Manchester United vs Chelsea

Old Trafford forms the backdrop for a mouth-watering Premier League showdown between Manchester United and Chelsea.

A 2-1 defeat at West Ham last weekend was the final straw as Manchester United sacked manager Erik ten Hag the following day amid the club’s worst-ever nine-game start in the Premier League (W3, D2, L4). Interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy enjoyed a dream debut, with the Red Devils thrashing Leicester City 5-2 in midweek EFL Cup action to set themselves up nicely for this fixture. They’ve gone unbeaten in their last 11 home league meetings with Chelsea (W5, D6) and could win three consecutive H2Hs at Old Trafford for the first time since 1957. That’s perhaps easier said than done, considering they’ve lost twice in their last three home league outings, with Liverpool and Tottenham posting identical 3-0 victories at the Theatre of Dreams down the final stretch of Ten Hag’s regime.

In the meantime, Chelsea’s bid to secure a top-four finish for the first time in the post-Roman Abramovich era is off and running after a 2-1 home triumph against Newcastle United fired them within striking distance of the Premier League leaders. However, the same opposition crashed the Blues out of the EFL Cup during midweek, inflicting Chelsea’s second defeat in their last four competitive matches (W2). Enzo Maresca’s men have blown hot and cold across their three most recent league outings (W1, D1, L1). But they can draw confidence from their decent-looking away record of winning three consecutive top-flight games on the road before a 2-1 loss at Liverpool last time out.