Old Trafford
Saturday, 26 February
Kick-off: 1715 GMT
Manchester United will start Ruud van Nistelrooy after his comeback from injury in the Champions League.
Wayne Rooney could make way, while Roy Keane will also be rested, but Roy Carroll is expected to continue in goal despite his blunder against Milan.
Portsmouth goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown and midfielder Patrik Berger must pass fitness tests after being hit by flu.
Arjan De Zeeuw is fit after a shin injury while striker Lomana LuaLua is hoping for a recall.
Man Utd (from): Carroll, Howard, G Neville, P Neville, Ferdinand, Brown, Silvestre, Heinze, O'Shea, Spector, Fortune, Ronaldo, Keane, Scholes, Giggs, Miller, van Nistelrooy, Smith, Saha, Rooney, Bellion, Rossi.
Portsmouth (from): Ashdown, Cisse, De Zeeuw, Stefanovic, Taylor, Stone, O'Neil, Hughes, Berger, Kamara, Yakubu, Primus, Griffin, LuaLua, Skopelitis, Mezague, Rodic, Chalkias.
# Man Utd striker Wayne Rooney:
"The race is definitely not over.
"Chelsea have got tough games coming up, and they still have to play us at Old Trafford, and then Arsenal.
"Hopefully we can keep the wins going and we could still be there to take the title at the end of the season."
# Portsmouth coach Joe Jordan:
"These matches are what the Premiership is all about and the sort that players must relish.
"If we can go there and give a good account of ourselves it will give us confidence for games to come.
"It's a fantastic atmosphere and you get to play against some of the best players in the world."
BIG-MATCH FACTS
# MANCHESTER UNITED take on Portsmouth on Saturday teatime with the single aim of extending the longest current winning sequence in the Premiership to six matches, and closing the gap on Chelsea to six points, on the weekend when the faltering Champions-elect are engaged in Carling Cup business. This will be United's 47th game of the season. Only six of the previous 46 have been lost, but they've still lost double as many in the Premiership as Chelsea (two to one) and conceded double as many League goals (16 to the Londoners' eight).
# Despite the disappointment of Wednesday's 0-1 loss to AC Milan in the Champions League at Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson's side are still unbeaten at home in the top flight and head the Premiership Form table. In Portsmouth, they face a team at the foot of that table. But Pompey are also the last club to beat United in the League, since when the Red Devils have claimed 42 points from a possible 48.
# Roy Keane and Cristiano Ronaldo came off the bench to fire Manchester United to victory against Portsmouth in last season's corresponding fixture, after Diego Forlan had set them on their way. Now United are chasing a fifth successive home League maximum over Pompey.
# PORTSMOUTH have been 'doubled' more often than any Premiership club this season - losing home and away to Everton, Blackburn, Chelsea and Aston Villa. Yet here they have the opportunity to become the first club this season to do the 'double' over Manchester United. They already lead the Red Devils 2-1 in the Premiership head to head standings, and go to Old Trafford seeking a third successive maximum over them.
# Pompey have lost five of their last six League games, and 19 of their last 29 top flight matches away from home. Another reverse here for Velimir Zajec's side could see them slip to within three places of the relegation zone. A trip to Arsenal, and a home fixture against Newcastle follows this.
# All three Premiership fixtures between these clubs have been home wins, including the two most recent meetings at Fratton Park. This season's reverse fixture ended 2-0. David Unsworth scored a 52nd-minute penalty and Aiyegbeni Yakubu capitalised on a Mikael Silvestre error 19 minutes later. Victory would complete a fourth League 'double' over United for Pompey, and first over them for 53 years. But Portsmouth's only League victory at Old Trafford in 51 years was 0-3 on 19 October 1957 in the top flight.
Referee:
Mark Halsey (Lancashire)
SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM
MANCHESTER UNITED
Club stats
Fixtures
2nd 59 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's games: 2nd
Lowest could fall: 3rd
# Bidding for a sixth successive Premiership win. Won the last five against Liverpool (a), Aston Villa (h), Arsenal (a), Birmingham (h) and Manchester City (a).
# Unbeaten in 16 League outings.
# Won 13 and drawn three since losing 2-0 at Portsmouth on 30 October.
# Won 17 Premiership matches. Only Chelsea (21) have won more.
# Lost only twice in the top division (both away to Chelsea and Portsmouth). Only Chelsea, with one defeat, have lost less often.
# Conceded 16 top flight goals. Only Chelsea have shipped fewer - eight.
# Kept 15 clean sheets at the top League level. Only Chelsea have managed more (21).
# Top of the Premiership's "Last Six Current Form" table with 16 points, leading Chelsea and Bolton on goal difference.
# Not lost a top flight game this season in which they've opened the scoring. Won 16 and drawn two of the 18.
# Scored 12 goals in the last 15 minutes of Premiership games this term, making them the most dangerous side in the last quarter-hour of top flight matches.
# The current tally of 59 points after 27 games, is one more than was accrued at this identical stage last season when only a third placed finish was achieved, and five points more than in 2002/03 when they were last crowned champions.
# Not conceded in two League games, or in 234 minutes (three hours 54 minutes) of Premiership football.
# One of two clubs with an unbeaten home Premiership record. Chelsea is the other.
# Conceded only six times in League games at Old Trafford (0.46 goals per game on average).
# The second strongest club in the top division at home. 31 points have been bagged at the Theatre of Dreams from nine wins and four draws. Chelsea have 33 home points.
# Last lost a home League match on 24 April 2004 (0-1 against Liverpool) - United's only defeat in 19 home top flight outings.
PORTSMOUTH
Club stats
Fixtures
14th 30 points
Highest realistically achievable after Saturday's games: 12th
Lowest could fall: 15th
# Lost five the last six in all competitions.
# Looking for a fifth top League victory post Harry Redknapp.
# Won two of nine Premiership matches, since Velimir Zajec was appointed manager.
# Lost six of the last eight highest division encounters.
# Won all four top flight games in which clean sheets have been kept. Only Norwich and Newcastle have kept fewer clean sheets in the top division (three each).
# Lost all seven League games in which failed to score.
# Gone in all square at half time on 18 occasions in top League games.
# Bottom of the Premiership's "Last Six Current Form" table with three points from the 18.
# Lost the last four away from home in League and Cup against Everton (2-1 PL), Chelsea (3-0 PL), Southampton (2-1 FA Cup) and Tottenham (3-1 PL).
# Lost the last three Premiership matches on the road.
# Not scored more than a single goal in the last 10 away Premiership matches.
KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES
MANCHESTER UNITED
Squad profiles
# If he lines up at kick off, Roy KEANE will be making his 300th League start for Manchester United.
# If selected in the 11, Wes BROWN will be making his 150th start for United.
# If involved from the outset, Phil NEVILLE will be making his 300th club start - all for United.
PORTSMOUTH
Squad profiles
# YAKUBU lies equal fourth in the Barclays Golden Boot standings with 10 Premiership goals, nine fewer than leader Thierry Henry of Arsenal.
# If he plays, Linvoy PRIMUS will be making his 150th appearance for Portsmouth.
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME:
Manchester United 3-0 Portsmouth
1 November 2003 - Ref: Neale Barry
Man United scorers: Forlan 37, Ronaldo 80, Keane 82
THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE:
Portsmouth 2-0 Manchester United
30 October 2004 - Ref: Neale Barry
Portsmouth scorers: Unsworth 53 pen, Yakubu 72
HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
League: Man United 19 wins, Portsmouth 16, Draws 12
Prem: Man United 1 win, Portsmouth 2, Draws 0
HEAD TO HEAD at Manchester U
League: Man United 14 wins, Portsmouth 6, Draws 3
Prem: Man United 1 win, Portsmouth 0, Draws 0
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...em/4279665.stm
I definitely wouldn't want Man U to slump to another defeat to Portsmouth... I still think Man U would win despite losing to AC Milan in midweek.
Man Utd v Portsmouth
I salute Rooney for both goals... Nice pass from Ruud and an even nicer 2nd goal by Rooney. He's taking us to the top! 
I pray hard Liverpool can help us dent Chelsea's morale by taking the Carling Cup home... That would be a big help!
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