manutd1819@ZAPunter takes a look at the English Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea which takes place on Sunday 11th August.

 

 

 

 

Manchester United vs Chelsea, Sunday @ 17.30

 

INTRODUCTION:

 

Manchester United and Chelsea will be hoping to start their Premier League campaigns with a statement win when they meet at Old Trafford on Sunday. Both teams had a disappointing 2018/2019 domestic campaign in terms of not challenging for the league title. There is no doubt that this is the game of the opening weekend, but will it be entertaining? Chelsea club legend Frank Lampard returns as manager after a successful start to managerial life with Derby County. Lampard has vowed to play an enterprising style of football and will make use of the younger players at Chelsea, that may have been undervalued in the past. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will demand improvement from his players and make sure they are ready to play for the club this season. Ole stated that he wants to play more attacking football this season and this could lead to more open games and goals. Both teams will have high expectations as always and Champions League qualification should be the minimum.

 

NEW SIGNINGS:

 

Manchester United during the break seemed to be linked with every other player, but at the end of the day they only got Welsh winger Daniel James and 2 young English defenders over the line in Maguire and Wan-Bissaka. Manchester United fans weren’t happy with the transfer activity, but they did improve in key areas.

Chelsea currently has a transfer ban, so Frank Lampard could not really spend any money. Pulisic arrived from Dortmund after agreeing terms in January and a whole lot of youngsters returned from loan. Abraham and Mount will defiantly play key roles in the squad and Lampard will be excited to work with the academy graduates.

 

TEAM NEWS, PROBABLE LINE-UPS AND FORMATION:

 

Manchester United: 4-2-3-1

De Gea,

Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw,

Pogba, McTominay,

James, Lingard, Rashford,

Martial

 

Chelsea: 4-2-3-1

Arrizabalaga,

Azpilicueta, Zouma, Christensen, Emerson,

Jorginho, Kante,

Pedro, Mount, Pulisic,

Abraham

 

*Manchester United will be without long term absentee Bailly, who is still recovering from a back injury and Sanchez, who will have recovery time after the Copa America. Pogba missed the final pre-season game through injury, but should start.

 

*Loftus-Cheek, Rudiger and Hudson-Odoi are all expected to miss the game through injury.

 

PREDICTION:

 

Even though Manchester United finished 6th last season they were unlucky not to finish in the top 4 when looking at the expected goals table. When Ole took over the job, Manchester United improved defensively and new signings at the back will only help them improve. Chelsea finishing 3rd was a fair result when looking at the expected goals table. Losing Hazard is massive and they will need to find ways to replace his goals and assists for the club. Predicting this game was hard, because there was so much uncertainty with both clubs during the off-season. Both managers will be desperate not to start the season with a defeat and this can easily be a draw. I expect both teams getting on the score sheet in this game and it being end to end. Both attacks are young and willing to take chances. Manchester United’s new look defence will take a while to settle and Chelsea under a new manager and ideas as well.

 

BET: Both teams to score – 1.76 @ BetOlimp

 

Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change

 

@ZAPunter