Manchester United and Chelsea come into Sunday’s clash at Old Trafford on the back of two contrasting results in the last couple of days. While the Red Devils had to come from behind twice to draw 2-2 with West Brom at the Hawthorns on Monday, the Blues cruised past both Crystal Palace and Maribor in the space of a few days.
Although United have won each of their last two games at Old Trafford, they are up against a Chelsea side, who remain the League’s solitary unbeaten team. The Blues have won all but one of their games on the road and will be looking to get their fourth win on the bounce. The Red Devils on the other hand will be hoping for a draw at least, to ensure that they don’t fall further behind the League leaders.
If Manchester United are to get anything out of the game, let alone beat Chelsea, they need to ensure that they do three things most importantly. So let us take a look at what they are.
1. Be clinical up front
RVPAfter transfer deadline day, it looked as though Louis Van Gaal had managed to assemble a dream team of strikers up front. Wayne Rooney, Radamel Falcao and Robin Van Persie are three players whom you would count on scoring at least 20 goals a season for the club. But since Falcao’s arrival, it hasn’t at all been as good as many thought it would be.
Although Rooney’s suspension has been a factor, their biggest problem has been their inability to take their chances. The Dutchman has looked off colour ever since the start of the season and the Colombian striker has only started to bed into a new side, with a new philosophy than what he is used to. If the home side are to have any chance in the game, their strikers need to take any chances that comes their way. Whether it is a simple tap-in or a spectacular long distance shot, either Falcao or RVP has to come to the party, for they cannot afford to have two misfiring strikers who can’t find the back of a net against a dogged and disciplined defence like Chelsea’s.