Our match pack for Sunday's Premier League clash between Manchester United and Chelsea includes team news, statistics, manager quotes, odds & our prediction.
The game kicks off at 1600 BST at Old Trafford, live on Sky Sports 1.
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Manchester United v Chelsea: Our prediction
David John writes... The marquee fixture of the weekend is as much about strength of mind as it is tactical formations with Jose Mourinho gradually getting closer to boiling point in recent weeks while his expensively assembled squad deliver a string of mediocre results.
I emphasise the word ‘results’ – the performances have been worthy of much better but a 14th draw of the campaign at Anderlecht in midweek is now bordering on the ridiculous and Mourinho was well within his rights to call out a frontline that once again squandered enough scoring opportunities to win three games.
His mental state might not be able to take much more if his old club consign him to a third defeat from three meetings this season so the wily Portuguese better get his thinking cap on.
The Europa League remains top priority for United considering they look to be in pole position against the Belgians next Thursday but as a place in the Premier League’s top four is still mathematically possible, Mourinho will go into this fixture with a strong line-up.
Having been humiliated 4-0 at Stamford Bridge on October 23, the Red Devils were making a much better fist of things in the FA Cup last month but Ander Herrera’s controversial red card for one too many clattering challenges on Eden Hazard in the first half led to their inevitable exit from the competition.
It still required a steely effort from Chelsea to break down the 10 men and only a well-placed shot from the edge of the area by N’Golo Kante eventually broke the deadlock, suggesting overall that Mourinho would have got his gameplan just about right.
Whether he will resort to roughhouse tactics again on Hazard remains to be seen but back at Old Trafford his side will need to show more in the way of adventure – although ironically, a draw here would actually be considered an achievement against the pacesetters.
Mourinho and opposite number Antonio Conte had to be separated at Stamford Bridge following Herrera’s dismissal and the Italian’s own mental fortitude has been put to the test of late following the shock home loss to Crystal Palace earlier in the month that apparently threw the title race wide open again.
Chelsea responded well with victories over Manchester City and Bournemouth but Tottenham simply won’t go away and could well have turned the screw a little tighter if they beat the Cherries on Saturday and cut the deficit to four points.
However that game plays out, this is the last of the recognised big guns that Chelsea have to play on the run-in while they will get a chance to exert some pressure of their own as their next two games kick-off ahead of their main rivals.
The irascible Diego Costa might have lost his way a little with no goals in four games but Hazard has taken the weight of the team on his shoulders while Kante, Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses (back in the team against Bournemouth) remain key figures for a visiting side that has enjoyed a pretty charmed run in terms of injuries.
Mourinho has had no such luck with gaps to plug in the back four but the squad at his disposal is as good as any around at the moment, albeit without doubt needing that shot of confidence gained from winning on a regular basis.
It will be interesting to see whether he sticks with Marcus Rashford on the left, excellent against Anderlecht and revitalised since his goal at Sunderland last week, or opts for Anthony Martial, while Paul Pogba finally seems on the brink of a real breakout display at his new club.
He will need to impose his will on Kante – easier said than done – while those further up the field must simply put the ball in the back of the net when a chance arrives – there is no chance here otherwise.
I am going to put my faith in the latter assumption that the hosts will play their part and find the target with a bet on both teams to score and to boost the price up, I would not be shocked if Mourinho ultimately has the last laugh as well.
Prediction: Manchester United 2-1 Chelsea
Manchester United v Chelsea: Team news
David De Gea is set to return to the Manchester United's starting line-up against Premier League leaders Chelsea.
The goalkeeper, linked heavily with a move to Real Madrid, missed last weekend's trip to Sunderland with a minor injury and was an unused substitute in the midweek trip to Anderlecht.
Wayne Rooney (ankle) and Ashley Young (groin) trained before that match so will be hoping to prove themselves fit for Sunday, but Phil Jones (foot), Chris Smalling (knee) and Juan Mata (groin) are out.
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte should have a fully-fit squad to choose from.
Wing-back Victor Moses returned from a toe injury against Bournemouth last Saturday and came through unscathed.
Conte could therefore name an unchanged side from the 3-1 win at Dean Court.
Teams
Manchester United (from): De Gea, Romero, Pereira, Valencia, Blind, Darmian, Shaw, Rojo, Tuanzebe, Fosu-Mensah, Bailly, Mkhitaryan, Carrick, Herrera, Young, Lingard, Pogba, Fellaini, Rooney, Martial, Rashford, Ibrahimovic.
Chelsea (from): Courtois, Begovic, Fabregas, Zouma, Alonso, Kante, Hazard, Loftus-Cheek, Moses, Pedro, Costa, Matic, Willian, Batshuayi, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Chalobah, Luiz, Eduardo, Aina, Ake.
Manchester United v Chelsea: Opta facts
Manchester United are without a win in eight Premier League games against Chelsea (D4 L4); their longest ever winless streak against a single opponent in the competition.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are looking to achieve a league double over Manchester United for the first time since the 2009/10 season under Carlo Ancelotti.
A win for the away side would see Antonio Conte become the fourth Chelsea boss to record a Premier League double over the Red Devils, after Glenn Hoddle in 1993/94, Jose Mourinho in 2004/05 and the aforementioned Carlo Ancelotti in 2009/10.
Jose Mourinho has lost both games against his former club since taking over at Manchester United, conceding five goals and failing to score in both. This will be his first game against them as the home side, however. o The Red Devils have scored just three goals in their last 10 games against Chelsea in all competitions (an average of 0.3 per game).
N’Golo Kante has netted each of Chelsea’s last two goals against the Reds in all competitions – they are his only goals in 34 appearances for Conte’s side. o Manchester United’s Premier League unbeaten run now stands at 21 matches (W11 D10 L0) – the joint 10th longest unbeaten run in the history of the competition.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been involved in 18 goals in his last 17 Premier League appearances (13 goals, 5 assists) for Manchester United.
Chelsea have won as many points this season as it took to win the league exactly 20 years ago (Manchester United with 75 points in 1996/97).
Of the six sides to have won 75+ points after 31 Premier League games, only one (Manchester United in 2011/12) have failed to go on and win the title. Chelsea had 78 points in 2005/06 and 80 points in 2004/05 at this stage under Jose Mourinho, successfully claiming the title in both seasons.
Manchester United have won just six of their 16 league games at home this season (37.5% win percentage), their worst home win rate in a campaign since 1973/74 (33.3%).
Manchester United v Chelsea: Manager quotes
Jose Mourinho (Manchester United)
On whether facing former club Chelsea brings any extra emotion: "You say that word 'emotion'," the United boss said when asked how his emotions differ after two high-octane meetings in the capital. For me, it is just a game. One more game. No difference for me."
Asked if there was nothing special about the game: "No, not at all."
On how the sides compate: "First of all, some guys are fresh, some guys are tired. That's very important in football. But for some reason they are top of the league, it's not just because they are fresh. It's also because they have individual quality and they have collective quality. They have a certain style of play. They stick to it, they do it very well.
"Not every team defends with 11 players and they defend with 11 players. Not every team is so objective in their counter-attacks. They are very objective in the counter-attack and they have individual players out of the context of the game that can also resolve the problems, so they are a very strong team."
On Eric Bailly and Marcos Rojo needing to play lots of games over the coming weeks. "There is nothing I can do, they have to go until the limits. We don't have other central defenders, they have to go. There is no other chance.
"If we arrive into a situation in the Premier League - I hope not - where mathematically the top four is not possible, then the easy decision is to rest them and go with them in the Europa League if we're still in the competition.
"But at this moment we are in a position where we have two matches in hand. If we win both matches, we are in the top four. We have to fight for every game."
Antonio Conte (Chelsea)
On Jose Mourinho: "I have zero problem.
"It's a sporting competition between me and him.
"There is a game of football and I want to win with my team, he wants to win with his team. It's normal to be in conflict during the game but only a sporting conflict.
"It's very simple, the conflict is the game. It's not a friendly game, both teams want the three points and for this reason you fight to win.
"Do I like the conflict? No, I don't like it. I prefer to concentrate on my team. But sometimes it's normal for me and the other coach to have this situation. But do I like it? No."
On his pick for PFA Player of the Year out of Eden Hazard and N'Golo Kante: "I think it's great, for them, it's a great achievement to receive this nomination. I hope for them to be the best player of the year and also I want them to win the league. Awards are important but the most important thing is if you match the two.
"But I don't like to make a choice between two of my players. It's not right. They deserve the best because they are having a good season, but I think all my players are having a great season. I'm pleased because it's a fight between two of my players and four other players from other teams. I want to see who is the winner."
Manchester United v Chelsea: Sky Bet odds
Manchester United were Sky Bet's favourites to win this match before the weekend but they've now drifted to being marginal outsiders at 9/5, with Chelsea moved in to 7/4. The draw is 21/10. However, there’s no such doubt in the bookies’ minds as to who will win the Premier League with Antonio Conte’s men well odds-on, while United are up against the odds to secure a top-four finish. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the slight favourite in the first goalscorer betting at 4/1, closely followed by 9/2 shot Diego Costa, while Eden Hazard is sure to be popular at 6/1 to net first.
Click for Sky Bet's Manchester United v Chelsea odds!
Manchester United v Chelsea is this weekend's Fantasy Six-a-Side fixture, with the usual £5,000 up for grabs for the highest scoring entrant plus a £100,000 jackpot for predicting the top six scoring players plus the correct minute of the first goal. Pick your team for free here!
