For 14th placed Manchester United, winning the upcoming game is more crucial, but for Chelsea, it’s about getting another win because the last four clashes have not been in the Blues’ favour
For fifth-placed Chelsea on the Premier League standings, the Sunday clash against Manchester United is crucial, not because a win will put Chelsea in the third place but because Chelsea has not won a game at the Old Traffic since a Rafa Benitez-side defeated United in 2013 by a margin of 1-0.
Having won the last game played on April 5, 2024, by 4-3. Chelsea now has the opportunity to build its momentum against United, a team against which Chelsea has struggled in the last five Premier League clashes despite Manchester United itself going through a rough phase. Not to forget, a win for Chelsea is particularly important given the team hopes to break the Old Trafford curse and grab a win at Manchester United’s home.
Ahead of the game, it is tough to predict the game’s result, but we can certainly go back in the past and revisit the score lines of the last four Premier League clashes between Chelsea and Manchester United.
Earlier this year, Manchester United started off extremely well against Chelsea by scoring three goals in the 34th, 39th and 67 minutes, thanks to the efforts of Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes. Although it was Chelsea’s Conor Callagher who drew first blood in the fourth minute and Cole Palmer scored a penalty in the 19th but by the 70th minute, it seemed a loss was confirmed for Chelsea. However, in the 90+10’, Cole Palmer again received a penalty, which he slotted past the net, whereas another goal in the 90+11’ to snatch a victory from United’s jaw.
On December 7, 2023, Manchester United played host to Chelsea, with Scott McTominay opening the scorebook in the 19th minute. However, Cole Palmer equalized the game before half time and going into the second half, it was tough to determine the game’s result. The day turned out to be McTominay’s big day as he scored in the 69th minute to seal the victory for United at home.
This was one of the handful of matches where Manchester United thrashed an important opponent under the chaotic reign of Ten Hag. Chelsea simply could not find its feet as Casemiro opened the scorebook with a beautiful header in the sixth minute. Anthony Martial doubled the scoreline by 45+6’, whereas Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford added two more in the second half. Chelsea simply had no answer to United’s repeated attacks, but in the 89th minute, Joao Felix salvaged some pride by scoring one goal on Chelsea’s behalf.
This clash at Stamford Bridge saw United dominate the game with nearly 62 per cent possession by the end of 30 minutes and multiple shots at the Chelsea nets. However, Kepa stood tall and endured all the attacks by Antony, Rashford and Sancho. The second hand witnessed Chelsea getting a bit more possession, but intensity remained with United, which backfired a little when McTominay brought down Broja in the penalty box. Jorginho converted the penalty and gave three points to Chelsea. However, a determined Casemiro refused to give up and scored a header in the 90+4’ to secure one point – a dramatic end to deny Chelsea a win at home.
In the upcoming game, we believe Chelsea has the momentum to finally find a win at the Old Trafford. However, a game at Old Trafford for any away team has never been a walk in the park except on some rare occasions.
