Chelsea have been flying high in the League so far, as they are the only team to boast an unbeaten record after eight matches. Manchester United, their opponents, have stuttered so far, as their form has seesawed while the new players are adjusting to life in the League. Chelsea have a well-balanced team, which has propelled them to first place on the table; while United are eighth as of now on the table, and could fall further if they do not get at least a point from this fixture.
It will be a contest between the master and his protege, as Louis van Gaal will take on Jose Mourinho. When van Gaal was the manager at Barcelona, Jose Mourinho rose through the ranks from third manager to the first-team coach, who gave halftime talks to the first-team players. Both managers hold each other in high regard, but both will not give each other any leeways once on the pitch. Both managers will look to intercept each other’s tactics and make the appropriate tweaks to their respective sides. Jose Mourinho has less to lose at this stage, with a five-point-lead over the second-placed team so far, but he will look to get a point away from home, while Louis van Gaal will want to grab the win and get United’s campaign back on track.
This fixture will be a true test for both sides, and Louis van Gaal has been bestowed with the tag of being the only manager who can put an end to Chelsea’s juggernaut, which has been wreaking havoc through players such as Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard and Oscar, who have terrorized opposition defences as they have notched up win after win. United have their own force of players who are all capable of creating magic, but they have been let down by a glass defence, as most of their defenders are injury-prone and reserve-team defenders have been used to plug the gap in defence, behind players such as Angel di Maria, Wayne Rooney and Ander Herrera. However, both teams will be missing their most valuable players – Wayne Rooney will miss out through suspension for United, of a two-match ban for a ludicrous tackle; and Diego Costa will play a bit-part role for Chelsea due to a hamstring problem. There are fresh reports claiming that Costa will start tonight, but it is yet to be seen what Mourinho has in his minds.
In their past five meetings at Old Trafford, United and Chelsea have won two matches each, while drawing one. Manchester United will look for a good display from Angel di Maria, who has set the pitch alight with his frenetic tempo, whereas Chelsea will look for a great display from last season’s hero, Eden Hazard, who has been overshadowed by his teammates, Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas, even though his own game has improved vastly from last season, even though he has not grabbed too many goals for himself. This game has arrived at an opportune time, when both teams want to prove that they are title contenders, and both sides will use this opportunity to get early bragging rights.
Expected line-ups:
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Thibaut Courtois – Branislov Ivanovic, John Terry, Gary Cahill, Cesar Azpilicueta – Cesc Fabregas, Nemanja Matic – Andre Schurrle, Oscar, Eden Hazard – Willian/Diego Costa/Didier Drogba
Manchester United (4-4-2 diamond): David de Gea – Rafael, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw/Chris Smalling – Daley Blind, Ander Herrera, Marouane Fellaini/Juan Mata, Angel di Maria – Radamel Falcao, Robin van Persie
Match Facts:
- Manchester United have won only six of their last 22 Barclays Premier League games against Chelsea.
- Chelsea have kept clean sheets in their last two Premier League games at Old Trafford. They have not kept 3+ clean sheets in a row there since a spell of five between 1968 and 1972.
- United have had a man sent off in two of their last three Premier League encounters with Chelsea.
- The last man to score a goal in this fixture (at Old Trafford) was Juan Mata, playing for the Blues.
- Angel Di Maria has assisted a goal in four of his last five Premier League games for Manchester United.
- Robin van Persie has scored six Premier League goals against Chelsea but all of them have come at Stamford Bridge.
- Only 14 players have started for Chelsea in the Premier League this season, a smaller spread than any other team, while Manchester United have used 30 players in the Premier League this season, more than any other club.
- Chelsea are the only Premier League opponents that Man Utd have lost more games (15) against than won (13) against.
- John Terry should make his 430th Premier League appearance in this game; he will overtake Frank Lampard as the player with the most appearances for Chelsea in the competition.
Facts Compiled from uk.eurosport.yahoo.com
Prediction:
A 2-2 draw