Chelsea v Manchester United betting tips: Preview, prediction, latest odds & best bets for Premier League clash
Jose Mourinho has lost four matches in a row at Stamford Bridge as Manchester United boss. Will the Blues pile on the misery for the Red Devils?
Recommended bets
2pts Chelsea to win and over 1.5 goals at 21/20
1pt Olivier Giroud to score anytime at 17/10
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Chelsea v Manchester United (1230 BST kick-off, Sky Sports Premier League)
After coming back against Newcastle in the way they did, the international break could not have come at a worse time for Jose Mourinho's Manchester United.
Two early goals from the Magpies at Old Trafford appeared to have put the final nail in the coffin for Mourinho when it comes to his United tenure, but three goals in the final 20 minutes, including one in 'Fergie time', helped seal a dramatic win.
With the wind in their sails, a two-week break is not ideal for Mourinho - especially when the first match back is an away trip to old club Chelsea.
The Blues sit level on points with Manchester City and Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table after an unbeaten start under Maurizio Sarri, performing impressively despite the Italian only arriving four weeks before the season kicked off.
Many wondered whether Alexis Sanchez's injury-time winner might have a similar effect to Mark Robins' strike which saved Sir Alex Ferguson his job in 1990.
Mourinho, who has lost his last four visits to Stamford Bridge with United, has a huge task on his hands. The feeling is, with third-season syndrome in full swing, that Sanchez's goal just papered over the cracks and bought him time before the inevitable.
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Betting guide
Prediction: Chelsea 3-1 Manchester United (Sky Bet odds: Price Boosted to 16/1)
Mourinho enjoyed playing at Stamford Bridge when he was in the home dugout, but it has been a much different story on the away bench. Sarri's side overcame their toughest test when they held Liverpool to a draw - only conceding late on - and they can exploit United's weaknesses in the early kick-off. Eden Hazard, who spoke during the international break about potentially playing under Mourinho again, will be key once again for the hosts.
If the Belgian was not enough for the Red Devils to worry about, they have a number of injury concerns, with Scott McTominay, Marouane Fellaini, Ander Herrera, Nemanja Matic, Marcos Rojo, and Jesse Lingard all doubts, while Luke Shaw and Alexis Sanchez's level of involvement remains to be seen, tipping the match further in Chelsea's favour.
Best bet: Chelsea to win and over 1.5 goals at 21/20
The hosts are odds-on to get the victory, but adding over 1.5 goals takes it odds-against and makes it a much more attractive price. The Blues have scored two or more in all of their Premier League victories this season, while in United's three league defeats they have conceded three goals each time. The Red Devils, without a league win at Chelsea since 2012, have not kept a clean sheet in their last four domestic outings. Chelsea with a -1 handicap is available at a best price of 21/10.
Goals: Olivier Giroud to score anytime at 17/10
Eden Hazard may be the obvious option and, while 2/1 for him in a score-and-win double is tempting, it feels like this game will suit Olivier Giroud. The French forward is yet to score for the Blues this season, but he has linked up well with Hazard and contributed to Sarri's side going forward, laying on four assists. Giroud averages nearly two shots per game and his physicality and aerial presence could cause United's defence all sorts of issues. Their main focus could be on keeping Hazard quiet, creating more space for Giroud, and he's tipped to take advantage.
RequestABet: Chelsea to win, over 2.5 total goals, 30+ Man United booking points and 11+ total corners at 8/1
The booking and corner markets are worth looking at to add to our view that Chelsea can win a high-scoring game.
The home side have the best disciplinary record in the league with just five bookings so far, whereas United have collected 13 yellows and two reds in eight games.
Mike Dean, who has so far dished out 27 bookings and three dismissals in seven games this term, is the man in the middle at Stamford Bridge. With a poor performance comes frustration and over 30 away booking points is nearly evens.
Chelsea (2nd, with 51) and Man United (joint-third, with 49) are at the top end of the total corners charts for this season, so 11+ total match corners is quite realistic in a game where set pieces could be key.
Opta stats
- Chelsea have lost just one of their last 16 home Premier League games against Manchester United (W10 D5 L1), a 2-3 defeat in October 2012.
- Manchester United have lost more Premier League games against Chelsea than against any other side (18), and the Blues are one of only two sides the Red Devils have lost more games against than they’ve won in the Premier League, along with Brighton.
- In all competitions, Man Utd haven’t won at Stamford Bridge since Sir Alex Ferguson retired at the end of the 2012-13 season (P6 W0 D1 L5), losing the last three trips by an aggregate score of 0-6.
- Games between Chelsea and Manchester United in the Premier League have produced 232 yellow cards – 17 more than any other fixture in the competition’s history.
- Chelsea are looking to remain unbeaten in their first nine games to a Premier League season for the third time, also doing so in their title winning seasons of 2005-06 and 2014-15.
- Manchester United have lost three of their last six Premier League away games, winning two and drawing one.
- Manchester United have lost eight of their last 13 Premier League games in London (W4 D1) – as many as they’d lost in their previous 39 visits to the capital (W18 D13 L8).
- Man Utd boss Jose Mourinho has lost four of his last five away matches in all competitions against sides he’s formerly managed, including all three at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea as Man Utd manager.
- As well as being the highest scorer in the Premier League this season with seven goals, Chelsea’s Eden Hazard is the first player to record 10 goal involvements in the competition this season (7 goals, 3 assists).
- No player has provided more Premier League assists this season than Chelsea’s Olivier Giroud (4).
Odds correct as of 1225 BST on 18/10/18