Football: English Premier League
Monday 26 August 2013 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV
Manchester United
This is the first huge clash of the early Premier League as two of the top three contenders for the title will compete against one another on Monday Night Football from Old Trafford. Manchester United's new manager David Moyes will have the spotlight on him as he takes charge for his first competitive game in this Theatre of Dreams and the added pressure of wide rumours that he beat out Jose Mourinho to the top job in British football.
That pressure means Moyes can ill-afford to lose the game, although the bigger concern would be seeing a gap open up between Manchester United and Chelsea at the top of the table. However, there were some very positive signs for United fans to take from the 1-4 dismantling of Swansea last weekend, albeit the scoreline being very flattering, while the Community Shield was also picked up. Manchester United won 16 of their 19 home games last season, although they did lose to 3 of the 4 sides that finished directly below them.
Manchester United have lost just 1 of their last 9 games in all competitions, although they have only won 5 of those games and that sole loss came at the hands of Chelsea. They did lose to Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur here last season so the importance of this game is unlikely to be lost on the home fans or David Moyes.
Rafael is back from suspension, but a hamstring injury looks set to keep him sidelined, while Nani, Ashley Young and Javier Hernandez are all likely to be absent. Wayne Rooney has been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea and it will be interesting to see if he picks up a 'knock' in the next couple of days.
Chelsea
The rumours I mentioned above have suggested that Jose Mourinho is bitterly disappointed not that Manchester United didn't offer him the job, but the fact that they refused to even speak with him. The public story is that Mourinho is just happy to be back at Stamford Bridge and while he has been calmer on the touchline in the first two games, we will know a lot more about his private thoughts from his actions on Monday evening.
On the field, it has been a positive start for the 'Happy One' as Chelsea have picked up maximum points from their opening 2 League games, courtesy of home wins over Hull City and Aston Villa. Chelsea were a touch fortunate in their last game against Villa as the away side were good for a draw, but all that matters is the points on the board that the Blues picked up. They did finish with 10 away wins in the Premier League last season, although Mourinho will look to improve their record when visiting the 'weaker' teams in the League.
That is down to the fact that Chelsea actually won 4 of their 5 away games against teams in the top six, but failed to win at Queens Park Rangers, Reading or Southampton. Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 12 games in all competitions, while they have won 4 of their last 5 away games last season.
It is possible that Chelsea will have signed Willian from under the noses of Tottenham Hotspur ahead of this game, while rumours around Juan Mata's future have gathered too. Mata for Rooney has been thrown around so the Spaniard may miss this game, although he is available for selection. David Luiz is missing as his future is still being discussed by the media with Barcelona lurking.
Head to Head
Manchester United and Chelsea met 5 times in all competitions last season and it ended with Chelsea winning 3 and Manchester United winning 1 game.
The 2 games at Old Trafford ended in a 2-2 draw in the FA Cup and a 0-1 win for Chelsea in the Premier League.
Prior to last season, Manchester United had won 5 in 6 at home against Chelsea in all competitions and had lost just 1 of their last 8 at Old Trafford against them.
Prediction
This is a huge game for both teams and for both managers and I can see this being tense and a tight affair.
Recent games between Manchester United and Chelsea have produced a lot of goals, but Jose Mourinho and David Moyes are likely to be a little more cautious at this very early stage of the new season.
My fellow writer LAMPS on this site has produced a strong argument for Chelsea on the Asian Handicap and I think the Blues are a big price considering their success against the top sides away from home last season. Chelsea have a lot of pace to attack on the counter and they look a side that can produce special goals with the talent they have which makes them very dangerous.
The midfield gives them the edge in the contest in my opinion, and Jose Mourinho won 2 of his 4 games here in his first stint as manager of Chelsea.
However, at 3.10, I think the Chelsea price could have been a bit bigger for me to bite and instead I will back under 2.5 goals in the match- as I said above, I expect this to be a tight game that neither side will want to lose and it could be settled by a goal either way.
Both managers would likely revert to a more defensive set up if they have the lead and would try and nick this and I think the under is a touch under-rated at 2.10 being offered. Of Mourinho's 10 games against Manchester United in his first spell at Chelsea, 7 ended with 2 or fewer goals.
During the same period, 2 of Chelsea's 3 visits to an Everton side guided by David Moyes also ended with 2 or fewer goals and I believe a 0-1, 1-0 or 1-1 scoreline is very much in play in this game.
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