Article

Evra bracing for Chelsea test

26 October 2012 14:32

Patrice Evra believes Manchester United are beginning to hit their best form but says they will have to work hard to overhaul Chelsea.

United travel to Stamford Bridge on Sunday to take on Roberto Di Matteo's Premier League leaders knowing a victory will close the gap to just one point ahead of the visit of Arsenal six days later.

"This is a really important time of big moments and we need to show our best," Evra told United's official website.

"I think we started to do that at Newcastle but now we need to make sure we continue to do our job."

Despite last season’s title tussle with rivals Manchester City, Evra feels this season will involve a number of clubs battling it out at the top of the table, with the left-back picking out Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool as potential contenders.

"It is a difficult league. You can see that already this season. It's not only about United and City this season," he said.

"Chelsea are top at the moment, Tottenham are doing well and there's also Arsenal. And I'm sure Liverpool will come back strongly before the end of the season.

"The Premier League is not an easy league - this is why everyone wants to play in this league."

Info

Chelsea

W W W D W

2 - 3

Manchester United

D W L D W

Competition

Half-time: 1 - 2
Full-time: 2 - 3

Venue: Stamford Bridge (London)
Attendance: 41644

Goals

	0 - 1	4' David Luiz (OG)
	0 - 2	12' R. van Persie (assist by A. Valencia)
Mata 44'	1 - 2
Ramires 53' (assist by Oscar)	2 - 2
	2 - 3	75' J. Hernández (assist by Rafael)

Lineups

#	Player	Bookings
1	P. Čech
3	A. Cole
24	G. Cahill
2	B. Ivanović	63'
4	David Luiz	4'
12	J. Obi Mikel	76'
7	Ramires	53'
17	E. Hazard
11	Oscar
9	Fernando Torres	45+1' 68'
10	Mata	44'
Coach: R. Di Matteo

#	Player	Bookings
1	De Gea
5	R. Ferdinand
3	P. Evra
6	J. Evans
2	Rafael
16	M. Carrick
7	A. Valencia	90+2'
18	A. Young
23	T. Cleverley
20	R. van Persie	12'
10	W. Rooney	44'
Coach: A. Ferguson

Substitutes

#	Player	Bookings
28	Azpilicueta for Oscar 66'
34	R. Bertrand for Mata 72'
23	D. Sturridge for E. Hazard 82'
6	Oriol Romeu
13	V. Moses
21	M. Marin
22	R. Turnbull

#	Player	Bookings
14	J. Hernández for T. Cleverley 65'	75'
11	R. Giggs for W. Rooney 74'
8	Anderson
13	A. Lindegaard
17	Nani
19	D. Welbeck
22	P. Scholes

Thursday 23 May

10:44	Welbeck disappointed with goals tally
10:36	UEFA Champions League Preview: Borussia Dortmund v Bayern Munich
10:23	Zabaleta excited by Pellegrini
09:53	Ramos: Bale is ´Real Madrid-quality´
08:59	Hart urges City to go forward
05:27	Copa Libertadores Wrap: Santa Fe earn away win
05:24	Fiorentina reject Jovetic rumours
05:16	Piszczek set for post-season surgery
04:48	Adriano signs Barca extension
04:33	International Friendly: Venezuela 2 El Salvador 1
04:22	Bundesliga chief slams Qatar World Cup scheduling
03:52	Gignac wants Barton to stay
02:35	Ramsey, Walcott hail Wenger´s achievements
02:20	Loew regrets timing of German finale

Wednesday 22 May

20:56	Mourinho and Ronaldo given two-match bans
20:48	AFC Champions League Wrap: Lekhwiya hold on to progress
20:37	Thomas, Jara released by West Brom
20:16	Martinez to decide future
20:04	Pearce: Championship will not hold back McCarthy
19:05	Pulis: I understand Stoke´s decision
18:39	Vidic reflects on ´amazing´ season
18:17	Bale: Spurs will bounce back
17:56	Petrov to become academy coach at Aston Villa
17:56	De Laurentiis begins search for Mazzarri replacement
17:52	New York City FC appoint Reyna
17:50	Pardew: We should try emulate Liverpool
17:20	Ribery: Bayern stronger than Dortmund
17:04	Conte building for the future at Juventus
16:52	Bundesliga Play-off Preview: Hoffenheim v Kaiserslautern
16:52	Ibrahimovic coy on PSG future
16:33	Goetze to miss Champions League final
16:22	Giroud wants better European showing from Arsenal
16:07	Chelsea´s England players to leave tour early
16:05	Fiorentina capture Yakovenko
15:25	Pellegrini and Malaga to part company
15:04	Fulham sign Boateng
14:50	Green wants first-team football at QPR
14:12	Britton set for surgery
14:03	Neville interested in Everton job
13:42	Holloway: Brighton incident motivated Palace players
13:36	Rodgers confident of keeping Suarez at Liverpool
13:25	Eredivisie Preview: Twente v Utrecht
13:21	Etherington praises Pulis´ work at Stoke
13:17	Vlaar excited for new season at Aston Villa
12:01	Badstuber sidelined for 10 months after knee surgery
11:21	Clichy: Manchester City were right to sack Mancini
11:10	Cole set for West Ham departure
10:27	Lampard: It was tough under Benitez
10:11	Mourinho branded a ´failure´
06:44	Carroll out of England squad
05:37	Nasri throws support behind Pellegrini
05:07	Kewell unhappy with Australia omission
04:58	Messi: Neymar would be a wonderful addition
01:22	Doll: Dortmund are not underdogs

Tuesday 21 May

23:08	AFC Champions League Wrap: Seoul, Buriram, Al Ahli, Al Shabab advance
22:27	Pulis leaves Stoke
21:08	Sanogo relishing Arsenal move
21:05	Galtier signs extension at Saint-Etienne
20:32	Baines explains appearance record
20:28	Pulis future in doubt amid exit rumours
20:12	Swansea coach Tucker praises goalkeepers
19:25	West Ham sign Rat
19:10	McAuley eager to keep improving
18:43	Ribery keen to end career at Bayern
18:36	Reina plays down Barcelona speculation
18:20	De Boer agrees new Ajax deal
18:13	Sheffield United make McCall move
18:11	Heldt: Schalke interested in Santana
18:06	Messi urges Barcelona not to change
17:41	Manchester City agree MLS club deal with New York Yankees
16:57	Cech confident Chelsea will attract big names
16:48	Blackman urges Reading to be more ruthless
16:47	Montanier leaves Sociedad for Rennes
15:38	Rodgers pleased with Coutinho impact
15:30	Leonardo: Ibrahimovic and Silva to stay
15:08	Carroll thanks West Hams fans after loan spell
14:31	De Laurentiis confirms Dzeko interest
14:16	Wilshere dreams of England captaincy
14:14	Mourinho a ´scourge´ on Spanish football
14:02	Moratti will not rush decision on Stramaccioni´s future
13:43	Klopp warns Dortmund stars about leaving
12:44	Schneiderlin backs Southampton to improve
12:29	Podolski delighted with fourth spot
12:12	Sigurdsson targets improvement at Tottenham
11:17	Di Canio criticised by PFA chief
10:50	Steaua owner Becali jailed for three years
10:00	Hummels pledges future to Dortmund
09:46	Retiring Ferguson ´overwhelmed´ by recognition
09:31	J.League Preview: Top three expected to win
06:34	Argentine Primera Division Wrap: Tigre earn point at Lanus
06:21	Galtier wants Ancelotti to stay
06:09	Pique, Barca playing for record haul
04:41	Gazidis, Arsenal target silverware
03:17	Juan plots Inter redemption
03:08	Gibbs wants to build on strong finish
02:58	Racism will not drive out Drogba
02:28	Martinez coy on Wigan future
02:17	Fernandinho still seeking City switch
02:01	Roberto Carlos set to coach Sivasspor
00:13	Ferguson named LMA Manager of the Year

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