STAR PREVIEW: Man Utd v Chelsea

[dropcap]I[/dropcap]t would have been impossible to believe at the start of the season that the Leicester v Man City clash tomorrow would have more of an impact in the title race than Man U v Chelsea tonight but that’s very much the case as the two disaster cases of the season go head to head at Old Trafford.

Man U are currently in sixth (how Chelsea would dream to be there!) but are on a wretched run of form having lost four successive games. Against Wolfsburg in the Champions League and then successive Premier League defeats at the hands of Bournemouth, Norwich and Stoke – all games which would normally have looked straightforward on paper. Their big problem this season has been lack of goals – just 1.22 per game.

Defeat tonight would surely be the end of Louis Van Gaal who is becoming increasingly aloof and bizarre in his press conferences. Shades of Mourinho you might say.

Van Gaal is expected to recall captain Wayne Rooney after he was only named as a substitute against Stoke. The hosts will also be boosted by the return of Bastian Schweinsteiger after suspension and defender Matteo Darmian after a hamstring injury.

It’s far too soon to draw any firm conclusions about The Special One’s departure from Stamford Bridge – a 2-2 draw against Watford on Boxing Day wasn’t exactly normal service Chelsea and the euphoria of them beating Sunderland was somewhat over-cooked.

Diego Costa misses the game as he is suspended for accumulating five bookings this season. Eden Hazard could return to the starting line-up after starting from the bench on Saturday.

Five players have been sent off in the last six league meetings between this pair and there must be every chance that Martin Atkinson will be kept busy again tonight.

Man Utd v Chelsea
Premier League
17:30 BT Sport 1 / BT Sport 1 HD / BT Sport Ultra HD

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Maximum 10 matches)
Apr 2015 PREMIER Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd
Oct 2014 PREMIER Man Utd 1-1 Chelsea
Jan 2014 PREMIER Chelsea 3-1 Man Utd
Aug 2013 PREMIER Man Utd 0-0 Chelsea
May 2013 PREMIER Man Utd 0-1 Chelsea
Apr 2013 FA CUP Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd
Mar 2013 FA CUP Man Utd 2-2 Chelsea
Oct 2012 CAPITAL ONE CUP Chelsea 5-4 Man Utd
Oct 2012 PREMIER Chelsea 2-3 Man Utd
Feb 2012 PREMIER Chelsea 3-3 Man Utd

It’s a tough call – but the team news favours Man U and the hosts are playing better football than Chelsea this season even though they are both well adrift of their usual levels. I will avail myself of the 6/4 about Man U with Star Sports.

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