Nicolas Anelka and Jonny Evans can outshine Rooney and Drogba in Sunday sizzler

By Mark Lawrenson

Published 23:06 06/11/09

• 

The title crunch at Stamford Bridge this weekend will focus on the shoot-out between Didier Drogba and Wayne Rooney.

The showdown between in-form Drogba against new dad Rooney will probably go a long way to deciding who triumphs between the Premier League’s top two.

But Nicolas Anelka has been every bit as important as Drogba to Chelsea and their impressive start to the season.

The most noticeable thing about Anelka is that for the first time in his whole career he is playing with a smile on his face.

They all seem to really fancy it under Carlo Ancelotti and, after all, even Deco is playing with a spring in his step. They all seem fitter, sharper and more focused than at any point in the past two years.

There is no doubt that Drogba is enjoying his football and is being made to feel like the main man under Ancelotti.

But Anelka is also relishing the opportunity of playing under Ancelotti and alongside Drogba.

This was, after all, a pairing that wasn’t supposed to be any good as a partnership and yet Ancelotti is making it work where even Guus Hiddink didn’t seem to be able to.

Drogba scored twice against Atletico Madrid the other night and looked irresistible in front of goal and has power and pace that sets him apart from the rest.

But, in turn, that also means that Anelka, playing just off him, is given freedom, space and lay-offs to bring the best out of his game.

No-one has ever doubted Anelka’s talent. Ever since he emerged at Arsenal he has been a player of brilliant ability and yet it seems that only now the penny has finally dropped and he’s fulfilling his potential.

Anelka’s best position has probably been up until this season playing up front on his own and yet he has developed an understanding with Drogba which is reaping rewards and terrifying defences.

For me, they are the best partnership in the Premier League. Arsene Wenger says that Robin van Persie is the best striker in the league and Arsenal have the best strike force now of all the different teams he has managed.

Frankly, if you are a defender then you would rather play against van Persie than any of the other top class strikers in the Premier League. He is getting there, but van Persie is not world class yet.

Drogba also has something that van Persie, Fernando Torres, Wayne Rooney and even Anelka don’t have. Pure physical strength with pace and power.

But, in turn, Drogba’s qualities unlock doors for Anelka and that is the secret of their double act. Drogba playing through the middle as the battering ram, scoring goals and laying on chances for Anelka who terrifies defences with his pace and runs.

Before this season, Drogba has been a striker who has kissed the badge when he has scored a goal and then said how much he’d love to play for AC Milan or Real Madrid.

Now Drogba appears to have woken up, realised that he’s at Chelsea for life and there’s nowhere better for him.

With Anelka, Drogba is also in great form. In the past, defences have just been wary of making the Chelsea strikers angry.

But now Drogba and Anelka together are self motivated, driven and determined to ensure that United will not make it four in a row this season.

Rooney is in great form for United and being a father may help continue his development as a player who has already learned to channel and focus his hot streak and use it in a positive way.

Rooney reminds me of Ian Wright. They are both players who live on the edge and take that away from them and you make the player less effective.

But Rooney will always challenge and question referees but now, rather than waste energy chasing them 40 yards, will use that to have a whinge and then race up the other end to score. That’s the difference.

United also have more worries defensively. Sir Alex Ferguson said this week that he’d be happy to go to Chelsea with Wes Brown and Jonny Evans if necessary.

He’s kidding himself. Brown has all the attributes - pace to recover, good on the floor and is versatile. But has a concentration problem which makes him liable to mistakes.

For me, Evans is the real prospect. Plenty of hunger and a good defender. But if you pick apart all of CSKA Moscow’s three goals in the week then they were all elementary defensive mistakes.

United desperately need Vidic and his power and strength to cope with the likes of Drogba. That’s what they miss the most.