With a shaky defense , lackadaisical attitude n a coach still yet unsure about d best formation, we go into this fixture with d current rave of EPL, unbeating in all its guts n they seem to be riding both good plays and a lil bit of luck.


Venue: Old Trafford
Date: Sunday, 26 October


TEAM NEWS

Manchester United midfielder Angel Di Maria is expected to overcome a thigh injury in time to face Chelsea.

Wayne Rooney is suspended and Radamel Falcao is nursing an injury but fit-again Michael Carrick could play for the first time this season.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho says striker Diego Costa has 'a little chance' of playing after a virus and a hamstring problem, but Loic Remy is out.

Cesar Azpilicueta is suspended, but Ramires could return from injury.

MATCH PREVIEW

There have been many column inches comparing and contrasting Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho, two of the most intriguing and fascinating coaches, and egos, in the game.

For three years they worked together at Barcelona - or rather Mourinho worked for Van Gaal. It was the Dutchman who schemed his way to four trophies and the Portuguese who did the opposition analysis, the odd session on the training pitch and made the tea. Actually, I'm kidding about the tea.

Van Gaal has described Mourinho's role at Barca at that time as "the substitute coach", which can either be quite derogatory or quite a compliment depending on which tone of voice you use and which coach you're substituting.

Mourinho, in turn, has been quoted as saying "we are both great coaches". Whilst this is palpably true, it does nothing to undermine Jose's reputation for being comprehensively acquainted with his own abilities.
Lawro's prediction

"United's defence is still a big worry, and the way they conceded their second goal against West Brom on Monday was frightening.

"They were all over the shop and I am just not convinced by Rafael at right-back, who seems to be at fault for a lot of their goals."



Surprisingly, given their A-list CVs, they have only been in opposing dug-outs once before in a competitive fixture - the 2010 Champions League final won by Mourinho's Inter against Van Gaal's Bayern. Neither man will have forgotten.

Last season, Chelsea shut up shop at Old Trafford and took a 0-0 draw. It's significant that the game was played in late August, United's second Premier League game of the season and before the cracks had started to appear. What must have seemed like a good point to Mourinho at the time was in fact two points fewer than both Manchester City and Liverpool took at United.

Mourinho used the same tactics away from home at all his big rivals last season, almost offering a draw to the home side. The only times the home side turned down the point and went for all three (Manchester City and Liverpool) they paid the price and Chelsea won.

Both sides have improved on last season, but with Wayne Rooney suspended, and especially if Diego Costa plays, I expect Mourinho to be consoling his old boss at full-time with a generous smile.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

Chelsea are unbeaten in their last three league matches against Manchester United, conceding just one goal.
The Blues are the only team to have beaten United more often in the Premier League (15) than they have lost (13).

Manchester United

Manchester United have won three consecutive league games at Old Trafford.
After eight games, they have one more point than they did at this stage last season under David Moyes.
They have kept only two clean sheets in nine competitive games under Louis van Gaal - these came against newly-promoted sides Burnley and QPR.
United have not won any of the 11 Premier League games that they have been losing at half-time in 2014 (D3, L8).
Angel Di Maria has assisted a goal in four of his last five league appearances for United. He has now provided 18 assists in league matches in 2014 - four more than any other player from Europe's top leagues.

Chelsea

Chelsea remain the only undefeated team in the Premier League this season and have dropped just two points.
Jose Mourinho's team are unbeaten in 11 Premier League matches, winning nine and drawing two.
They have gone seven games without defeat away from home in the league (W6, D1).
Chelsea have scored in every league match this season - scoring twice or more in seven of their eight fixtures.
Cesc Fabregas has been involved in eight goals (one goal, seven assists) in eight league games for Chelsea.


bbc.com/sport/0/football/29679403


come who might, for moments like this, we were fashioned!

viva United!

Chelsea will send Man U down to top 20 on position....

Question for d gods... ...yu dnt nid an Ifa priest to divine wah will apun dah day @ Old trafford! Hazard n d Boiz will sure ra'pe 'em ManUre playas!

First in first leme shoot down maribor nabania

major466:
Chelsea will send Man U down to top 20 on position....

expect a spring of surprises.

HARDDON:


expect a spring of surprises.

Console yourself o,forget surprises cuz the better team will surely not withstanding the ground,chelsea gonna cast that devil away from old trafford.

[size=20pt]Man utd vs chelsea[/size]
https://www.nairaland.com/1955930/man-united-halt-unbeaten-runs

I see united winning dis

segradino:
I see united winning dis

ofcos we can if the boiz would step up to the mic and LVG stop f1ingering formation and sticks with one. to me, the Formation against Everton was just perfect.

killercute16:
Console yourself o,forget surprises cuz the better team will surely not withstanding the ground,chelsea gonna cast that devil away from old trafford.

get ready for a proper beat down!

Chelsea are already 10 points ahead of United after seven games, displaying a remorseless consistency that Van Gaal has failed to match as he tries to revive the deposed champions to their former dominant staus.

Despite acknowledging that Mourinho and his Blues are ahead of United, not just in the table but in terms of their consistency and level of performance, Van Gaal insists his side can still triumph tomorrow. “You have to analyse that I have started just three months ago and he has been at Chelsea longer,” said Van Gaal.

“I have said that before. So it is logical that he’s further with his team than I am with Manchester United.

“But, nevertheless, we can win on Sunday.

If United are to do that, they will need star striker Robin van Persie to emerge from the curious slump that has restricted him to just two goals in seven appearances this season.

Having set the bar so high with 30 goals in his debut season following his £24million move from Arsenal in 2012, Van Persie has struggled to live up to that exalted standard.

Although Van Gaal launched an impassioned defence of his Dutch compatriot, insisting he was fitter than ever and playing well, the proof has not been there in his displays.

But with opposition the calibre of Chelsea, alllied to the suspension of skipper and fellow striker Wayne Rooney, Van Persie has the chance to endorse his manager’s high praise of him.

“I think he is more fit than ever,” said Van Gaal of the striker. “But he doesn’t score so much.




Ermmm, we show em the way

Chelsea
destroying manshirtster disunited since 1905