Manchester United vs. Chelsea: Preview, Predictions and Live Stats
Chelsea heads to Old Trafford in Round 10 of the Premier League to face Manchester United. Things are going well for the Blues. They lost 2-1 against Liverpool, yet Enzo Maresca admitted that, at the moment, Chelsea cannot compete for the title against clubs like Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City. Last round, they got a 2-1 victory over Newcastle at Stamford Bridge and will seek to profit from the chaos surrounding Manchester United.
Meanwhile, The Red Devils are in crisis mode. They fired Erik ten Hag and are now without a head coach, with Ruud van Nistelrooy in charge on an interim basis. Right now, Manchester United lack clarity, and sacking ten Hag was not a poor move, as he did not bring any.
Manchester United vs. Chelsea Live Stats
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Current Form and Standings
Before Round 10, Chelsea is sitting near the top of the table, in the 5th position with 17 points. The Blues are in suitable form. The only defeat they suffered came from Liverpool, two rounds ago, marking their second loss of the season. They are just one point away from the top three positions.
Meanwhile, Manchester United is in a not-so-pleasant form. They have suffered four losses this season so far, and are currently sitting near the bottom of the table, with just 11 points.
Manchester United Struggles in Front of Goal
So far, Manchester United has scored only 8 goals. This makes them the third worst team in the Premier League at scoring, better than just Crystal Palace and Southampton. Even the recently promoted Leicester City has scored one more goal than United this season. This lack of scoring does not come because of failing to create chances, as they were active and trying to make things happen. United has tried their luck 130 times so far, generating 0,12 xG per shot, showing decent shots were taken, but few found their target.
Right before Round 10, Manchester United became the most wasteful team, surpassing Southampton, after generating a xG of 3,0 and scoring only once against West Ham. Alejandro Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes and Joshua Zirkzee are the main creators for United, responsible for over half of the scoring opportunities, but scoring only three goals.
Fortunately for United, Chelsea does not have the most solid defense and is not the best team at preventing their opponents from creating chances. So far, The Blues allowed 45 shots on target. So Manchester United will definitely have opportunities to score. But will they be composed in front of the goal this time?
Chelsea’s Transitions Might Cause Problems
Chelsea is known for their lightning quick and deadly transitions. With Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, Nicolas Jackson and Pedro Neto running like a pack of wolves whenever they catch their opponents off-guard. The Blues have scored four goals from counter attacks and Manchester United is struggling to defend transitions. How much this will change in their first game without Erik ten Hag? We do not know, but I doubt much will change so quickly. So with Manchester United vulnerable in transition, and with Chelsea’s counter-attacking power, we might expect many chances to come from transitions.
This might be good for Chelsea, as The Blues might struggle with their build-up play. Manchester United typically adopts a 4-2-4 out of possession shape, focused on heavy pressing. And it works for them. Right now, they are the Premier League leaders in tackles, especially in the attacking third and midfield third. Chelsea will need to proceed with care, as leaving Manchester United to run at you might not prove a bright idea. Even if they currently struggle, you do not want to take the chance!
Manchester United vs. Chelsea Predictions
It is a very tough game to predict. Chelsea is in suitable form, but they are still not up there with the absolute best teams in the league. United are chaotic and are going through a crisis. But they can produce surprises and have talented players that could pose enormous problems for Chelsea’s defense, who often likes to foul in dangerous areas.
The OPTA Supercomputer simulations give both teams an equal chance to come out on top, with 37,5% each and a 25% chance to get a draw. Chelsea’s offence is thriving and does not look to stop soon, as they battle Manchester City for the most goals scored in the league. Meanwhile, United’s struggles in front of the goal will not be resolved easily, and definitely not one week after parting ways with ten Hag.
Prediction: Chelsea to win or draw + United Under 1,5 Goals + Chelsea Under 3,5 Goals
