Manchester United vs Chelsea
It’s unquestionably the highlight of the opening weekend to the Premier League season.
A battle of two big beasts. A battle between the two clubs who have won the most Premier League titles since it began in 1992.
Collectively, their own Premier League 2019 highlights compilations would be best sellers for SBOBET football fanatics.
Yet, these are transitional times with neither expected to mount a title challenge this time around.
Or can one of the sides with rookie managers defy the Premier League 2019 betting odds?
Talking Points
Even when they were dominating English football, United have found Chelsea to be something of a bogey at Old Trafford – long before Roman Abramovich waltzed into town with new-found wealth in 2003 and long before the Premier League era began.
As a young boy, I can remember one particular match in 1986 when fan favourite Kerry Dixon scored the only goal inside two minutes.
United missed two penalties that afternoon and it was around six weeks later that Sir Alex Ferguson – then just plain Alex – was appointed to succeed Ron Atkinson. And the rest is history.
Chelsea would love to start a new era of their own with Frank Lampard in charge on a positive note.
Of course, in many ways, this is a new era for both sides with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer beginning his first full term at the helm of the club he graced as a player.
Many United fans do feel very underwhelmed going into the new season.
A summer of significant reinforcements was required, and while their defence seems potentially stronger than last term, both midfield and attack arguably got weaker.
Neither Ander Herrera nor Marouane Fellaini have been replaced in midfield. Even Romelu Lukaku, who scored a fine 42 goals in two seasons at Old Trafford, still doesn’t have a replacement.
Instead, United must hope that Scott McTominay and Mason Greenwood — two products of the club’s academy — have freakishly monumental breakthrough seasons.
Solskjaer is optimistic his plan to restore the club to challengers is underway, yet there’s no doubt the Glazers’ parsimony affects strategy as well as success.
That debate might be for another day, but despite a fine pre-season, the day may arrive sooner than planned if United fail to make a good start to the campaign.
In contrast, Chelsea have been well served since Abramovich arrived and changed the landscape of English football.
Even last season, troubled in many ways, ended with relative success and yet more silverware.
However, while Lampard’s status as a player, like Solskjaer, will buy him some time, he faces similar difficulties to his counterpart — albeit caused by different reasons.
United chief executive Ed Woodward has been criticised for his football decisions, while Chelsea cannot actually sign anyone right now.
With Eden Hazard gone to Real Madrid and the club under a transfer embargo, there are fears Lampard may have returned to the club at an inopportune moment in his fledgeling managerial career.
American Christian Pulisic is in line for a Blues bow following his summer arrival from Borussia Dortmund. If selected, Mason Mount could also make his first competitive Chelsea appearance after training for 11 years at the club. So, expect an emphasis on youth from both managers this weekend and in the months ahead.
Cynics would suggest at least one of these managers may not be in their respective jobs this time next year.
Yet, if they both overcome the hurdles placed in front of them now, so the first long-term steps could be in taken to guide their clubs back to the glory they so enjoyed as players.
History
Last season both league meetings ended all square.
The Stamford Bridge encounter was a thriller with Antonio Rudiger heading Chelsea in front before a fine Anthony Martial double put United in charge. Chelsea needed a last-gasp Ross Barkley equaliser to rescue a point.
The return at Old Trafford ended 1-1. Juan Mata pounced against his former club to open the scoring, only for a rare David de Gea error to allow Marcos Alonso a timely leveller.
United did produce a fine 2-0 win in the fifth round of the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge courtesy of goals from Herrera and Paul Pogba.
Overall, United have triumphed 78 times against the west Londoners who have enjoyed success on 54 occasions. The other 51 matches have been draws.
Chelsea last won at Old Trafford in May 2013 – the scorer of the only goal that day was Mata!
Betting Tip
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Manchester United vs Chelsea | Over 2.75 goals @ 2.35 |
| August 11, 23:30 (GMT+8) |
I expect this will be a close encounter which could go either way.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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