The Big Match: Chelsea v Man Utd stats, team news, predictions & TV channel

Premier League: Chelsea v Manchester United

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Premier League, 4.30pm Sunday

Match odds

Chelsea 5-4
Manchester United 12-5
Draw 12-5

Form

Thomas Tuchel's unbeaten start at Chelsea continued with a 1-0 Champions League win over Atletico Madrid in Bucharest and the Blues have conceded only two goals in eight games under their new boss.

A four-match winning run in the league was ended by a 1-1 draw at struggling Southampton last weekend and they face a Manchester United side who have not lost away from home since a 2-0 defeat at Liverpool in January 2020.

United won 2-0 at Stamford Bridge last season and average 2.08 goals per game in their Premier League road trips this season. However, their record against the stronger teams in the division is patchy - they have won just four of their ten meetings against top-half sides and failed to score in two games against 11th-placed Arsenal.

Team news

Chelsea
Thiago Silva missed the clash with Atletico but could be back in the squad on Sunday. Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic returned to action as substitutes in Bucharest.

Manchester United
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will hope his players come through Thursday's Europa League last-32 second leg against Real Sociedad unscathed. They won the first leg 4-0 in Turin.

Paul Pogba and Phil Jones are definite absentees. Edinson Cavani, Donny van de Beek and Scott McTominay are doubts.

The tactical battle

Both teams have scored in seven of United's eight away wins in the league but Solskjaer tends to take a more cautious approach to fixtures against their traditional rivals.

The Red Devils have shared goalless draws with Chelsea and Manchester City at home and Liverpool and Arsenal away from Old Trafford with Fred and McTominay shielding the back four in all four stalemates.

Tuchel seems happy to play a more pragmatic brand of football at the start of his Chelsea career and seven of his first eight games in charge have rewarded backers of under 2.5 goals.

Midfielder Mateo Kovacic has become an early favourite of the German, who is expected to stick with a 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-1-2 formation for the clash with United.

Tuchel has plenty of scope for personnel changes, however, as Pulisic, Havertz, Hakim Ziyech and N'Golo Kante came off the bench against Atletico and veteran centre-back Silva is hoping to be fit.

Verdict

United's first four league games of the season produced 21 goals before a forgettable 0-0 draw with Chelsea at Old Trafford in October.

The stalemate looks a big runner in the return fixture given the Blues' solid start to life under Tuchel and the Red Devils' struggles in big games.

The absence of the resurgent Pogba, whose four goals this season have all come away from home, is a blow to the visitors and, despite the attacking talent on show, a tight contest can be expected at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea 0 Manchester United 0

Key stats

• Manchester United are unbeaten in their last 19 Premier League away matches
• Chelsea have conceded only two goals in eight games under Thomas Tuchel
• United have drawn four of their last six away league games
• Eight of Chelsea's 12 league wins have come against teams in the bottom six

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