With Chelsea turning their attention to the FA Cup, Manchester United can go back to the top of the Premier League by winning at Blackburn, but they are without the talismanic Wayne Rooney, who aggravated his ankle injury against Bayern Munich in midweek. Sam Allardyce and company may fancy their chances against opponents diminished by the absence of their principal goalscorer, and Rovers are strengthened by the return of their captain, Ryan Nelsen. But United are in wounded beast mode after losing pole position in the title race and their place in Europe in the space of five days, and a backlash would hardly be a surprise. Joe Lovejoy

Venue Ewood Park, Sunday 1.30pm

Tickets £28-38 (0871 222 1444)

Last season Blackburn 0 Manchester United 2

Referee P Walton

This season's matches 22 Y55, R4, 2.68 cards per game

Odds Blackburn 7-1 Manchester United 1-2 Draw 3-1

Blackburn

Subs from Brown, Bunn, Jones, Grella, Andrews, Emerton, Jacobsen, Di Santo, Basturk, Chimbonda, Hoilett, Kalinic

Doubtful Andrews (calf), Basturk (hamstring), Grella (knee), Jacobsen (groin), Nelsen (knee)

Injured None

Suspended None

Form guide DWWDLL

Disciplinary record Y51 R2

Leading scorer Dunn 8

Manchester United

Subs from Foster, Kuszczak, Hargreaves, Nani, Carrick, Fábio, Rafael, Obertan, Macheda, Gibson, De Laet, Diouf, O'Shea

Doubtful None

Injured Rooney (ankle, 17 Apr), Brown (foot, 25 Apr), Owen (hamstring, Aug), Welbeck (knee, Aug), Anderson (knee, Sep)

Suspended None

Form guide LWWWWW

Disciplinary record Y44 R4

Leading scorer Rooney 26

Match pointers

• Blackburn have lost only one of their last 15 home Premier League matches

• A win for Manchester United would be their 50th over Blackburn in all competitions since their first encounter in September 1892

• Blackburn have always finished in the top half of the table when they have had 40 or more points after 33 games of a Premier League season

• If selected, Rio Ferdinand will be making his 400th Premier League appearance

• Blackburn have been caught offside more times (102) than any other team