This week, Manchester United parted ways with Erik ten Hag, and Ruben Amorim of Sporting CP is poised to take over as manager. The question remains whether Amorim can revive the club’s former glory, especially as Paul Scholes has expressed skepticism, noting that the “hype” around new appointments sounds familiar.
After a rocky start to the season, Manchester United currently sits in 14th place in the Premier League. They have managed only three wins out of nine matches, alongside two draws and four losses. Notably, United has struggled against stronger opponents at home, suffering defeats to both Tottenham and Liverpool.
The four losses in nine games represent the highest tally for any United manager since Sir Alex Ferguson, resulting in a loss rate of 31.8%, the second-worst in the Premier League era. The team’s struggles are further highlighted by their poor goal-scoring record, having netted just eight times this season, marking their worst start in front of goal.
In contrast, Chelsea is positioned 5th in the league with five victories, their only defeats coming against the top two teams, Manchester City and Liverpool. Chelsea has demonstrated a robust away performance, winning three of their four away games, scoring 11 goals while conceding only four.
Probable Lineups for Manchester United vs. Chelsea
Manchester United (4-2-3-1 Formation):
- Goalkeeper: Onana
- Defenders: Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot
- Midfielders: Eriksen, Casemiro
- Forwards: Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford, Hojlund
Chelsea (4-2-3-1 Formation):
- Goalkeeper: Sanchez
- Defenders: James, Colwill, Fofana, Gusto
- Midfielders: Caicedo, Lavia
- Forwards: Neto, Palmer, Madueke, Jackson
Chelsea’s Edge Over Struggling Manchester United
Chelsea has emerged as the more consistent and in-form team this season. Their impressive away record starkly contrasts with Manchester United’s difficulties at home against top-tier competition. Following the dismissal of Erik ten Hag, Chelsea sits nine places ahead of United in the league standings. United’s recent losses to Spurs and Liverpool indicate they may struggle against yet another formidable opponent.
United’s offensive efforts have been hampered by an inability to create high-quality chances and a lack of finishing prowess. Concurrently, they have struggled defensively, allowing opponents to generate quality scoring opportunities. Chelsea, equipped with a plethora of attacking talent, is favored to secure victory in this matchup.
Jackson’s Goal-Scoring Momentum
Nicolas Jackson has made a significant impact this season, scoring against Newcastle last weekend to bring his tally to six league goals. Notably, four of these goals have come during Chelsea’s away fixtures, with only one game at Bournemouth where he did not score. His recent goal marked his 20th in the Premier League, achieved in just 44 appearances, with none coming from penalties. This places him among the quickest Chelsea players to reach this milestone, trailing only Diego Costa and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
Jackson’s success is fueled by the creativity of teammates like Cole Palmer and his own instinctive poaching abilities in front of goal. Given Manchester United’s leaky defense, he is well-positioned to maintain his scoring streak in the upcoming match.
Historical Trends Indicate a Low-Scoring Match
The recent history between Manchester United and Chelsea suggests a potentially cagey encounter. Six of the last eight meetings have resulted in fewer than 3.5 goals being scored. This season, United’s home matches have averaged 2.5 goals per game, and none of their four home games have exceeded 3.5 goals. Similarly, Chelsea’s last three away games have also seen under 3.5 goals. Despite Chelsea’s overall away match average of 3.75 goals, this figure was inflated by a remarkable 6-2 victory at Wolves.
With United keen to avoid another damaging defeat and struggling to find the back of the net, all signs point toward a relatively low-scoring affair.
