Chelsea vs Manchester United. Premier League.
Stamford BridgeAttendance41,422.
Saturday 18 April 2015 16:58, UK
Louis van Gaal's resurgent Manchester United face their toughest task to date when they travel to Premier League leaders Chelsea on Saturday Night Football.
United are enjoying their most successful spell of the season and head to London on the back of five consecutive victories, the latest of which being a 4-2 derby victory over champions Manchester City.
With a top-four finish seemingly in the bag, United know a victory could reignite their faint chances of winning a 14th Premier League crown, although victory would give a bigger boost to second-placed Arsenal.
Chelsea head into the game knowing they require just 11 points from their remaining seven games to secure a fourth Premier League crown, which would be Jose Mourinho's third with the club.
While maintaining their tilt for the title in recent weeks, the Blues have failed to show their early-season superiority, only overcoming Hull, Stoke and QPR by the odd goal in their last three games.
Chelsea will enter the game confident having lost just one of their last 12 Premier League games at home to United - a controversial 3-2 defeat in October 2012.
They have only tasted defeat at home in the Premier League once under Jose Mourinho, a 1-0 loss to Sunderland exactly a year ago.
Team news
Loic Remy could return from a calf injury which ruled him out of Chelsea's 1-0 win at QPR last weekend.
Diego Costa, who also missed the trip to Loftus Road, could return from his hamstring injury in next week's match at Arsenal. Chelsea have no other injury concerns.
Van Gaal will have to reshuffle his defence for the trip to Stamford Bridge after he revealed Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones, Daley Blind and Michael Carrick would all miss the game.
With Jonny Evans still serving his suspension for spitting, United are left with Chris Smalling, Paddy McNair and Tyler Blackett as the only available centre-backs.
Opta facts
Chelsea have lost just one of their last 12 Barclays Premier League home games against Manchester United (W7 D4 L1).
Manchester United have suffered more Premier League defeats against Chelsea than versus any other side (15).
Chelsea have scored 100 goals in 47 games this season (2.13 per game) while United have 68 in 38 matches (1.79).
Juan Mata has three goals and an assist in his last three Premier League games.
Manchester United have 65 points, one more than they collected in the whole of 2013-14 (64).
Wayne Rooney has scored or assisted 120 Premier League goals away from home, the fourth highest total in the division’s history.
Merson's prediction
Chelsea will be fully focused on not losing the game. Jose Mourinho will set up to contain Manchester United. He’s done it before and, with the title on the line, he’ll do it again.
The pressure will certainly be off Manchester United. They have a bit of a free swing at Stamford Bridge but this game will be a real test of how far United have come under Louis van Gaal. They have certainly improved but this will be a real test against a Chelsea side that has been the best team in the country by a mile this season.
I think this will be a tight game and I can see it finishing in a 1-1 draw. Chelsea will definitely settle for that!
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1
Betting
Chelsea have drifted out from odds-on to evens with Sky Bet, with Manchester United attracting the majority of the backing at 11/4, while the draw is priced at 12/5. The first goalscorer betting is wide open with Loic Remy and Eden Hazard heading the market at 9/2 apiece, while Wayne Rooney tops United’s side of the market at 13/2. The Soccer Saturday pundits have made their predictions on www.skybet.com, including Matt Le Tissier predicting a 1-1 draw and Wayne Rooney to score first at 35/1.
Watch Chelsea v Manchester United live on Saturday Night Football. Coverage starts at 4:45pm, Sky Sports 1 HD.
