EPL: Chelsea v Manchester United preview
Manchester United head into their clash with Chelsea on Sunday in disarray, having sacked manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following their 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Watford last time out in the Premier League.
After Liverpool’s thrashing of Southampton, Premier League leaders Chelsea will be aiming at extending their lead at the summit of the Premier League with nothing but a win against Manchester United on Sunday.
Michael Carrick began his journey as United’s caretaker boss when he led the Red Devils to a 2-0 win over Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday, with the win securing them a place in the last 16.
The hunt for Solskjaer’s temporary replacement looks to have been closed with the signing of Ralf Rangnick, but a permanent solution must still be found.
Chelsea on the other hand also saw off Juventus with a statement win that could help them top their group.
The red hot Blues have won nine of their last ten games in all competitions, as a result they climbed to the summit of the Premier League.
United however cannot boast of this same feat as they are in disarray following four defeats in five Premier League assignments.
Chelsea have the class and quality to expose United again on Sunday.
At the root of United’s problems is their dismal defensive work and only two Premier League clubs have shipped more goals this term than the leaky Reds.
With Harry Maguire due suspension, United also have selection issues at centre-half to contend with on Sunday and Chelsea are ruthless enough to take advantage.
The Blues have notched at least twice in four of their last six tussles at Stamford Bridge and they look to continue with that form.
Meanwhile, on the pitch several key players are badly out of form, talisman Bruno Fernandes has been dropped, and they are in desperate need of positive league results after suffering five defeats in their last seven games, including harrowing defeats by Liverpool and Manchester City.
Chelsea will be missing some important players when they welcome the Red Devils in a clash of the titans at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
The man to watch in the game will be Cristiano Ronaldo. In 10 top-flight outings against the Blues, Ronaldo has never scored against them and that barren run stretches to 14 games when you add in appearances against Chelsea in the FA Cup, League Cup and Community Shield.
If United are to have any hope or causing an upset, they are going to need their talismanic figure to break his duck in the league and end his unwanted streak that stretches all the way back to his first game against the Blues on November 30, 2003 – nearly 18 years to the day on Sunday.
