Fri Apr 25 14:56:36 2008

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United's season will be determined in the next four days

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London, England (Sports Network) - Manchester United can all but clinch the Premiership title on Saturday with a win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, and they will turn their attention back to the Champions League four days later for their second leg semifinal contest against Barcelona.

"We could achieve quite a lot in the next few days," United manager Sir Alex Ferguson told the club's website. "The incentives are all there and we have the players to do it. We just have to make sure we are rested properly and prepared for both games."

Defender Nemanja Vidic is expected to return to the lineup after missing Wednesday's match because of a stomach problem, while positions in the midfield are always changing because of the amount of competition.

Ryan Giggs was on the bench Wednesday and could find his way into the starting lineup in place of Park Ji-Sung, while Brazilian Anderson is also poised to return to the starting 11.

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard is a major doubt following the death of his mother this past week, but Chelsea manager Avram Grant has said that the decision will be left to the midfielder.

Michael Essien will return to the lineup after missing Tuesday's Champions League match because of suspension, while German midfielder Michael Ballack will play a huge role if Lampard does not play.

Both United and Chelsea are still competing for both the league title and Champions League crown, and Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele is not surprised that his team still has a chance to pull off the rare double.

"I am not surprised we are still fighting, I know the group, the players, and we have good spirits," Makelele told the club's website. "The team has come through bad situations, and kept fighting for each other. We are in a good situation, fighting for the championship, Champions League, and we have an opportunity to win."

While Chelsea must take all three points to pull level with United, the Red Devils would likely be satisfied with a draw. It would leave the team three points clear of Chelsea with only two matches to play, a home contest with West Ham and a road game at Wigan.

Both teams will be facing Champions League contests during the upcoming week, but they must first take care of their business in the league.

Arsenal looks to have a hold on third place and will face last-place Derby on Monday, while Liverpool can secure a place in the top four with a win at Birmingham on Saturday.

Everton will likely have to settle for a place in the UEFA Cup, and the fifth- place Toffees will square off with sixth-place Aston Villa on Sunday, while the day's other match features another UEFA Cup hopeful in Portsmouth hosting Blackburn.

Manchester City will entertain Fulham, Middlesbrough and Sunderland square off with both teams level on 36 points, Bolton is one point from the drop zone and visits Tottenham, while Newcastle travels to West Ham and Wigan entertains Reading.