Manchester United is hosting Chelsea in their match for the 5th round of the Premier League, at Old Trafford.
Facts
- Chelsea are unbeaten in their last three matches against Manchester United, winning two and drawing one.
- Manchester United are unbeaten at home against Chelsea since May 2013 (0-1 loss). In 12 games after that, the Red Devils have won five and drawn seven matches.
Betting Tip: Manchester United – Chelsea
The atmosphere around Manchester United is heavy, while their several weaknesses are in full view, week in and week out. Faith in Ruben Amorim is dissipating by the day. Chelsea are in a better place and are the more talented team, but it’s been 12 years since they last won at Old Trafford. It will be a tough one, and they will be under pressure.
- Recommendation: BTTS
- Odds: 1.81
Manchester United
Manchester United’s trip to cross-city rivals Manchester City ended in abject failure, as they lost 3-0. The Red Devils were under pressure from the beginning of the game, committing their now-usual attacking errors, and conceding just 17 minutes into the first half.
Their response was nonexistent, and all hope was snuffed out after some horrific defending allowed City to score twice more in the second half (53’ and 67’). They tried for a consolation and created chances with Mbeumo, Diallo, and Casemiro, but all were squandered.
The team is back in full-blown crisis mode, as the Red Devils are in 14th place, winning just one of their last five games in all competitions. Their defensive line remains their biggest weakness, as it affords their opponents way too many good chances to score, while their attack has been better but still very wasteful.
Manager Ruben Amorim appears unwilling to change his approach, indicating that the team might as well fire him instead of expecting him to abandon his football philosophy and ideas. The Portuguese manager has squandered the faith and backing of most Manchester United fans.
Chelsea
The trip to Brentford might as well have been a defeat, as the 2-2 draw left the Blues very disappointed. They were subpar in the first half and conceded in the 35th minute, but Enzo Maresca’s substitutions were crucial in turning things around after the halfway point.
Chelsea equalised with Cole Palmer in the 61st minute and took control of the game before taking the lead with a brilliant long-range effort by Moises Caicedo in the 85th minute of the game. The comeback did not last, as Brentford added an equaliser in stoppage time, following a long throw-in and a defensive breakdown.
As a result, Chelsea are down to 5th place, despite not having faced defeat yet. The team has not been able to produce consistently good football this season, and they have been increasingly reliant on moments of individual brilliance and set pieces, while their defence has been ‘leaking’ more than usual.
That being said, manager Enzo Maresca has a very talented squad at his disposal, and many players can single-handedly take over games at any given moment. The Italian is called to effectively manage his squad with the increased burden of Champions League football now underway.
