Manchester United tend to start the Premier League (PL) campaign well and have won each of their previous four opening day matches – their joint-longest such run in the competition. Notably, three of those games produced over 2.5 goals.
The ‘Red Devils’ will be hoping to challenge for the title this season, but to do so they will need to improve at Old Trafford – especially in defense. They kept just two home clean sheets in the PL last term, their fewest at home in the top-flight since 1962/63. Meanwhile, their average of 1.32 goals conceded per PL home game last season ranked them joint-tenth in the defensive standings.
Chelsea’s opening day matches tend to be exciting, with each of their previous five openers featuring over 2.5 goals, and four seeing both teams score. Strikingly though, expect goals early on as 63.16% of the total goals scored across those games arrived within the opening 45 minutes.
The ‘Blues’ haven’t won any of their previous six H2H away matches with United (D4, L2). Additionally, they failed to score more than one goal in any of those games.
Players to watch: In the last H2H, Juan Mata (MUN) became the second player to score for both clubs in PL meetings between Chelsea and Man Utd.
Marcos Alonso (CHE) netted in the last H2H, and since his debut in 2016, no defender has scored more PL goals.
Stat attack: United have failed to score in just one of their previous five H2H home matches.
Chelsea has not suffered an opening day defeat away from home since 1998/99 (W6, D1).
There has been an average of 4.6 cards shown per game across the previous five H2Hs.
Will not play
Bailly E.
(Knee Injury)
Hudson-Odoi C.
(Achilles Tendon Injury)
Fosu-Mensah T.
(Knee Injury)
James R.
(Ankle Injury)
Loftus-Cheek R.
(Achilles Tendon Injury)
Rudiger A.
(Knee Injury)
van Ginkel M.
(Knee Injury)
Questionable
Pereira J.
(Lower Back Injury)
Willian
(Thigh Injury)
Sanchez A.
(Lacking Match Fitness)
Match Information
Referee: Taylor A. (Eng),
Venue: Old Trafford (Manchester)