Chelsea start 2005 in pole position to win their first league title in 50 years. Arsenal and Manchester United are close behind, hoping the Londoners emulate their slumps this season.

While the rest of European soccer rests, the Premier League will play its third game in seven days on New Year’s Day.

Chelsea head the standings at the end of 2004, but Arsenal is seeking to defend its league title for the first time since 1934 and Manchester United is keen to prove it is not a spent force after a poor start this season.

Today, Chelsea are at Liverpool, Arsenal travel to London rivals Charlton and Manchester United visit Middlesbrough.

All three picked up six points from their post-Christmas matches. Everton only got three and slipped to fourth with a 2-0 loss at Charlton on Tuesday.

After 20 of the league’s 42 matches, Chelsea have 49 points, Arsenal 44 and Manchester United and Everton 40.

“We don’t want the gap to get any bigger,” Arsenal defender Ashley Cole said. “Chelsea are doing well, but hopefully they will have a blip like we did.

“As for back-to-back championships ... for me, the manager and the fans it would be nice to celebrate for a second season. It could be nice to beat Chelsea with all the players they have brought in – doubly special.”

While Arsenal have used December to end the slump that followed the end of its 49-match unbeaten league streak in late October, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho isn’t a fan of the crowded end-of-year schedule in England while the rest of Europe has a winter break.

“You can play two games in three days, but it is not correct,” Mourinho said. “It is not good for the health just like smoking one cigar after another is not good for the health.

“My players are tired. All of them, especially (defender) John Terry. At least he has a few days now to be ready for the next game at Liverpool. Who knows what our lead will be after that? Arsenal play at Charlton. I just don’t know.”

Manchester United will be without striker Wayne Rooney, who was suspended for three matches on Thursday evening when he accepted a charge of violent conduct for pushing a player in the face.

Rooney shoved Bolton’s Tal Ben Haim on Sunday in United’s 2-0 win and was charged on Wednesday after a review of video evidence.

His absence will hit United, who are already without strikers Ruud van Nistelrooy and Louis Saha through injury. Defender Gary Neville hopes to be recovered from the flu.

“We’re climbing the table but it’s getting to Chelsea that’s the problem,” United manager Alex Ferguson said. “They’re on a great run and obviously you hope they stumble. If we can keep our consistency then we’ll go very, very close.

“I think there’s a great quality in the Premier division – the standard is very, very high. All we can do is maintain our form as it is. That’s what we keep saying – play the way we are, and we’ll get our rewards.”

Meanwhile, Everton, who have surprised everyone by their strong form this season after selling star striker Rooney to United, hopes to continue to defy critics. Everton travel to Tottenham today.

“I’m sure people are starting to write us off now and saying, ‘the bubble’s burst,’ but we have to prove them wrong,” Everton defender David Weir said.

In the Football League Championship, Ipswich can increase their lead atop the standings with a win over West Ham today. Second-placed Sunderland are at Preston, with Wigan at Sheffield United and Reading at Gillingham.