Sabasports Match Preview
Premier League: Manchester United vs Chelsea
Kickoff Time: 2024-11-04 00:30 (HKT)
Source:REUTERS/Jason Cairnduff
Manchester United achieved a resounding 5-2 victory over Leicester City at home in the EFL Cup this week, significantly boosting the team’s morale. Following the departure of Erik ten Hag, Manchester United has regained its confidence under interim coach Ruud van Nistelrooy. This season, Manchester United has never scored so many goals against Premier League teams in both league and cup competitions. Notably, Bruno Fernandes and Carlos Henrique Casemiro delivered outstanding performances in this match. Fernandes not only scored two goals but also recorded the highest number of shots, shots on target, and successful dribbles in the game. As for Casemiro, he also netted two goals and provided eight long passes and four clearances. Such a well-rounded performance is something Manchester United fans haven’t seen in a long time. It’s worth noting that during Ten Hag’s tenure, it was rare for Fernandes and Casemiro to perform at this level.
Chelsea, on the other hand, suffered a 0-2 defeat to Newcastle United in the EFL Cup this week, ending their two-match winning streak across all competitions. Enzo Maresca made 11 changes to the starting lineup for this match, which may have contributed to their loss against Newcastle. Chelsea’s defense was chaotic during the game, even conceding an own goal. Maresca’s team struggled to cope with Newcastle’s high pressing, and he was clearly dissatisfied with the result, especially since the team was eliminated in the round of 16. This season, Chelsea has fielded completely different lineups in league and cup matches, which may reflect the unique depth of their squad. Faced with an issue of surplus players, Maresca seems to have failed to adjust tactics in a timely manner, leading to a decline in the team’s performance.
Although Chelsea’s league performance has been more impressive than Manchester United’s, the two teams are quite evenly matched in terms of strength. Under interim coach Ruud van Nistelrooy, Manchester United has just secured a long-awaited victory, and many players have shown a renewed sense of vigor, boosting team morale. Additionally, Manchester United has not lost at home to Chelsea in their last 11 encounters and holds an advantage in head-to-head records. Therefore, it would be reasonable to expect Manchester United to defend their home ground with the momentum from the recent victory!
Manchester United’s Last 5 Games: WLDWD
24-10-31 Manchester United 5-2 Leicester City
24-10-27 West Ham United 2-1 Manchester United
24-10-25 Fenerbahce 1-1 Manchester United
24-10-19 Manchester United 2-1 Brentford
24-10-06 Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester United
Chelsea’s Last 5 Games: LWWLD
24-10-31 Newcastle United 2-0 Chelsea
24-10-27 Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle United
24-10-25 Panathinaikos 1-4 Chelsea
24-10-20 Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea
24-10-06 Chelsea 1-1 Nottingham Forest
Head To Head Record:
24-04-05 Chelsea 4-3 Manchester United
23-12-07 Manchester United 2-1 Chelsea
23-05-26 Manchester United 4-1 Chelsea
22-10-23 Chelsea 1-1 Manchester United
22-04-29 Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea
Prediction: Manchester United to win or Draw