Chelsea v Man Utd – Preview, Predictions and Best Bets

Chelsea host Man Utd at Stamford Bridge on Sunday in the English Premier League. The hosts are two points off fourth spot and just six points behind United in second place, making this a massive game. Thomas Tuchel knows the boost that a win would have for Chelsea’s season whilst Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will want to avoid defeat and getting dragged into the top four dogfight.

Chelsea Form

Since the appointment of Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea have six wins and two draws from eight matches. Most impressive is that the side have kept six clean sheets including in Tuesday night’s 1-0 away win at Atletico Madrid in Bucharest. Olivier Giroud scored the goal in that match.

Prior to that, Tuchel had enjoyed a relatively soft start in terms of fixture difficulty. Chelsea beat Burnley and Newcastle at home and Sheff United away. A 1-0 win at Tottenham was a fine result but the side could only draw 1-1 away at Southampton in their last league match.

Chelsea Team News

Tuchel is expected to tell the press on Friday if Thiago Silva is fit to return for this match. If he is, he will probably take the place of Andreas Christensen at centre back. Some rotation is likely with N’Golo Kanté fresh to start in midfield and therefore Mateo Kovacic perhaps due a rest.

In the wingback positions, both Reece James and Ben Chilwell are pushing for a chance to start whilst it seems unlikely that Giroud will start again due to his advancing years, so Kai Havertz may get an opportunity.

Chelsea Motivation

Chelsea won’t change anything from recent weeks. The side has been quite conservative, using safe deep possession as a means of defending and controlling matches. Tuchel likes to keep a back five of three centre backs and two defensive midfielders in place to cover counter attacks.

Going forward, Chelsea have been far from free-flowing and will play for a clean sheet first and foremost and try to get one goal. Tuchel will play for the win in this match but won’t risk defeat to do it and would probably be satisfied with a draw too.

Man Utd Form

Man Utd have lost just one of their last 15 matches in all competitions but their form has been quite inconsistent of late with just four victories in their last nine.

After a poor 2-1 home defeat to Sheffield United, United have had some good wins in beating Southampton 9-0, winning 4-0 at Real Sociedad and beating Newcastle 3-1. They’ve also thrown away a lead to draw 3-3 at home with Everton and only managed a 1-1 draw away at West Brom. Their last match saw a 0-0 home draw with Sociedad in an inconsequential match.

Man Utd Team News

Solskjaer picked a strong side for Thursday’s Europa League match even if Bruno Fernandes, Fred, Marcus Rashford and Aaron Wan-Bissaka only played a half each. Victor Lindelof and Anthony Martial surprisingly both played the full match.

Paul Pogba is definitely out of this one and all of Edinson Cavani, Donny van de Beek and Scott McTominay are tough-and-go. The latter should be fit to partner Fred whilst Dan James and Mason Greenwood are going to fight it out for the right wing position. There is a small chance that Solskjaer goes to a back three to match up to Chelsea, in which case Eric Bailly would start in defence.

Man Utd Motivation

A typical big game approach is expected by Man Utd: an abrasive midfield, using the speed they have in attack in transition and generally not taking big risks. Solskjaer’s side have only scored one goal in six matches against the “big six” this season without a single win and four 0-0 draws. Expect more of the same, with United likely to be happy with a draw.

Key Stats

Chelsea have kept 6 clean sheets in their last 8 matches

Chelsea have seen under 2.5 goals in 7 of their last 8 matches

Chelsea have won 6 of their last 8 matches

Man Utd have drawn 5 of their last 8 matches in 90 minutes

United have drawn 3 of their last 5 PL matches

United are 19 away PL matches unbeaten (W13, D6)

Man Utd have drawn 4 of their 6 matches against the “big 6” this season

Man Utd have scored 1 goal in 6 matches against the “big 6” this season

Prediction

This game has a draw written all over it. Chelsea are lacking some cutting edge but are very solid at the back and Man Utd have drawn many recent games and have four goalless draws this season against the rest of the “big 6”.