Man United vs Chelsea: Premier League Preview, Predictions & More
Old foes will go head-to-head on Sunday as Man United face Chelsea as the sun sets on Old Trafford on Sunday evening. A game that could redefine this season: a win will see The Reds’ close the gap to three points to their London rivals, while a loss will stretch the void to nine.
Two former titans of the Premier League, serving up some classic games in the past decade, neither team satisfying the standards met by their loyal supporters. Teams that have traded players in the past will trade blows on Sunday as Ruud Van Nistelrooy takes on Enzo Maresca in what promises to be an enthralling encounter.
A mid-week victory over struggling Leicester for the Red Devils, an away defeat at the hands of Newcastle for the Blues—who will come out on top in Sunday’s showdown?
Man United: Van Nistelrooy’s Growing Influence on the Team
Passion, prolific strikes, and poor defence encapsulate Wednesday’s triumph over the Foxes. Van Nistelrooy evidently loved being at the helm in the Old Trafford dugout, fist-pumping to the crowd, eliciting his devotion to the club. The Dutchman said:
“My team talk, I’m standing in front of the team telling them about what Man United is about and what it is to play at Old Trafford. Telling them what songs are being sung by the fans and why. You try to transmit that lovely feeling playing for this club.”
Van Nistelrooy will have three games to prove his worth and earn some kudos on his managerial CV following Friday’s announcement that Ruben Amorim will commence his duties on November 11th.
Sunday will prove a stern test for Ruud, with Chelsea enjoying a solid start to the season under Maresca, six points behind leaders Manchester City. Their 19 goals scored this year exemplify their threat from attack, coupled with United’s leaky defence thus far, which could see Andre Onana’s goalmouth kept busy.
The Manchester United defence is currently 14th for expected goals conceded (xGC). The Red Devils will need to fortify their defensive structure prior to Sunday’s game, having conceded 86 chances in nine games.
Diogo Dalot has come under fire recently for his poor performances and poor awareness. The Portuguese is likely to retain his place on Sunday due to the lack of options. Noni Madueke and the Chelsea attack will almost certainly target his poor positional sense as a pathway to the United goals.
Manuel Ugarte’s deeper role on Wednesday evening allowed Casemiro to venture further up the pitch, with the Brazilian unleashing a cracking strike, searing past Danny Ward, into the Leicester net. Ugarte has been tipped to benefit from Amorim’s appointment; having worked together previously at Sporting Lisbon, his aggression and ability on the ball could be pivotal to Amorim’s probable 3-4-3 line-up. Van Nistelrooy will be eager to unlock the Uruguayan’s potential over the next week.
Elsewhere in midfield, Bruno Fernandes will take confidence into the Chelsea game, having scored twice on Wednesday. The Portuguese national, also an element in the Sporting to United pipeline, has been struggling for form of late. Two goals and five assists in 14 games may seem like a decent return for the midfielder; however, the poor form narrative exemplifies the capabilities of the United captain.
Rasmus Højlund is likely to return to spearhead the United attack, having featured from the bench at the weekend. The struggling Joshua Zirkzee once again failed to ignite his United tenure midweek. The 6’4 striker is evidently lacking confidence in all aspects of his game, having not scored since the opening game vs. Fulham.
Chelsea: A Cole Palmer-Inspired Assault
The high-flying Cole Palmer is the central figure for the Chelsea team. His vision and calmness in front of goal are the reasons behind his 33 Premier League goal involvements in 2024. His partnership with Nicolas Jackson has flourished of late and is proving fruitful for the Londoners. When asked about Jackson, Maresca said:
“He’s not just helping in terms of scoring and assisting, but in terms of how we want to play and how he links with teammates.”
Jackson is a crucial cog in what is proving to be a well-oiled machine for The Blues, contributing six goals and three assists in his league campaign.
The Stamford Bridge outfit have no fresh injury concerns, with Jadon Sancho the only absentee, unable to play against his parent club. Chelsea have failed to beat United in their last 11 meetings at Old Trafford, a record that dates back to 2013. However, Maresca believes it is a good time to visit the North West:
“It is a good time to play them. We’re going to do our best to win the game”
Having not kept a clean sheet in the last six games, the Chelsea defence has been under heavy criticism of late, as has goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. Two lethargic defences on Sunday good led to an exciting encounter beneath the glare of the Old Trafford floodlights.
Prediction
Man United 2-2 Chelsea
There is a fine line between optimism and realism, and in isolation, a point against Chelsea is a good result. Viewing United’s season as a whole, however, The Stretford End will crave a victory over their arch-rivals. A share of the spoils is what I predict on Sunday.
This game is evenly poised; a win for Chelsea will announce them as serious contenders for a top-four finish this year. An early goal for United will reignite positivity into the walls of Old Trafford, igniting this clash, instilling confidence in the Reds, and coercing Chelsea into chasing the game, leaving vulnerabilities in the hole of Chelsea’s back line. An ideal situation for Van Nistelrooy in charge of his first Premier League game, Maresca will undoubtedly be planning to overhaul any positivity. A captivating challenge awaits for both sides on Sunday, but who will emerge victorious?
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