Premier League preview and odds: Manchester United vs Chelsea

Published on: 27/12/2015

Premier League preview and odds: Manchester United vs Chelsea

December 28, 2015 17:30pm - Old Trafford

Premier League

Manchester United will be hoping to break their five game winless streak when they welcome relegation-threatened Chelsea to Old Trafford for a Holiday Monday clash in the Barclays Premier League.

United in turmoil

With tensions running high at the Manchester club, there have been suggestions that the game against Chelsea could mark the end of Louis van Gaal`s rein as Old Trafford boss. At the end of Saturday`s defeat to Stoke, United`s fans could be heard singing the name of Jose Mourinho. Ironically, they now face the club that sacked the Portuguese boss just two weeks ago.

The Boxing Day loss was the third on the trot for the Red Devils who have now fallen to sixth place in the Premier League table. With Champions League qualification a minimum requirement for the 20-time league champions, the club may decide to make a change in an attempt to halt their decline.

It has been previously suggested that the United hierarchy do not see Mourinho as a suitable candidate for the job, but with the current situation getting evermore desperate, they may decide to take a gamble on the controversial boss.

Chelsea still stumbling near drop zone

Interim boss Guus Hiddink will now have a clear picture of the task at hand after watching his side play out a 2-2 draw against Watford on Saturday. His team has remained unbeaten in the two games since Jose Mourinho departed, but they still look like a side that could struggle to claw their way out of a relegation fight.

With just two points separating the Blues and Newcastle in the first relegation spot, a win away to Manchester United would offer a welcome boost to the London side. However, their opponents have lost just once on home soil since the season began.

Team news

United will have to continue without the services of Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rojo, Antonio Valencia and Luke Shaw, while Matteo Darmian has an outside chance of playing.

Meanwhile, Chelsea striker Radamel Falcao is likely to be missing once again.

Recent form (League)

Manchester United: LLLDD

Chelsea: DWLLD

Betting odds and tips

Chelsea have not won away from home since August but are facing a Manchester United side in a fragile state. With both teams suffering from crises of confidence, the draw looks like a good bet at 23/10 with Bet365.

By Neil Morris

Published on: 27/12/2015

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (27/12/2015 18:13:47) but are subject to change.