Expert Bet

Venue: Stamford Bridge
Date: Sunday, 21 September
Kick-off: 14:00 BST

Luiz Felipe Scolari has made a most impressive start as manager of Chelsea with four wins and one draw from five matches in all competitions.

This is Manchester United’s second successive ‘Big Four’ match-up in the Premier League, after last Saturday’s 2-1 away loss to Liverpool. They are in danger of suffering successive league defeats for the first time in 122 outings.

Manchester United can be in real trouble if they lose this game as a defeat for Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad will leave United 9 points behind their closest rivals at this early stage and put a serious question mark on their ability to retain the title this year.

FORM AND STATISTICS
Chelsea

1. The Blues are unbeaten in 25 Premier League matches; won 18 and drawn seven since losing 1-0 away to Arsenal on 16 December 2007 - their only defeat in 35 league outings.
2. Chelsea is the only club with an unbeaten Premier League record in 2008; won 16 and drawn six of 22 matches.
3. Matched last season’s start when they had 10 points after their first four, and the first five fixtures.
4. Undefeated in a record 84 home Premier League matches. Not lost a league game at the Bridge since the 1-2 reverse to Arsenal on 21 February 2004 (won 61, drawn 23).
5. Won the last two against ‘Big Four’ clubs, home to Arsenal and Manchester United, and not lost in three to the trio of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United, since the 1-0 defeat by the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium on 16 December 2007.

Manchester United

Manchester had a surprisingly slow start, and only scored four goals in five games, in all the competitions entered.

United have been beaten more times by Chelsea in the Premier League than by any other club (10) and have dropped more points to them than any other team (56).

The Red Devils were the last club to beat Chelsea in a Premier League game by more than a single goal (23 September 2007); Chelsea were the last club to beat United by more than a single goal (29 April 2006).

1. Only had as few as four points after the first four games of a Premier League season once before; in the inaugural campaign of 1992-93.
2. No club has scored fewer Premier League goals this season (three).
3. The Red Devils haven’t lost consecutive Premier League matches since beaten away to Norwich and Everton on 9 and 20 April 2005 respectively.
4. Lost their last two league games against ‘Big Four’ clubs; away to Chelsea last season, and away to Liverpool last weekend.

TEAM NEWS / INJURIES

Sir Alex Ferguson could have both Dimitar Berbatov and Cristiano Ronaldo in his Manchester United starting line-up to face Chelsea on Sunday.

Berbatov missed Wednesday’s Champions League draw with Villarreal after suffering a knee injury at Liverpool last weekend, while Ronaldo made his comeback in midweek after two months out following ankle surgery.

However, Ferguson confirmed Berbatov is fit again and is also considering whether to hand Ronaldo a place in his side at Stamford Bridge.

Ferguson is without suspended defender Nemanja Vidic, while England goalkeeper Ben Foster is out for six to eight weeks with ankle ligament damage suffered in a reserve team match against Blackburn Rovers on Thursday night.

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is in contention to play for 90 minutes at Stamford Bridge.

Luiz Felipe Scolari could start him and take him off in the Barclays Premier League match, or put the Ivory Coast international on the bench.

Michael Ballack has recovered from a foot injury but has only trained properly this week. Michael Essien is a long-term absentee.

SQUADS

Chelsea: Cech, Hilario, A Cole, Carvalho, Terry, Bosingwa, Lampard, J Cole, Mikel, Malouda, Deco, Anelka, Drogba, Di Santo, Ballack, Ferreira, Kalou, Alex, Belletti, Bridge.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Brown, Neville, R Da Silva, Ferdinand, Evans, O’Shea, Evra, F Da Silva, Ronaldo, Nani, Hargreaves, Anderson, Possebon, Fletcher, Park, Giggs, Tevez, Rooney, Berbatov, Manucho, Welbeck.

PREDICTION

Chelsea vs. Manchester United betting odds have Chelsea as the 2.20 favorite and Manchester United with odds of 3.10.
Manchester United could get a draw here, prices at odds around 3.20.
This titanic clash might end up in a 1-1 draw, prices at odds of 7.00.

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