Chelsea are still unbeaten since Graham Potter’s appointment and the improving Blues will be determined to keep that record unblemished when they host Manchester United at Stamford Bridge this evening. United produced their best display under Erik ten Hag to beat Tottenham in midweek, though a clash with Chelsea in the capital should prove a much stiffer test.
We’ve pieced a stats pack together for this evening’s showpiece showdown below, which features information on cards, corners, shots, shots on target, xG and more from the sides’ Premier League campaigns to date. Take what you need from our research to fill your bet builder coupons today.
starting Lineups
Wesley Fofana, N’Golo Kante and Reece James are all injured and will miss this evening’s game. Conor Gallagher was forced to come off in the first half of Chelsea’s meeting with Brentford on Wednesday and the midfielder is a doubt today.
Loftus-Cheek starts in central midfield, meaning Azpilicueta at right wing back with Cucarella playing left of the 3. Koulibaly is absent too.
Anthony Martial, Donny van de Beek, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire are still in the treatment room for United, while Cristiano Ronaldo has been exiled from the first-team picture following his petulant refusal to come on as a late sub against Spurs in midweek.
Christian Eriksen has recovered from an illness and starts alongside Casemiro. Fred perhaps harshly dropped after a great performance in midweek.
Team Stats
Chelsea’s underlying stats for the season still have ex-manager Thomas Tuchel’s fingerprints all over them, though the Blues are making noticeable strides under Graham Potter.
The Blues managed to keep five clean sheets in a row in all competitions before today, though it’s interesting to note that they won just seven corners in their last three Premier League fixtures combined. Chelsea didn’t pick up any cards against Brentford in midweek and that was the first time they finished a game without a caution under Potter.
United gave their numbers for the campaign a proper boost on Wednesday when they pummelled Tottenham with 28 attempts – which was the most shots registered by a team in a single Premier League fixture so far this season. It was also the most attempts faced by an Antonio Conte top-flight team.
United’s goal difference in the Premier League is still zero, though they have kept four clean sheets in their last seven league assignments. The Red Devils’ cards per 90 figure (2.80) still ranks among the division’s highest.
Player Shots & Shots On Target
Mason Mount (2.31), Raheem Sterling (2.25) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (1.91) are expected to fill the positions in Chelsea’s frontline this evening and all three players have been posting good figures in the shots per 90 stakes this term.
Mount managed to rack up three attempts when the last started a Premier League fixture (vs Aston Villa), while Sterling also mustered three shots against the Villains on his last start.
Brazilian winger Antony (1.80 SOT p/90) continues to make a major impact for United from the right flank and the 22-year-old rattled the post with one of his four efforts against Tottenham on Wednesday.
Marcus Rashford (2.66 shots per/90) had three shots on target against Spurs but was denied by some superb Hugo Lloris saves. Bruno Fernandes (2.10 shots per/90) and Fred (3.11 shots p/90) clocked a huge six attempts each in midweek.
Goalscoring
Raheem Sterling is Chelsea’s leading marksman in the Premier League with three goals, though the England star hasn’t scored in any of his last six appearances in all competitions since the last international break.
Mason Mount scored a fantastic double at Aston Villa last week to break his duck for the campaign, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is still waiting for his second Premier League goal for the club.
United’s leading scorer Marcus Rashford hasn’t found the net in the league since September and the 24-year-old missed a hatful of excellent opportunities against Newcastle and Tottenham in the Red Devils’ last two outings.
Bruno Fernandes ended a lengthy run without a goal with a well-taken strike against Spurs in midweek while Jadon Sancho lodged his first assist of the campaign in the same game.
Chelsea Cards
Kalidou Koulibaly has had an interesting start to his Chelsea career and his early performances have ranged from solid to awkward and everywhere in between so far. The ex-Napoli star has already picked up four bookings in seven just seven starts and he is worth watching closely again today.
Jorginho (2.00 fouls per game) – who was booked in last season’s corresponding fixture – is Chelsea’s man disruptive force in midfield and he could have numerous counter attacks to foil this evening. Ben Chilwell didn’t make the list, though the wingback has been carded once in three starts this term and he should be tested later today.
Marcus Rashford’s pace has been putting centre-halves on edge in recent weeks and the 24-year-old’s rapid runs could draw some desperate lunges from Koulibaly at Stamford Bridge.
In midfield, Bruno Fernandes (fouled 1.6 times per 90) should find Jorginho tracking his every move later today and that duel has the potential to produce a card or two. On the flank, Antony (fouled 2.00 times p/90) will hope to make Ben Chilwell’s evening an uneasy one down United’s right.
Match-Ups to watch
Kalidou Koulibaly vs Marcus Rashford
Jorginho vs Bruno Fernandes
Ben Chilwell vs Antony
Man United Cards
Luke Shaw (one booking) has been unusually low on cards this season despite committing 1.2 fouls per game, though we expect the United left-back to bite into tackles this evening. Casemiro – who was carded for the second time this season against Spurs in midweek – is an excellent card candidate in midfield.
Right back Diogo Dalot (four cautions) can lose his head against high-calibre opponents and he should face a few of those at Stamford Bridge later on.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek could fill in at right wing-back for Chelsea again this evening. The versatile 26-year-old has been fouled 2.44 times per 90 minutes this term and he will have Luke Shaw in direct opposition to him today.
Mason Mount (fouled 2.18 times per 90) will have Casemiro stepping on his toes every time he thinks he’s found space, while Raheem Sterling (fouled 1.1 times per 90) has the skill to draw reckless challenges from the rash Dalot down Chelsea’s left-hand side.
Match-Ups to watch
Luke Shaw vs Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Casemiro vs Mason Mount
Diogo Dalot vs Raheem Sterling
