Three days after squandering a great chance to go six points ahead of Chelsea in the Premier League title race, Manchester United has another opportunity on Wednesday.
The Red Devils host Everton while the Blues have a tough game at third-place Bolton.
Eight of the top nine clubs are in action - No. 4 Portsmouth is at No. 9 Liverpool, No. 5 Aston Villa is at home against erratic Manchester City, and No. 6 Arsenal travels to Fulham.
Man United, which has 35 points to lead Chelsea by three, hasn't lost in 13 home league games against Everton, which looks certain to be without England striker Andy Johnson because of a hamstring injury.
"He did it in the Bolton game and tried to play on with it," Everton manager David Moyes said Tuesday. "We don't think it's too bad, but it doesn't look as if he will play at United."
Moyes will also be without American goalkeeper Tim Howard, who is on loan from United and ineligible to play.
United is hoping that winger Cristiano Ronaldo and striker Louis Saha will play after being injured in Sunday's 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Old Trafford.
South Korean winger Park Ji-sung has resumed training after tearing ankle ligaments in September and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is recovering from a hamstring problem - but neither will play.
"Ji-sung and Ole will begin training this week, which is great news for us," said Ferguson, who also has one eye on next week's crucial Champions League game at home to Benfica. "With the hectic December period coming up, it is great we will have those players available."
Quinton Fortune is unlikely to face Chelsea at the Reebok Stadium after limping out of Bolton's 3-1 victory over Arsenal on Saturday. But the Blues will face Nicolas Anelka, who scored twice against former club Arsenal as the Trotters stayed third.
Chelsea has no new injury worries, but the form of striker Andriy Shevchenko is still a problem.
Hired from AC Milan for 30 million pounds (US$58.2 million; Ç44.4 million), the Ukraine striker has failed to find the form that resulted in 173 goals for the Italian club in seven seasons at the San Siro.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho may be tempted to start wingers Joe Cole and Arjen Robben alongside Didier Drogba and drop Shevchenko. He may also start midfielder Michael Essien at right back where he was so successful in the second half comeback against United.
Arsenal, which is 13 points behind Man United and needs to bounce back at Craven Cottage, hopes that Thierry Henry will be fit to return.
The France striker missed Saturday's loss with a neck injury and manager Arsene Wenger, who has Robin van Persie back after a one-game ban, also hopes that creative midfielder Tomas Rosicky will return from a hamstring problem.
Liverpool, which is back in ninth with 14 points to make up on the Red Devils, also has injury problems, especially in midfield.
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