Chelsea vs Manchester United – English Premier League – Preview

Posted on February 7, 2016 by Sreya

Chelsea host Manchester United at the Stamford Bridge on Sunday evening for an English Premier League fixture, marking a clash between two giants of English football who have fallen from grace this season.

While the defending champions are on the thirteenth position in league standings with only seven wins and twenty nine points, Manchester United are on fifth position but only eleven points ahead on forty points. Although Chelsea continued their ten-game unbeaten streak under Hiddink when they drew 0-0 against Watford, the Blues need points should they wish to finish in the top half of the table.

Louis van Gaal’s side, meanwhile, have improved from their slump late last year and managed to string together results with a 3-0 win over Stoke City in midweek.

Team News

Falcao and Loic Remy are sidelined with injuries while Alexandre Pato is yet to regain match fitness according to Hiddink. Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo, Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young and Bastian Schweinsteiger continue to remain absent for the visitors. Phil Jones is doubtful for tomorrow’s game as well.

Chelsea Possible Starting Lineup: Thibaut Courtois, Branislav Ivanovic, Kurt Zouma, John Terry, Cesar Azpilicueta, John Obi Mikel, Nemanja Matic, Willian, Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard, Diego Costa.

Manchester United Possible Starting Lineup: David de Gea, Matteo Darmian, Chris Smalling, Daley Blind, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Michael Carrick, Morgan Schneiderlin, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata, Anthony Martial, Wayne Rooney.

Thoughts From Both Camps

“This is a big match. Big clubs through the years, both Manchester United and us like to compete for the title. They have underperformed and we are getting back on track a little bit. Of course I would like some more victories instead of the unbeaten draws, but the team is step by step more stable and now we hope to go to in a beautiful spring time.”

– Guus Hiddink, Chelsea.

“We don’t have to exaggerate but I have the feeling that if we beat Chelsea – although that shall be very difficult, because they have not lost under Guus Hiddink – then our league is starting again.

Michael Carrick said to me, and I have the same feeling, that this competition is not yet finished – not for Manchester United or for the other teams.”

– Louis van Gaal, Manchester United.

Contributor’s Pick

According to Head-2-Head statistics, the previous six encounters between these two clubs have resulted in three wins for Chelsea and three draws, with last season’s equivalent fixture ensuring Chelsea took a step closer to the title.

It should be a closely contested affair, but a 1-1 draw is the most probable result for this game.