A fresh chapter begins for Manchester United, with Sporting Lisbon’s Rúben Amorim confirmed as the next permanent manager
following the departure of Erik ten Hag. However, Amorim will not take charge until after the November international break, meaning interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy has three more matches to impress.
Under the former United striker, the team responded well, dismantling Leicester City 5-2 in the EFL Cup.
Now, van Nistelrooy’s focus shifts to rejuvenating their Premier League campaign, where they sit precariously in the bottom half of the table.
The Red Devils’ current tally of 11 points is their second-worst start to a Premier League season.
Depending on other results, they could begin this match as low as 16th place, a shocking position for the league’s most successful club.
Despite their struggles, Old Trafford remains a fortress for United in this fixture, having gone unbeaten in their last 11 league meetings with Chelsea on home soil (W5, D6).
Another win here would mark three consecutive home league victories against Chelsea for the first time since 1957.
Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea have been gathering momentum in the Premier League, climbing close to the top four before a disappointing midweek EFL Cup exit at the hands of Newcastle United (0-2).
That result followed their league victory over the same opponents just days earlier (2-1), leaving fans wondering which version of Chelsea will show up at Old Trafford.
Maresca made several changes for the cup defeat, meaning his regular starters should be well-rested for this clash.
Chelsea have the opportunity to claim back-to-back wins over Manchester United for the first time since 2011, and they’ll be hoping for a less dramatic conclusion than the last time these sides met, when the Blues snatched a late win with two stoppage-time goals.
However, their inconsistent form on the road – alternating between wins and losses in their last four away league matches – makes this fixture difficult to predict.
Key Battle: Casemiro vs Cole Palmer
Manchester United’s Casemiro has been in fine form, scoring three times in his last two appearances after returning to the fold under van Nistelrooy.
He has also proven to be a thorn in Chelsea’s side, scoring twice in his last three meetings with the Blues.
He’ll face off against Chelsea’s rising star Cole Palmer, who is chasing a slice of history. Palmer could become only the third Chelsea player to score in three consecutive Premier League games against Manchester United, and his creativity will be pivotal for Chelsea’s chances.
Historical Context :
This fixture is one of the Premier League’s most iconic rivalries, and it holds the record as the most drawn match in the league’s history with 26 draws from 64 meetings.
Given the struggles of both sides this season, another stalemate could be on the cards, but both teams will be desperate for three points to boost their respective campaigns.
Possible Lineups:
Manchester United: 4-2-3-1 – Onana; Dalot, De Ligt, Martinez, Mazraoui; Ugarte, Casemiro; Rashford, Fernandez, Garnacho; Hojlund.
Chelsea: 4-2-3-1 – Sanchez; James, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Lavia; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson.
Score Prediction: Manchester United 1-3 Chelsea
Where to watch:
United Kingdom: Sky Sports
United States: NBC Sport
Canada: Fubo TV
India: Star Sports.
Australia: Optus Sport.
Nigeria: SuperSports.
Conclusion:
A tight contest is expected, with both teams having something to prove.
For Chelsea, it could represent a significant mental win, having the chance to overcome the daunting Old Trafford curse, where the Blues last won in 2013.
