EPL Matchweek 1 betting preview – Manchester United vs Chelsea

Manchester United	+125 at William Hill	Place Bet
Draw	+230 at William Hill	Place Bet
Chelsea	+260 at William Hill	Place Bet

The opening weekend of the 2019/20 English Premier League season is set to serve a treat with Manchester United playing host to Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign at Old Trafford began with an impressive unbeaten run of 12 league matches, but all that good work was undone by a lifeless string of performances towards the end of last season.

That saw United’s hopes of Champions League football founder as they finished sixth on the table, five points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur and a mind-boggling 32 behind champions Manchester City.

Part of Manchester United’s problem last season was that they conceded nearly as many goals as they scored.

Solskjaer has addressed that issue by signing right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Crystal Palace and centre-back Harry Maguire from Leicester City for a combined outlay of £130 million.

Welsh youngster Daniel James also penned a deal that saw him join from Swansea City for £15 million.

SEE ALSO: EPL MULTI OF THE WEEK

For a club that had hugely publicised confrontations between players and then-manager Maurizio Sarri, Chelsea did quite well last season.

The Blues not only secured a Champions League place by finishing third on 72 points but also beat Arsenal 2-0 to lift the Europa League title – an achievement that will see them pit their strength against Champions League winners Liverpool in the UEFA Super Cup.

Unlike United, who made the most of the English summer by addressing key areas of concern, Chelsea couldn’t wait for the transfer window to shut.

Hit with a two-window transfer ban by FIFA over the unlawful signing of foreign players under the age of 18, the Blues’ only acquisition remains Mateo Kovacic.

Loaned out to Stamford Bridge last season, the midfielder completed a permanent switch from Real Madrid for around £40 million.

Another permanent deal between the two clubs saw superstar winger Eden Hazard move to the Bernabeu for £89 million in one of the marquee trades of the European summer.

Although Chelsea signed Christian Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund in January before loaning him back to the Bundesliga outfit, knowing full well that Hazard wasn’t going to be at the Bridge come this season, the American will have a hard time filling Hazard’s boots.

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Manchester United team news

Although Man United picked up three players in the transfer window, 17 left the club in a top-to-bottom cleanout.

Ander Herrera and Antonio Valencia both departed on free transfers, while Romelu Lukaku completed a deadline-day switch to Inter Milan.

That aside, Ivorian defender Eric Bailly is the only played sidelined with a long-term injury.

Chelsea team news

Quite a number of players are set to miss Chelsea’s opening match due to injury.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek is still recuperating from a ruptured Achilles tendon sustained last season, while N’Golo Kante could miss the trip due to a knee injury that has hampered his pre-season progress.

Reece James could be out of action until the end of the month having undergone surgery for an ankle injury sustained in pre-season, whereas Callum Hudson-Odoi has returned to training after rupturing his Achilles tendon towards the tail end of last season — although his chances of being ready this weekend are slim.

Antonio Rudiger is ruled out long term with a meniscus injury.

Marcus Rashford goalscorer odds

• Rashford to score at anytime – +160 at Bovada
• Rashford to score/United win – +260 at Bovada

Marcus Rashford was Manchester United’s third-best goalscorer last season with 13 in all competitions, two goals less than Romelu Lukaku and three fewer than top scorer Paul Pogba.

The 21-year-old was a strong performer at the back end of the campaign and took that form into pre-season, where he scored three goals.

With Lukaku gone and Pogba’s situation uncertain, Rashford could be just the man to make it happen upfront.

Man United vs Chelsea betting predictions

Whereas Chelsea were unbeaten in pre-season, Manchester United won all six of their friendly matches in preparation for the new campaign.

Going by the current squads and the fact that the Blues haven’t won a Premier League match at Old Trafford for nearly nine years, United should be able to pull through with a win.

Prediction: Man United to win first half/draw second half – +550 at Bovada

Manchester United vs Chelsea recent results

Man United 1-1 Chelsea (April 28, 2019)
Juan Mata 11’
Marcos Alonso 43’

Chelsea 2-2 Man United (October 20, 2018)
Antonio Rudiger 21’
Ross Barkley 90+6’
Anthony Martial 55’, 73’

Man United 2-1 Chelsea (February 25, 2018)
Willian 32’
Romelu Lukaku 39’
Jesse Lingard 75’

Chelsea 1-0 Man United (November 5, 2017)
Alvaro Morata 55’

Man United 2-0 Chelsea (April 16, 2017)
Marcus Rashford 7’
Ander Herrera 49’