Manchester United vs. Chelsea @ Old Trafford
Sunday, October 26 @ 4pm
Chelsea could be without both Diego Costa and Loic Remy for this Sunday’s visit to Old Trafford, meaning that 36-year-old Didier Drogba may start his first Premier League game since his return to the club.
While he scored against Maribor on Tuesday, Drogba has looked sluggish this season and has only played 27 minutes of Premier League action.
His presence may yet cause problems for the United backline, who have the joint-worst defensive record in the top-half of the table.
Their potent attack has been nullified time and again by defensive ineptitude, most clearly when they lost 5-3 to Leicester City last month.
Sunday’s game marks the start of a tough period for Louis Van Gaal’s side, who will also play Manchester City and Liverpool next month.
Despite spending £150m during the summer, they are just one point better off than at this time last season under the beleaguered David Moyes.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have enjoyed a blistering start to the campaign, something that manager Jose Mourinho recently credited to his players’ ‘big balls’.
This weekend’s match could also see the Manchester club’s dwindling hopes of a 14th Premier League title all but extinguished.
It’s not even Halloween but Mourinho’s men could move 13 points ahead of United if they win on Sunday – but this may depend on Drogba finding form in a Chelsea shirt for the first time since that night in Munich three seasons ago.
Referee: Phil Dowd
Star man: Cesc Fabregas
Danger man: Angel Di Maria
Previous meeting: Premier League, Sunday January 19 2014, Chelsea 3-1 Manchester United (Eto’o 17, 45, 49, Hernandez ‘78)
Featured image courtesy of Chelsea TV, via YouTube, with thanks
