the two sides. Villa’s last home league win over United was a 3-1 win in August 1995, the result that prompted Alan Hansen’s infamous ‘kids’ jibe.

Villa come into this weekend’s match with only one win in their last six league matches, and they’ve won only three of 13 league matches this season. However, they’ve proven to be quite adept at drawing, as their seven stalemates are the most in the league.

vs. Wolves, 10 December

Along with ending United’s unbeaten streak with a 2-1 win at Molineux in February, Wolves came within moments of a surprise point at Old Trafford last season, but United will be expected to easily dispatch Mick McCarthy’s side at home this time around.

After opening the season with consecutive wins, Wolves have won only once in their last 11 league matches heading into a Sunday six-pointer against Sunderland.

For what it’s worth, Wolves have given up 12 goals in their last five away matches, and the only match in their last 10 to date in which they didn’t allow multiple goals was a 3-1 win over woeful Wigan, so this could be the perfect time for United to have a big day in attack.

at Queens Park Rangers, 18 December

United can’t overlook the first of their back-to-back matches in West London. QPR beat Chelsea at home in October, and City needed a 74th-minute winner to claim a 3-2 win at Loftus Road in early November.

However, United should take care of business in this clash, especially considering that Rangers have been far better on the road. Only one of QPR’s four league wins to date was at home, where they are 1-3-2 ahead of a weekend visit from West Brom.

at Fulham, 21 December

Fulham have been struggling in the Premier League, but this match actually shapes up to be a challenge, given that United are winless in their last three league visits to Craven Cottage, including last season’s 2-2 draw.

But the Cottagers aren’t looking as strong at home as they usually do, as they’ve won only one of six home league ties this season going into a Monday night meeting with Liverpool.

Another potential factor favoring United is how tired Martin Jol’s side could be coming in. This will be their fourth match in less than two weeks, as they visit Swansea on the 10th, host Odense in a Europa League match on the 14th, host Bolton on the 17th, then face United four days later.

vs. Wigan, 26 December

To say that United have dominated Wigan since their entrance into the Premier League would be a major understatement. Along with a 4-0 rout in the 2006 Carling Cup final, United have won all 12 of their Premier League meetings with Wigan, outscoring them 37-4. At home, United are six for six, outscoring the Latics 19-1 in the process. Nine of the 12 wins came by multiple goals, and in the last four matches, United have scored 16 and conceded none.

Wigan needed a late rally to avoid relegation last season, and they look destined for another dance with the drop this season. Roberto Martinez’s side will face Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool at home in December before coming to Old Trafford, and that stretch could toughen them up for the long haul, but United will be expected to deliver another beatdown in this Boxing Day bout.

vs. Blackburn Rovers, 31 December

Last season, United put seven past Blackburn at home, and even if they don’t hit that lucky number this time, another convincing win should be on the cards.

Blackburn did beat Arsenal at home, didn’t go down easy in home defeats to Tottenham and Chelsea, and held City for nearly an hour in a 4-0 home defeat. But away from home, they’ve surrendered three goals in a game five times already, and they’ve allowed 17 goals total in seven away matches to date. Those numbers don’t bode well at all for Blackburn, and United will be expected to inflict more misery on beleaguered boss Steve Kean, if he’s still in his position come New Year’s Eve.

Champions League

at FC Basel, 7 December

Ahead of the group stage, United were expected to qualify easily and top a group that, with Basel, Benfica, and debutants Otelul Galati in it, appeared to be one of the easiest on paper.

However, games and groups aren’t won on paper, and United will head to Switzerland needing to at least draw to qualify for the round of 16, with a group win more than likely out of the equation after being held 2-2 by Benfica at Old Trafford in their last group match.

United are often at their best when dealing with adversity and tense situations, so you’d have to favor them to take care of business and book their place in the last 16. It might not come easy, as Basel are also chasing the same thing and will be confident after their 3-3 draw at Old Trafford in September.

But the presence of Nemanja Vidic, whose only Champions League appearance thus far was a red-shortened one in the away tie against Otelul Galati, should steady a United back line that was shaky in the home draws against Basel and Benfica, and that will be pivotal in United’s quest to progress.

SAF should start getting at least 2-3 young players every now then in team for them to get into boots.Lets see if Macheda pops out or even Gibson shall do good.

I am predicting that there would be no change in table and United shall be on top of table for this coming week.
Enjoy the match !!!

Go United !!

With an epic match on saturday,United are going to enter the grounds with different men.Carling matches are no United area but we can play today with new faces.Big changes ahead will be seen for today’s game.Owen can be the possible starter along side a Berba or with in form Rooney.
No real threat-no real sweat play that we are going to see from this match.Only if Fergie doesnt take the fixture lightly,the match is a good morale booster.Foster can be taken out,so can be our long running defence.Wes Brown is expected to return so we can rest Vida or Evra along side.As such there has never been any problem with United’s defence,however Brown is a valuable addition for this year’s campagin.A
Nani should start long side with Carrick.Hargo’s presence can be delight me.It has been hell lot time since we last saw him on grounds.More from Berbatov can be atleast for this game.Owen today will be sure starter.His remarkable goal has shown Fergie more confidence in him.When he was bought i had a feeling that he can return back what he did best.Few goals from him can be expected.
All in all its an easy fixture if SAF doesn’t fail to look for right men.
Chelsea has been going lucky for long time,so we dare no lose this one.

Enjoy the game at 2000 BST!!

PS:- Oshea will make his 350th appearance and Giggs will score his 150th goal.

After a successful pre-season now the fun is over and a new long and hopefully glamorous seasons awaits the Red Devils, with the kick off at 15.00 at Wembley in London.
For the second time in 3 Community Shields only we face Chelsea at the start of the season. I would gladly sign to start the Season in the same manner and there is something special about taking spot kicks against the Londoner Rent Boys.

tomorrow the situation will be different than 2 years ago tho. Not only has CR7 left and this will be the first game without the Portuguese winger, but we also face injury problems at the back.

Vidic is injured and wil be out for the next two weeks at least, EVDS is out for the next 8 weeks at least with a finger injury and both Brown and Neville face new spells on the sideline again.
SAF admitted not to have decided yet whether to play Foster or Kuszczak in goal, but I dare say that the final choice might be in the advantage of the English talent and possible future England #1.

Up front both Rooney and Owen have enjoyed a positive pre-season and Valencia has proven himself a worthy successor of CR7. Not as successful on target but a great provider of assists.

You can watch the game live at Free-football.

I am out with updates with players,coaches and staff so there’s no news coming from my side.I was however reading tabloids about Ronaldo being a wuss and he hopefully signing off the Spaniards. Ferguson hasn’t yet comment anything on Ronaldo’s transfer or Tevez’s stay but both things are kept out from today’s game.Both lads are playing probably their final game for United and Fergie will make sure to sweat every possible magic from them.

Barca as team are usually focused with their game n are not making any tabloids like us.Their team though is hit with series of injury list and they still might look to get their injured ones fit first rather than dealing with transfers.Messi is the key for today’s game.If he’s in mood,there’s a lot for Van De Sar to do.It would be a league combined in one game and there couldn’t be any causalities with players.

For my pick,Rooney,Tevez,Ronaldo,Carrick,Scholes,Giggs,Evra,Ferdinand,Vidic and Rafa shall do great.Anderson,Evans and Berbatov can be on benches.Fergie would probably start with Berbatov and put Tevez down which won’t be any good for United.Again my words,Today’s game will be more on picking correct players for both sides.If we go with wrong strike force Fergie has spilled his beans, and if he pulls right cards we are master of Europe.

Prediction:-I think the game will start with enough excitement to kill world’s oldest coach with heart attack.Ronaldo will start with his usual bitchiness but will turn into a scorer as the game will progress.Rooney will make sure that Barca’s defense and especially Pique stay in their bay.Vidaa-Ferdinand will crush Messi in their arm pits and Evra will make  Xavi like he did to Drogba.All in all United are winning !!!!!

2-1

What we are going to take today is Wigan.There’s not much to worry until we are playing any of the big 3 .Wigan already are struggling like hustlers in the league and we being the big daddy, we got hardly any reasons why we shouldn’t get those three points.
We got to make 4 points in our 3 fixtures by which we can get 3 points alone from this match.The match is away at JJB and all remaining matches are at home for United.
There’s no urge for fergie to go hard with his team.A decent input of Rooney,Carrick and Scholes can do us the game.Giggs can to come in late in second half.Vida can be dropped.So can be Van De Sar.Fergie would either go for the kill or may play safely after scoring couple of goals. I would love to see some of our off beat players on ground.Nani being one of them.
Macheda,Welbeck both being the possiblilty.A
In either game we should make sure that our best players rest.The only matter for us is that we win the league and not by how many points.Once those 4 points are chequered there’s no need to play with full team.We got to save men for Rome night.
Ronaldo could be out of this game and i wish he goes out in next season.”There’s no problem with Ronaldo till he scores for United” says Fergie.Sooner or later he might get a shoe hit on his head.But for now he’s a Lucky lad!!
3 points here and u can start partying. :)

The table itself shows we got no reason to be scared with them.United are in tip-top form and i don’t see any reasons why we can’t step to the next round.Its upto to Fergie for which men he’s going to select.In United’s last 4 meeetings its has been fatal for the Derby as they managed only 2 points in last 6 meetings.
Rooney may be seen in today’ game.It has been long since he’s declared fit and  there’s no reason why Fergie is holding him back.However team is in good shape so there’s no sudden urge to get him back.

Fergie wont go with any sudden changes.United shall pass out easily.

3-0 (Predicted score line )
The match kicks-off at 1430GMT at Pride Park.

Hope you don’t miss the action.

Liverpool playing two games ahead of United are at 54 points and leading the the table.However that keeps us unaffected with our standings.Winning last six games in a row and scoring 14 points in our last 6 away games there’s no reason that we should drop points.Facing Chelsea and Liverpool this is more like a pie for United.

Rooney will be hopefully at bench.Fergie won’t be going any easy for dropping points here so you cannot see any suprises.He will stick with 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 for time being.Hammers are without their stars D.Aston and K.Dyer that reduced our pressure.

Match starts at 1600 GMT and i hope you are going to watch this game.

PS:- Our Duos,Alex Ferguson and N.Vidic bagged both Manager and Player of the month award.

Just two days back on 6th of Feb,United farewelled there great heroes who died in Munich crash.