12 Jun 2019
Following their 2-0 home defeat by Manchester City on Wednesday, Manchester United are out to 6/1 to finish in the Premier League top four.
It was their seventh defeat in nine matches in all competitions and Ole Gunnar Sokskjaer’s side head into the final three games of the season in sixth place, three points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea, who hold a superior eight-goal difference.
Arsenal, in fifth place, are a point adrift of Chelsea and are two goals better off than the Blues, who are 4/5 to finish in the top four. Arsenal, who face a difficult trip to Leicester on Sunday, are 11/10 to claim a Champions League place.
United have seemingly the easier run-in of that trio, with games against Huddersfield (A) and Cardiff (H) to close out their campaign.
Arsenal face Brighton (H) and Burnley (A) and, like Chelsea, have a two-legged Europa League semi-final in between. The Blues face Watford (H) and Leicester (A), and potentially could still reach the Champions League next season if they win the Europa League, for which they are 11/8 favourites to lift the trophy.
United are still in the mix thanks to some favourable results in recent days, which saw Spurs barely take three points from two games, Arsenal losing at Wolves and Chelsea held by Burnley.
United are 17/10 to gain a second win in 10, while Chelsea are 17/10 to win at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils were well off the pace when Solskjaer took over and after a great start to his tenue – winning 14 of their first 17 matches – the monumental effort to get a Champions League spot has started to take its toll.
They have failed to score in their last three games and they last scored from open play over a month ago, when losing 2-1 at Wolves.
Only two Paul Pogba penalties, one of which should arguably have not been given, in a 2-1 win over West Ham, have been the only goals scored in their last five outings. Chelsea are 23/10 to keep a clean sheet on Sunday.
Chelsea, who have had two extra days to prepare for this clash, seek to avenge a 2-0 FA Cup fifth round defeat by Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. They have not suffered back-to-back defeats by United since September 2011, when they lost four on the bounce. Chelsea are 4/9 to either win or draw on the Double Chance market.
United have won six of the last 10 meetings at Old Trafford with four games being drawn. The draw is on offer at 12/5.
TEAM NEWS
The return of Phil Jones to full fitness should strengthen United’s defence. He played against City in midweek and Solskjaer is likely to employ the same defensive formation that started on Wednesday.
That will mean Matteo Darmian will start for a second match in succession. He has featured in just seven games this season.
With Ander Herrera likely to remain sidelined, Scott McTominay is set to keep his place in the United line-up.
Marcus Rashford is set to spearhead the United attack and is 15/8 to score at any time. He has been the one consistent bright spark for United this season and his pace will cause Chelsea’s pedestrian centre-halves more than a few problems, if he gets the service he deserves.
Chelsea have a few injuries to contend with. N’Golo Kante, Antonio Rudiger, Marcos Alonso and Ethan Ampadu are likely to be ruled out, along with Callum Hudson-Odoi who ruptured an Achilles in the draw with Burnley. He faces a long spell on the sidelines in recovery from successful surgery this week.
Predro or Willian will replace the youngster on the right flank, opposite star man Eden Hazard, who is 8/5 to score at any time.
Hazard, who has scored 19 goals this season – including 16 in the Premier League – was laughably omitted from the PFA Team of the Year at the expense of Pogba in midweek and has a big stage in which to prove any critics wrong.
Pogba (above), however, has been involved in nine goals in his last nine Premier League games at Old Trafford, scoring eight and assisting one. He is 21/10 to score at any time.
Kante was withdrawn from action at half-time against Burnley following a rib injury and even if he recovers from the knock, Maurizio Sarri is likely to turn to either Mateo Kovacic or Ross Barkley to fill the midfield void.
Andreas Christensen is set to deputise for Rudiger, with the centre-half out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury.
It is likely that Gonzalo Higuain will get the not in attack, despite his angry reaction at being substituted last time out. He scored against the Clarets, too, and has a point to prove to Sarri. Higuain is 7/4 to score at any time.
UNITED BACK ON TRACK?
There is plenty on the line for both clubs and neither can afford to lose. Chelsea lost by the odd goal on their last two trips to Old Trafford and it is 8/1 that United win 1-0 on the Correct Score market.
Meetings between the pair have not always produced goal-fests. Just five of the last 16 meetings saw both sides score and the Genting Casino Premier League soccer odds are 23/20 that one or other fails to net this time round.
In the last 16 meetings, there have only been three goals or more scored on four occasions – and three of those meetings came at Stamford Bridge – so the odds of 10/11 for under 2.5 goals to be scored in total might seem a little generous if the trends hold fast.
Only Manchester City (seven) have won more Premier League away games at Old Trafford than Chelsea (six) and the Blues are 4/9 to either win or draw the game on the Double Chance market.
United’s defeat to City was their first in 15 home games (W9 D5) and they are 17/20 to win (draw no bet).
To see all the odds on this clash, click here.
