Today is one of the most important days in the American sporting calendar, as the NFL’s Super Bowl takes place. But well before the rival Giants and Patriots kick off in Indianapolis, the real clash of the titans will take place at Stamford Bridge.

Either Manchester United or Chelsea have won the last seven Premier League titles, and in that time, the two sides have developed quite the rivalry, to put it mildly. And though Chelsea haven’t been at their best in Andre Villas-Boas’ first season at the helm, today’s showdown is still undoubtedly one of United’s biggest games of the season, because it’s Chelsea, because Chelsea don’t need to be allowed an opening back into the title race, and because United need to keep pace in that race.

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Is this a cursed season for Manchester United? From the word ‘go’, injuries and illness have torn through the side, and while injuries can’t be looked upon as an excuse for some of the poor and surprising results that have occurred this season or the exits from the Carling Cup, FA Cup, and most disappointingly, the Champions League, there’s no doubt that United’s chances for success in all of those competitions and in the Premier League would be at least somewhat enhanced by a fitter squad.

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There really isn’t much that needs to be said here. Manchester United v. Liverpool, the FA Cup, Anfield.

Manchester United: De Gea; Rafael, Smalling, Evans, Evra; Scholes, Carrick, Giggs; Valencia, Welbeck, Park.

Subs: Lindegaard, Fabio, Ferdinand, M Keane, Pogba, Berbatov, Hernandez

Liverpool: Reina; Kelly, Agger, Skrtel, Enrique; Carragher, Maxi, Gerrard, Henderson, Downing; Carroll

Subs: Doni, Johnson, Coates, Kuyt, Adam, Shelvey, Bellamy

No Rooney or Nani today, so there’s a lot of responsibility on Welbeck, Valencia, and Giggs to create, create, create.

De Gea gets the start in goal today, and this is as much a test for him as he’ll get this season. Pass it and he strengthens his hopes for regaining his starting slot soon, fail it, and well…

As memorable as the last meeting was for all of the right reasons for Manchester United, it has to be put at the back of the mind. Or should be, at least.

But one can’t help but think of it ahead of today’s rematch at the Emirates Stadium, because it was such a memorable match and because you now have to be aware, if not wary, of the possibility of a backlash.

No one likes to be humiliated, and no one likes to lose to a rival. When you combine the two, it’s the ultimate stomach churner. United have been on the other end of the spectrum this season as well, and knowing how to respond and having responded to it, they know how to prepare for today. So, they’ll be ready for whatever Arsenal throw at them, aware of the need to put more distance between one rival and close the distance between another.

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It’s rare that expectations are low for Manchester United, but after the back-to-back disappointments against Blackburn and Newcastle, United were the clear underdogs heading into last weekend’s FA Cup showdown at City. But as has happened time and time and time and time again, United delivered when the chips were down, and while the 3-2 triumph doesn’t make everything better in an instant, it served as yet another reminder that it’s never a wise idea to write off Manchester United.

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It’s safe to say that any match between Manchester United and Manchester City is massive, especially in the present, when it looks like the two could be fighting it out for Premier League titles on a regular basis for the foreseeable future. That being said, it’s somewhat difficult to get a read on the full significance of today’s FA Cup third round showdown, in relation to where United are and where they will go afterwards. Will a win today spark a big winning run, or would it be nothing more than an away win over the archrivals and a place in the next round of the FA Cup? Would a defeat cause a crushing loss of confidence, or would it actually spur United on positively?

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In a long season, there are going to be setbacks, no matter who you are. That’s a guarantee. But it’s how you respond to those setbacks that matters, and Manchester United will look to provide their usual response to rare setbacks when they take on Newcastle United tonight at Sports Direct Arena. The shock home defeat to Blackburn on New Year’s Eve was a setback that no one could have seen coming, especially given the form that United were in coming into the match, but what’s happened has happened, and though a win tonight won’t take away the stink from Saturday’s setback, it will see a winning start to 2012, and more importantly, it will keep United right where they need to be in the Premier League title race.

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There’s been good, bad, and ugly for Manchester United in 2011, but United are winding down the calendar year in scintillating form, with five consecutive Premier League wins part of a nine-match unbeaten league run. And if United can extend that run to six straight league wins and ten straight unbeaten with a home win over Blackburn this afternoon, they’ll go into next year on top of the Premier League table, and a certain special legendary manager will get an excellent 70th birthday present.

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Many people look forward to Christmas Day, what with all of the presents and the food and the family time. Now, that’s all very, very nice, but I look forward more to the day after Christmas, even if it’s not a holiday in my little corner of the world.

Boxing Day means football, football, football, and for Manchester United, Boxing Day traditionally means success. That should once again be the case today, as in-form United, looking for a fifth straight Premier League win and to extend their unbeaten league run to nine matches, host Wigan Athletic.

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