Premier League Super Match Time: Chelsea vs Man United
SportsIt’s great match time at Stamford Bridge with Chelsea looking forward to hosting Man United in week 18, on Sunday 19 December.
Chelsea lost 3–1 in the traditional opening game of the season when they faced the Red Devils in the Community Shield final at Wembley on 8 August. In the aftermath of that result, there was a lot of speculation as to how the league season would play out.
Prior to that match, United had been talked about as too dependent on Wayne Rooney, who hadn’t scored a goal since March. Furthermore, Rooney’s poor form at the World Cup in South Africa did not bode well for Sir Alex’s charges.
Berbatov and Nani had proven inadequate replacements for the departure of Ronaldo and Tevez, in the 2009-10 season, when the Old Trafford side fell within a point of the title, taking advantage of Rooney’s prolific form during the season.
United’s victory in the Community Shield final was fueled by second-half substitutes Berbatov and Nani combining brilliantly up front, and was bolstered by new signings in Valencia and Hernandez, and an aging Scholes, who denied his years with some spectacular passes.
Van der Sar was safer than ever between the posts; Vidic and Evans were solid on defense. Rooney, who only played in the first part, was calm, except for a brilliant square pass to Valencia from an aerial ball from Scholes, which set up the Valencian goal. Carrick kept it simple with short, effective passes, while Park and Owen had quiet games without showing much energy.
Although Hernández’s goalscoring ability stood out, when he scored the second of the game for United, it was Valencia who stood out on the day with his runs down the right wing. Cole simply couldn’t handle the Ecuadorian’s pace and cunning.
In Cech’s absence, Hilario did his job between the posts, for Chelsea. He was disappointed by the back four with Terry looking as though he hadn’t shaken off the World Cup ghosts. Although Ivanovic and Ferreira were efficient without being brilliant, they were exposed to dangerous crosses after Cole’s inability to close the gap on Chelsea’s left flank.
Lampard, in deep midfield like Terry, seemed still in the throat of his World Cup hangover, while Mikel, who accompanied him, did not do enough to close the gap in the opposition’s midfield.
Kalou was the only bright spot with brilliant running and dribbling, but he suffered from a lack of support from his fellow attackers. Anelka appeared disconnected and did not pose any threat to the United goal. Malouda showed glimpses of his potential but like Kalou he sought endorsements that he failed to get.
Drogba fresh off the surgery that kept him out of much of the World Cup was a shadow of himself when he came on as a second-half substitute, while Sturridge and Benayoun didn’t get enough of a margin to show their prowess, in a brief second. . half cameo.
A lot of proverbial water has flowed under the Premier League bridge since the Wembley match that snapped a three-game losing streak for the Red Devils against the Blues.
Chelsea started their season brightly with back-to-back 6-0 wins, albeit against much weaker opponents in West Brom and Wigan. they followed up with wins over Stoke, West Ham and Blackpool, and after five weeks of matches looked to be running away with the league title, even as arch-rivals Man United recorded a pair of away draws against Fulham and Everton, interspersed at home. wins against Newcastle, West Ham and Liverpool, in their first five games.
Away defeats to Man City and Aston Villa on either side of a home win against Arsenal dampened the Blues’ momentum somewhat, but they remained top of the table, even as Bolton, the Sunderland and West Brom each snatched a point from the Red Devils. in their next three games.
The Old Trafford side began to get their groove back with back-to-back wins in their ninth and tenth games against Wolves and Blackburn; United won their ninth and tenth against Stoke and Tottenham to keep the Old Trafford hat in the ring.
The following matches drained Chelsea’s campaign of steam, with three defeats against Liverpool, Sunderland and Birmingham, and two draws against Newcastle and Everton. With only the one win in this span, against Fulham, Ancelotti’s side suddenly moved to third in the points table after leading it for 15 weeks.
Meanwhile, Manchester United posted wins against Wolves, Wigan and Blackburn, along with draws against Man City and Aston Villa in their games 11-15. With game 16 against Blackpool canceled due to inclement weather, United are sitting pretty , only one point behind. new Arsenal table toppers.
A look at the last nine league games between Chelsea and United makes for interesting reading. Chelsea have enjoyed overwhelming dominance over the Red Devils during this span, with five wins and just one lone loss.
Chelsea’s home record this season has been excellent, winning six of the eight games they have hosted, losing just one and drawing the rest.
United’s record away from home has not been very good in terms of games won; Along the way, Sir Alex’s side have won just one game, while drawing six.
Both teams should go with a full eleven on December 19. Chelsea will welcome Lampard’s return to the fray, and that should give the Blues the stability they currently lack in midfield.
Possible Chelsea starting eleven: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Essien, Lampard, Malouda, Kalou, Drogba and Anelka.
Possible Man United starting XI: Van der Sar, Da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Nani, Carrick, Anderson, Park, Berbatov and Rooney