Manchester United host Chelsea on Saturday aiming to arrest a run of simply two wins in 13 league matches.
Chelsea’s nine-game unbeaten run was ended within the Champions League by Bayern Munich on Wednesday, however the Blues are to date unbeaten domestically.
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BBC Sport examines a few of the key themes forward of the assembly at Previous Trafford.
Groundhog Day for Manchester United
“Manchester United simply should attempt to get into the highest half,” have been the phrases of former midfielder Paul Scholes earlier this week.
If such fatalism feels a bit of untimely solely a month into the season, United followers could possibly be forgiven for feeling trapped of their very personal model of Groundhog Day.
The Reds have recorded simply two victories from their previous 13 top-flight matches and produced one other lacklustre show in Sunday’s 3-0 loss to neighbours
Membership sources insist that on most statistics United are performing higher than final season, regardless of sitting in 14th place. It stays a tough promote for followers who’ve witnessed the membership’s poorest begin to a league marketing campaign since 1992, accumulating simply 4 factors from 4 matches.
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It follows a 2024-25 marketing campaign wherein United amassed their lowest top-flight factors complete since being relegated greater than 50 years in the past.
Supervisor Ruben Amorim stays open and sincere within the face of accelerating criticism however the former Sporting boss now has the second-worst win share of any supervisor in United’s league historical past.
Just one supervisor has received a decrease share of matches in command of Manchester United than Ruben Amorim within the membership’s league historical past [BBC]
House comforts
The likeliest place for a nook to be turned stays Previous Trafford.
Regardless of scoring solely 5 instances, the Crimson Devils have had 94 photographs of their previous 4 house Premier League video games, making an attempt not less than 20 in each sport. Solely Manchester Metropolis have a better anticipated objectives tally this season.
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Amorim might also be boosted by the prospect of dealing with Saturday’s opponents. United are unbeaten of their final 12 Premier League house video games towards Chelsea (W5, D7), since a 1-0 defeat 12 years in the past.
Chelsea’s Premier League win fee of 18% at Previous Trafford is their lowest at any facet they’ve visited not less than 10 instances within the competitors.
The significance of Palmer
The Blues’ 3-1 defeat at Bayern Munich within the Champions League on Wednesday ended their nine-game unbeaten run, though there have been loads of encouraging indicators for Blues boss Enzo Maresca, not least one other good efficiency from Cole Palmer on his a hundredth look for the membership.
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The 23-year-old scored a well-taken purpose to briefly give his facet hope and in addition had a late effort dominated out for offside.
Palmer made his return from a groin difficulty in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with wherein he scored his first league purpose from open play since January.
Guaranteeing the gifted Englishman is match and firing will likely be essential to Chelsea’s hopes this season. He has been straight concerned in 73 objectives since his Blues debut two years in the past, a document bettered by solely Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah amongst Premier League gamers.
Cole Palmer is without doubt one of the Premier League’s best attacking gamers [BBC]