As one of the truly classic Premier League ties, Chelsea arrive into a game with Manchester United at 12:30PM on Saturday morning local time. Expect this tie to carry all the drama and aggression that one would expect from a local derby: even before Chelsea were one of the giants of the English game, they always held showpiece games against the Red Devils.
Chelsea have a decent head-to-head record in recent times, with their most recent win being enough to lift the 2018 FA Cup. However, United have won two of the last three games against one another in the league, though the last game at Stamford Bridge seen a 1-0 win for Chelsea. All of these games you was able to bet on them even on your mobile phone. If you didn’t know this, you can learn about it at www.androidbettingappguide.co.uk before this game start.
For Jose Mourinho, too, bitter memories of the 4-0 drubbing in 2016 will live in the memory also. Taken apart that day, he’ll be keen that his team – with morale hardly buoyant at United – live up to the occasion for his own standing as much as for the club.
However, to do that he’ll need to stop a Chelsea side yet to lose in the league. Conceding just 5 against United’s more porous 14, Chelsea know how to keep clean sheets. On top of that, they look pretty spectacular in front of goal, scoring 18 goals so far. Can they put a signature win together, though?
A recent home draw against Liverpool would have felt like a defeat, so this poses the perfect chance to show that was just a blip. With a surprise title contention shot appearing to form without anyone really noticing, could Chelsea really go all the way?
For coach Sarri, big games are his stock and trade. Big wins in the major Italian games were commonplace at Napoli, and it’s not beyond the realms of imagination that they do the same again here.
Chelsea News
While Manchester City and Liverpool are the talk of the town, Chelsea have been able to forge a pretty significant run themselves. While back-to-back draws might have stemmed their flow a touch, 20 points from 8 games is a fine return so far. In the return to form of the likes of Eden Hazard – who looks very much like a Player of the Year contender – and also the resurgence in the likes of David Luiz Pedro and Marcos Alonso, Chelsea have had a flying start to the 2018-19 campaign.
Other impressive performers come from the likes of Willian who had appeared so keen to leave in the summer window. It’s Hazard, though, who feels like the true game-changer so far in blue. With 7 goals so far in the league alone, he’s a player who is making the most of his years at the top of his game.
Playing some very impressive so far this season, Chelsea open teams up in the wide areas a lot. They rampaging attacks from the wide areas, with overlapping full-backs, allows for plenty of width to be made. While it means they can be caught with a bit too much open space it does allow them to flow forward.
However, they play against a United side who are good in the air and at attacking set plays. Chelsea like to give up chances and perhaps lack a bit when it comes to closing down attacks. That could work against them here.
Manchester United News
United, meanwhile, roll into this one in a lowly 8th. While they have lost just once in their last five, winning three, they are not impressive at all. The comeback win against Newcastle United was very impressive, and they have shown a great capacity to do that already this year. However, with so few points on-board – already 7 behind their hosts – United aren’t winning enough games outright.
However, they are a team who creates through moments of individuality. In the likes of Paul Pogba and – last time out, at least – Alexis Sanchez, they have individual star quality. The main challenge will come from being able to shut down lightning fast Chelsea counters and being able to slow them down on the wings. The soft-centre to the United defence is one problem; worse still is their inability to shut down attacks on the flanks.
Expect Chelsea to get plenty of fouls in these areas: while United are good at defending set plays, they aren’t great on second balls and lack aggression when the ball undergoes a quick transition from side to side. Expect Manchester United to need to make some concessions for that with their most likely avenue to success coming from the aerial prowess of Romelu Lukaku.
If they can play off of the Belgian striker, they can get some of their more skilful players into the holes that Chelsea like to leave. Done right, that can allow for the individual quality that United possess to get them in the game.
Chelsea vs Manchester United Matchday Verdict
This one should be a cracking tie. Add in the all the history and the drama around both sides, then the Jose Mourinho angle, and this is sure to be a big game for both sides. It marks the continuation of a tough start to English life for Maurizio Sarri, while it’s a big game to see how much the Newcastle United revival actually means for Mourinho at Old Trafford.
We can see the home side doing well here, though. We can see some value in Over 2.5 goals in this one; Chelsea like to score at home, while United have been a bit more provocative away from home at times. So long as another soap opera fracture avoids Old Trafford this weekend, we can see there being plenty of goals in this one.
Chelsea look fearsome at home, and were unlucky not to beat a much vaunted Liverpool at home. Outside of a stunning Daniel Sturridge strike, they were in total control. The outstanding form of Eden Hazard matched up with the lack of morale in the United defence – who still conceded two against Newcastle – makes a 3-1 win for Chelsea (14/1) pretty attractive.
