Manchester United vs Chelsea Match Preview: Kick-off Time, Team News, TV Channel and Score Prediction

An age from when the two sides used to clash in their years of constant success, Manchester United host Chelsea, with both sides looking to claw back some respectability from the season.

United will be looking to bounce back after being dominated at Newcastle. Chelsea, meanwhile, will be looking to find some consistency after their victory against Brighton.

How do Manchester United look?

If you read into a lot of what the press have been writing, you wouldn’t be surprised if only half of the squad turn up to the Chelsea game. The all-to-familiar reports about rifts between the playing squad and the manager have begun but this time United aren’t having any of it. Four publications were banned from Erik ten Hag’s pre match conference for what the club has suggested was a failure to ask for right to reply. The outlets, including the Manchester Evening News, had reported that various members of the squad were unhappy with Ten Hag’s methods. Hopefully, some of that defiance from the manager can manifest itself in the Chelsea game. There’s almost no better way to reflect the squad’s togetherness than a win and performance in the next game.

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Luke Shaw started at centre back against Newcastle alongside Harry Maguire. The tow performed admirably despite the result, so in turn we could see a repeat of the partnership against Chelsea. Kobbie Mainoo also started in midfield for the second time. Should the midfielder get the nod once again, it will be his first Premier League start at Old Trafford.

The likes of Jonny Evans, Christian Eriksen, Amad and former Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount will miss the game due to injury. Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia and Casemiro are also still sidelined for the Reds.

Opposition: Chelsea

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Chelsea seem to be a club in perpetual turmoil since they’ve come under new ownership. However, despite the turbulence, they have managed to put up some of the most exciting results of the season. The results might not have arrived consistently for Mauricio Pochettino but there’s no doubt there are signs of progressive football beginning to sprout at Stamford Bridge. Saying that, the Blue will come to Old Trafford in 10th position.

Chelsea have been plagued with a lengthy injury list and the absentee list isn’t helped by the fact Conor Gallagher’s red card against Brighton means he is suspended for this tie.

Key Stats

Manchester United vs Chelsea is the most drawn fixture in Premier League history (26 games). 19 of these have been score draws (a joint-high with Arsenal vs Tottenham), while a 1-1 draw between these sides is the most common exact result in the competition (14 times).

Manchester United are unbeaten in their past 11 Premier League games against Chelsea (W4 D7) since a 1-0 away loss in November 2017.

Chelsea’s most recent Premier League away win against Manchester United was in May 2013 (1-0), at which point they had won more such games as a visitor to Old Trafford than any other side (6). Since then they have drawn six and lost four of their 10 league visits.

Manchester United have lost three of their past five Premier League home games (W2), having won eight in a row at Old Trafford before that. The Red Devils have failed to score before half-time in six of their seven home league games so far this term.

Predictions

This fixture will be very telling in terms of how much the players are behind the manager. Expect several goals and a constant back-and-forth and if United come out on to of that it does spell some kind of unison in the squad.