Man Utd ready to spoil Curbishley's return

LONDON, Dec 14 (Reuters) Leaders Manchester United will be determined to ruin Alan Curbishley's return to the Premier League on Sunday when they play his West Ham United side at Upton Park.

Seven months after bidding farewell to Charlton Athletic for an extended holiday, Curbishley has taken over a struggling team with a brief from the new owners to get West Ham out of the relegation dogfight.

He could not have had a tougher opponent to start against, with United back to their swaggering best after winning 14 of their 17 league games and going through to the Champions League knockout stage.

West Ham's underperforming players should at least move up a gear, anxious to impress a new manager who will be looking to bring in new faces during the January transfer window.

Along with new Icelandic chairman Eggert Magnusson, the home crowd will also expect a fighting performance from their side, whatever the odds against them keeping United at bay.

The challenge will be to cut off the midfield supply lines from Paul Scholes and Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo, thereby limiting French striker Louis Saha's chances of adding to his tally of eight league goals.

Champions Chelsea, who are now only five points behind United after edging Newcastle 1-0 at Stamford Bridge in midweek, are away to Everton on Sunday.

CHELSEA PACK Coach Jose Mourinho reshuffled his pack for the Newcastle game, but is likely to start with Didier Drogba up front. The Ivorian striker came off the bench to score his 15th goal this season, and ninth in the league, on Wednesday.

Dutch winger Arjen Robben should keep his place in the side at Goodison Park but England wide man Shaun Wright-Phillips could well drop back to the bench.

Arsenal, who rose to third place after scraping a 1-0 midweek win at Wigan Athletic, welcome Harry Redknapp's Portsmouth on Saturday.

Although 10 points behind Chelsea, Arsenal are anxious to secure at least a place in the Champions League qualifiers after leaving it to the final game last season.

Portsmouth will not be easy prey. They are only a point behind in fourth spot and are on course for European football -- a remarkable feat after just avoiding relegation last season.

They also have the Premier League's joint-top scorer in former Arsenal striker Nwankwo Kanu, with nine goals.

Problems for Pompey at the Emirates Stadium would be welcomed by Liverpool, who trail them only on goal difference and have a far easier game on paper against prime relegation candidates Charlton Athletic at The Valley.

Rafael Benitez's men are on a roll after consecutive 4-0 league victories over Wigan Athletic and Fulham and will clearly expect to keep that momentum going.

Elsewhere, sixth-placed Bolton Wanderers are at Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa, Reading host Blackburn Rovers and on Sunday Tottenham Hotspur visit Manchester City.

REUTERS PM RK0945