BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Stamford Bridge Date: Sunday, 28 October KO 16:00
TEAM NEWS
Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard is out for two weeks with a calf injury suffered in the midweek defeat by Shakhtar Donetsk.
The Blues are without captain John Terry, who is banned for four matches.
Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa has been ruled out for up to four weeks with a knee problem
Defender Chris Smalling is back in training after recovering from a metatarsal injury, but Phil Jones and Anders Lindegaard are still out.
MATCH PREVIEW
Chelsea’s excellent domestic start to the season was put into context rather sharply in Donetsk on Tuesday night when they looked anything but champions of Europe.
At the same time, Braga were giving Manchester United a much tougher night than anticipated. Nevertheless, both Chelsea and United have started the season more convincingly than the domestic champions, Manchester City.
Chelsea have certainly been the exceptional side in the Premier League so far, and United and City know that they cannot afford to just keep an eye on each other alone.
Thankfully the importance of this game should reduce to a sideshow the speculation about who may or may not shake whose hand beforehand. It must have been on John Terry’s mind that in choosing not to appeal his four-game ban, he ruled himself out of this match and the forthcoming Capital One Cup tie against United. The timing is good – his divisive presence is the last thing either game needed.
In fact, one of Roberto Di Matteo’s successful tricks has been to begin the process of easing both John Terry and Frank Lampard off the list of Chelsea untouchables without creating anything like the fuss that happened when Andre Villas-Boas tried the same thing a year ago.
I recall having a difference of opinion with Villas-Boas after this fixture last season. You may remember that United came from 3-0 down to draw. In the post-match interview I suggested that Chelsea had been lucky to be 3-0 up in the first place – AVB did not agree and a sparky exchange followed!
United are yet to play at their very best this season but van Persie has been integrated seamlessly, Jones and Smalling are yet to kick a ball, Ashley Young is to come back along with Vidic, and Kagawa and Cleverley have been used sparingly. Over the course of the season I think I would just take United to pip Chelsea – over 90 minutes at Stamford Bridge, I am not so sure.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
The clubs have met 40 times in the Premier League: Chelsea lead by 13 wins to United’s 12, with both teams scoring 53 goals. Chelsea are the only team in the Premier League era with a positive win/loss record against Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.
Chelsea are unbeaten against Manchester United in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge in their last 10 meetings since a 3-0 defeat in April 2002. This is United’s longest run without a win at a top-flight ground since a 16-game winless streak at West Ham (1969-87).
Manchester United are unbeaten in their last five games against Chelsea in all competitions (W4 D1).
Chelsea
Chelsea have 22 points from their first eight Premier League games. That tally has only been bettered once in Premier League history – by Chelsea (24) in 2005-06.
The Londoners are the only team in the Premier League still boasting a 100% home record.
Roberto Di Matteo’s side have benefited from six league goals by defenders this season – more than any other side in the division. They also have the joint-best defensive record in the Premier League alongside Arsenal, with just six goals conceded.
Fernando Torres has scored four goals in his last seven Premier League starts against Manchester United.
David Luiz has scored in his last two Premier League appearances against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
Manchester United
Manchester United are the Premier League’s top scorers with 21 goals from their first eight games.
Robin van Persie has scored six goals in eight Premier League games – his most ever at this stage of the season.
Van Persie has also scored five goals in his last two Premier League visits to Stamford Bridge, while Wayne Rooney has six goals in his last eight Premier League appearances against Chelsea.
Manchester United have recovered more points from losing positions than any other team in the Premier League this season (12). They have conceded the first goal in eight of their 12 league and cup games in 2012-13.
