Chelsea and Manchester United are in two very different places since the last time they met. The most recent edition of this series between two giant clubs saw a blow out. They squared off in the season opener at Old Trafford, and the Red Devils pounded them 4-0.
Since then, Frank Lampard’s youth-led rebuild has begun to take hold, and once it did, it took off rapidly. Look no further than Christian Pulisic finally getting opportunities, and then making the most of them once he has. For United, things went downhill, way downhill, quickly after that curtain raising route, although they have now won their last two.
Let’s take a look at the team news for both sides, as Chelsea hosts Manchester United in round of 16 League Cup action on Wednesday night.
It’s a game that will see both of the world class French midfielders out of commission. For Chelsea, N’Golo Kante is out definitely while United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has ruled Paul Pogba out until December. Go here for more on that.
While United seem to be getting healthier now and getting more players back to match fitness (well sort of, once they have Luke Shaw and Pogba back), Lampard has additional fitness concerns, especially in the back where it is unknown when central defenders Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger will return.
Ross Barkley is also out, due to an ankle injury.
Chelsea FC vs Manchester United FYIs
Kickoff: Wednesday Oct 30, 9 BST, Stamford Bridge
Team news for both sides: go to this link
Starting XI Predictions: Chelsea Manchester United
TV: Sky Sports Main Event
Referee: Paul Tierney
Prediction: Manchester United 2, Chelsea 1
Regardless of recent Premier League form, this is just a bad match-up for the west London side. They are winless in their last four, including the past two home contests, against MUFC.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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