Bottom teams do battle in English Premier League
While the giants slug it out to gain all-important points in their quest for glory, the struggling teams need to fight it out for top flight survival
The battle for the English Premier League title may be compelling, with three heavyweights in contention, but the fight to avoid relegation from the top flight is nearly as fierce.
European champions Chelsea, a point further back in third, travel to surprise package West Brom, an impressive fifth in the table, in a match that pits Blues boss Roberto di Matteo and the Baggies Steve Clarke, once an assistant manager at Stamford Bridge, against their former clubs.
In an era where Premier League players are routinely criticised for being primarily concerned with their pay packets, United veteran Rio Ferdinand said the lure of silverware remained as strong as ever.
"It doesn't matter how much money you have at the end of your career, what you will be most proud of are your achievements," he said.
"If you have won things and continue to win things for this great club, that is something to talk about. I wouldn't sit down and talk about how much money I have."
There will be plenty of attention at Eastlands on City and England goalkeeper Joe Hart, beaten on four occasions by striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic during Sweden's 4-2 friendly international win in midweek, with the striker's stunning scissor-kick fourth set to become a staple of all great-goal compilations.
