Match Preview: Chelsea vs. Manchester United

Coming in to this match, Chelsea will already know the results of their title rivals’ matches but regardless of those results they will look for all three points. In their first meeting of the season, Jose Mourinho played Andre Schurrle at the striker position and seemed to settle for a dull draw. This time however it looks Jose will go for his 100th Premiership victory against a Manchester United side that is missing many of its best players. Wayne Rooney, Robin Van Persie, Patrice Evra, Nani, and Ashley Young have all been ruled out and the status of Rio Ferdinand and Phil Jones will be determined in pre-match fitness tests. United has still won six of its last seven Premiership matches but they have faltered against the “big” clubs in the league.

Chelsea will be without the services of Branislav Ivanovic but Frank Lampard has recovered and will likely start on Sunday. There have been whispers of Nemanja Matic making his second full debut in a starting role which is unlikely but hopefully he can come in to help close out the game for the Blues.

Despite their overall dip in form this year, this is still an organized side with players like youngster Adnan Januzaj who have shown flashes of brilliance and England striker Danny Welbeck who has scored six goals in six matches this year. Shinji Kagawa and Antonio Valencia also present their own challenges but Chelsea should have no trouble bossing the midfield. This match will come down to whether or not Chelsea can be clinical in front of goal as they will surely have plenty of chances. Goalkeeper David De Gea has saved Manchester United’s skin countless times against Chelsea so let’s hope he is not given the chance to make any match-winning saves. All in all, Chelsea should win this match even though it won’t be easy.

Prediction: 2-0 Chelsea

Possible Lineups:

Chelsea: Cech; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Terry, Cole; Ramires, Luiz; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Torres

Manchester United: De Gea; Rafael, Smalling, Vidic, Buttner; Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Januzaj; Kagawa; Welbeck.

Stats of the day:

• Chelsea are the only team, in the Premier League era, to have won more matches against Man Utd than we have lost (14-13, with 16 draws). Both sides have scored 56 against each other in those 43 matches.
• Danny Welbeck has scored 6 goals in 6 games for United in the Premier League

Stats courtesy of: TheChels.co.uk