Sunday brings the headliner fixture of Premier League opening weekend, the only all big six clash you’ll get see in week one, Chelsea FC at Manchester United. The match also brings the Chelsea debut of Christian Pulisic, which will be a major event in and of itself (more on that here). It’s also a match-up of two clubs led by young, relatively inexperienced managers who are legends among supporters due to their playing days with their respective teams.
The optimistic belief of both clubs here is that Chelsea’s Frank Lampard and Manchester United’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer know the culture, from experiencing it, and thus have the bonafides to rebuild the club their historical mold.
Videos: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Frank Lampard Manager Press Conferences
We’ll see how it all works out.
For Manchester United, winger and all-time acquisition bust Alexis Sánchez (match fitness) is a doubt for this one while defenders Eric Bailly (knee) and Fosu-Mensah (knee) are out injured. You got to feel for Bailly- poor guy has had massively bad luck during his time with Old Trafford.
Tomorrow brings the first chance to see United’s new and improved back line, a once weakness that is now a strength, with two big expensive summer transfer window buys, in action.
They’ll play in front of a newly minted/now more appropriately paid goalkeeper in David de Gea.
And with Romelu Lukaku, once the club’s second most expensive signing ever (now third) off to Inter Milan, with no replacement, centre-forward is all Marcus Rashford’s now!
Season Opener Manchester United Starting XI Prediction vs Chelsea FC
Attack: Anthony Martial Marcus Rashford Daniel James
Midfielders: Paul Pogba Nemanja Matic Scott McTominay
Defenders: Luke Shaw Victor Lindelof Harry Maguire Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Goalkeeper: David de Gea
Chelsea FC team news and starting XI prediction
Kickoff: Sunday, August 11, 4:30 pm, Old Trafford
Google Result Probability: Manchester United win 44%, Draw 29%, Chelsea FC win 27%
Score prediction: United 2, Chelsea FC 1
Summer Transfer Window Analysis/Season Previews
Arsenal Tottenham City United Liverpool Chelsea FC
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.
You can follow Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com on Twitter here and his cat on Instagram at this link.