Team
news, key stats and ways to follow ahead of Chelsea vs Man Utd on Monday
(kick-off 8pm).
Tammy Abraham faces a late fitness test ahead of Chelsea's Premier League
clash with Manchester United on Monday night. The England striker has missed
several training sessions this week as he continues to battle an ankle
problem and will be assessed late on.
Christian Pulisic (adductor) and Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Achilles) will both
miss out, with neither match fit despite being in training.
Deadline-Day signing Odion Ighalo will be part of Manchester United's squad.
Ighalo joined on loan until the end of the season on January 31 but has not
been training at Carrington due to concerns about the coronavirus.
Nemanja Matic is available again after missing the 0-0 draw with Wolves
through suspension, but Paul Pogba, Scott McTominay, Marcus Rashford and
Axel Tuanzebe remain sidelined.
Opta stats
Chelsea have lost just one of their last 17 Premier League home games
against Manchester United (W10 D6), and are unbeaten in their last six since
a 2-3 loss in October 2012.
Following their 4-0 victory at Old Trafford on the opening weekend, Man Utd
are looking to secure their first league double over Chelsea since the
1987-88 campaign.
Manchester United have already won 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in the League Cup
this season - the last team to win away at Chelsea twice in the same season
were Liverpool in 2011-12.
Chelsea are winless in three Premier League games (D2 L1), last going four
without a win in the competition in May 2016.
Manchester United have taken just four points from 15 available in the
Premier League so far in 2020 - only Crystal Palace (3) have earned fewer.
Manchester United have failed to score in four of their last five Premier
League games, including each of the last three in a row. They last failed to
score in four consecutive league games back in April 1989.
Charlie's prediction
We have another very intriguing match on the cards on Monday. The race for
the top four is fascinating. Can Chelsea make it? Again, they are a side who
are quite awkward at home.
Tammy Abraham had a few niggles before the winter break, while Mason Mount
was left out for the game against Arsenal and these things can start to take
a strain. Willian has been class but went cold for a few games, so the break
may have come just at the right time for them so that they can get back to
the basics.
Manchester United will have got some of their players fit during the break.
They were excellent when they went to Manchester City twice, but they are
showing no consistency. This is why people are still backing, and hoping
for, Mauricio Pochettino to come in.
I do think Chelsea will have enough, but they will need to focus on getting
their style right and doing the basics effectively.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: 2-1 (15/2 with Sky Bet)
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