Chelsea, the reigning champions, will be aiming to build on their momentum under Guus Hiddink, who has guided the club to an eight-game undefeated run since taking the reins from Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge. Can the Blues take care of business again when they collide with Manchester United?
Read on below for our preview of this match. And while you’re at it, check out as well our breakdown for Bournemouth vs. Arsenal.
[sc:Soccer ]
Manchester United vs. Chelsea Preview
Where: Stamford Bridge, Fulham, London
When: Sunday, February 7, 2016, 11:00 AM ET
Line: Manchester United -130 vs. Chelsea +110, tie +205; total 2.0 – view all EPL lines
Betting on Manchester United (11-7-6, 40 pts)
[sc:Soccer240banner ]It’s safe to say that Manchester United’s win over Stoke on Tuesday was really huge. They were able to garner the resounding 3-0 win and also put an end to their 11-match streak without a first-half goal at Old Trafford. The pair of Anthony Martial and Wayne Rooney each had a goal and an assist for the Red Devils, who strengthened their grasp of fifth-place in the Premier League standings.
Now, the Red Devils will try to continue their winning ways when they go head-to-head with a very familiar foe in the form of Chelsea. For them to succeed in doing so, United, who have scored three goals apiece in their past two matches, ought to remain aggressive on the attack against their long-time rivals.
Expect none other than Wayne Rooney, their best player, to waste no time in establishing his presence. Rooney has managed to score a goal in all but one of his previous seven games. In that stretch, he’s accumulated seven goals to go along with two assists.
So long as Rooney plays the way he’s been playing, he should be able to eventually find the net opposite a porous Chelsea defense and inspire his teammates to hopefully come away with their third-consecutive win.
Chelsea’s recent revival has surely added some smiles into a forgettable season. The aforementioned Guus Hiddink has been able to make his club a little bit more competitive by putting up the points. The Blues have managed to score 11 goals in their previous seven matches. However, there have been more draws than triumphs in that stretch and the most recent one came from a scoreless stalemate at Watford.
The Blues, though, will be receiving a much-needed boost for their intriguing Sunday showdown with Manchester United. Their star midfielder in Eden Hazard, who began his first game back since a groin injury last weekend versus MK Dons, is expected to make his return into the starting lineup. Against MK Dons, Hazard broke off his slump by nailing his first goal in 29 matches across all competitions and also added an assist to his name in 64 minutes of action.
Moreover, Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas will need to be at their best forms in leading the attack for the Blues. Costa, in particular, arguably has the biggest chance for a strong performance as he walks into this match having scored six goals in the last eight.
Defense, though, remains to be Chelsea’s main weakness and Hiddink has yet to solve this problem despite their current unbeaten run. And if they don’t find the answer to this, a talented team like Manchester United will definitely take advantage of it.
