In what is easily one of the clashes of the season in the Premier League, Jose Mourinho will be back at the Stamford Bridge, but as a manager of the opposition team when Manchester United take on Chelsea at their home turf. United are fresh from a stalemate at Anfield while Chelsea thrashed Leicester City at the weekend to extend their winning run to two games. Lack of midweek games might help Chelsea a bit in this game but it is a clash that is close to impossible to call.
Here is the preview of this game, along with the team news, predictions, expected lineups, stats and betting odds.
Date & Time:
Sunday, 23rd of October; KO: 8:30 pm BST
Venue:
Stamford Bridge, London
Team News:
The manager missed the services of Oscar, Willian, John Obi Mikel and Cesc Fabregas for the game last weekend but is expected to welcome everyone back for this game. Skipper John Terry is also declared fit to play while Kurt Zouma is still a while away from full fitness.
Jose Mourinho revealed recently that Henrikh Mkhitaryan is finally fit to take the field for this game against Chelsea. Phil Jones and Morgan Schneiderlin remain the only injury woes for United as Chris Smalling is expected to shrug off his niggle after the Europa League game. Expected Lineups:
Chelsea:
Courtois; Cahill, Terry, Luiz; Azpilicueta, Matic, Kante, Alonso; Pedro, Costa, Hazard
Manchester United:
De Gea; Valencia, Bailly, Smalling, Blind; Fellaini, Pogba; Martial, Mata, Rashford; Ibrahimovic
Key Battle:
Diego Costa vs Eric Bailly:
The summer buy for Manchester United has been decent so far this season at the back but he will face his toughest test yet this season when he will be up against an in-form Diego Costa from Chelsea. The Spaniard has been in sublime form this season, leading the charts for goals scored and Bailly must make sure that he keep him away from danger if his team is to get anything from this game.
Key Stats:
- Manchester United have lost more Premier League fixtures against Chelsea than any other side (16).
- Of those 16 Chelsea wins against Manchester United, five were recorded by Jose Mourinho, more than any other boss for the Blues.
- Jose Mourinho lost just one league game at Stamford Bridge between 2004/05 and 2014/15 (W76 D21). He then lost four of his final eight games there in 2015/16 (W3 D1).
- The only time in his career Mourinho has managed an opposition side at Stamford Bridge was with Inter Milan in March 2010, knocking out Chelsea in the Champions League.
- David Luiz has twice scored against Manchester United in the Premier League but his only own goal is against the Red Devils.
- Wayne Rooney has gone six Premier League games without scoring against Chelsea, this after converting two penalties against them in February 2012.
- Manchester United have won just one of their last eight Premier League trips to London (W1 D3 L4).
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored against Chelsea in both of his appearances against them last season in the Champions League.
- After scoring with four of his first 15 shots in the Premier League, Ibrahimovic has failed to find the net with any of his last 26 in the competition.
Betting Odds:
Chelsea: 23/20
Draw: 9/4
Manchester United: 5/2
Predictions:
Playing at home, Antonio Conte’s side will go into this tie as favourites to take all three points but Jose Mourinho knows that his side has every chance of winning this game and will want his side to put in an impressive performance on the night. But Conte will set up his side to attack and will look to take all three points.
Chelsea 2-1 Manchester United