Chelsea score predictions: Mixed expectations away at Old Trafford

Chelsea goes away to Manchester United in an early season six pointer. What do our contributors expect the score to be against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side?

Chelsea and Manchester United have both been on rollercoasters form wise this season, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer seems to almost always have Frank Lampard’s number regardless. Off a draw to Sevilla, Chelsea travels away to a team that just beat last season’s finalists Paris Saint-Germain. What do our contributors expect out of this one?

Scott Brant: 2-2 Draw

I find these two teams to be similar on the outside but very different when inspected. They each have quality attacks with suspect defenses. I expect Marcus Rashford and Timo Werner to score. And a few surprised goals as well. Hoping for an OlivierGiroud sighting, he may be needed late in the match to secure some points.

Olaoluwa Nwobodo: 2-1 United

The two teams have similar issues, a functioning attack and a questionable defense. Frank Lampard would to all too aware of the defensive frailties of his team, he’d take extra measures to make sure they not easy to break down. Chelsea’s attack has been working well, except against Sevilla. Manchester United would be on a high from the PSG game, and they should be. Chelsea would also come into the Saturday game with the confidence of a Champions League clean sheet. It’s difficult to see Chelsea edging a victory in this one. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has way more experience than Lampard, and his players have more experience in these situations than Lampard’s players.

Varun Dani: 1-1 Draw

United and Chelsea have become so similar in the past two years that their issues are nearly identical. Both teams put in improved defensive performances midweek after shaky starts to the season and will strive to do so again. Tired legs and cagey tactics will ensure that Ole and Lampard share the spoils of war this time around.

Michael Malley: 2-2 Draw

This game is sure to be one defensive blunder after another, so the score could theoretically be much higher than this. Both Chelsea and United have been abysmal defensively to start the 2020/21 campaign, with costly errors forcing draws rather than wins. I expect that to continue on Saturday, especially considering how potent both sides are going forward.

Tan Yi Hao: 3-2 Chelsea

The struggling defenses of both sides should ensure that a high-scoring affair would be in order at Old Trafford on Saturday. With Edouard Mendy and Thiago Silva both fit to start however, I do see Chelsea eventually coming out tops in what should be a rather close fixture.

Oliver Smith: 3-3 Draw

This fixture has always produced goals and with the sparkling Marcus Rashford and superbly efficient German goal machine Timo Werner now unlocked, the nets will be bulging! A hat trick for both you say? No, both of these guys are too unselfish…unless…

Matthew Hancock-Bruce: 2-2 Draw

This match has all the ingredients to be a thriller for the neutral; two teams with subpar defenses and an abundance of attacking talent. There is little to separate the two sides on paper and I expect little to separate them in the score line.

Hugo Amaya: 4-1 Chelsea

Since predicting is virtually impossible this season, I have decided to roll the dice (literally). For this game, it will be United who get first blood, but Chelsea will dominate the entire game; from possession, to chances, and goals. An outstanding performance the entire team, and a tactical masterclass from Lampard.

Jake Brigstock: 2-1 United

Man U will be buoyed by their PSG win last week. Their lightning attack will provide a bit of a test for us, as solid as we looked at home to Sevilla on Tuesday. I can see Man U scoring early on, maybe Rashford. I think we’ll equalize just before half-time, Werner to continue his form, and we’ll apply pressure early in the second half. But can see Man U scoring midway through the second and holding on. Rashford again.

Kevin Peacock: 1-0 Chelsea

Manchester United 0-1 Chelsea. I really want to predict a draw for this game but don’t want to. With Chelsea having drawn four out of the last five games this one would look, on paper, the most likely to be a stalemate. However, if there is to be a result, I won’t be giving it to United. So, going out on a limb, I’ll go with a narrow victory for Frank Lampard’s Blues. A clean sheet and a Timo Werner goal seal the win.

Abhishek Pancholi: 3-2 Chelsea

Frank Lampard will beat Ole Gunnar Solksjaer in the Premier League someday. This could be the day it happens. Timo Werner and Christian Pulisic will score for the good guys, while the shameless copycat of Jorginho’s penalty run-up, Bruno Fernandes, will tuck away yet another spot kick.

Michael DeVito: 2-0 Chelsea

If Mendy (or Petr Cech) and Silva play. Also, it’s time for a breakout (of sorts, if two goals can be called a breakout) by the forwards against a good opponent in the Premier League. Is it not? Three or four would be nicer.

Barrett Rouen: 2-1 Chelsea

Chelsea will be on the way to a simple and boring win but United will win a penalty and Bruno Fernandes will score it.

Gabe Henderson: 2-1 Chelsea

The Blues have to win at some point, right? After an impressive defensive performance against Sevilla, Frank Lampard’s boys will continue a solid start to the tough stretch. Turbo Timo to find the back of the net, as well as one of the defenders to polish off the win.

Travis Tyler: 1-0 Chelsea

I’ve been hurt too many times that I know when two teams that score and concede in bunches, it’ll be an awful to watch affair. But then, what is this in the dying minutes? It’s going to VAR…penalty to Chelsea under dubious circumstances that involve Bruno Fernandes, somehow. Jorginho is subbed off by now so Timo Werner actually gets to take a penalty and makes no mistake.

Nate Hofmann: 2-2 Draw

The hope here is that United show up hungover from their win in Paris, and Chelsea finally light the powder keg they kept dry against Sevilla. While that Champions League performance showed that the Blues are at least theoretically capable of defending, it’s going to take a string of staunch displays before I’ll even remotely consider predicting a clean sheet. Until then, goals for both sides and a grandstand finish where Mendy makes the point-saving save.

What score do you expect out of an away trip to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United? Let us know in the comments and on Twitter!