While neither team are competing for the Premier League title this season it’s always a big game when Chelsea play Manchester United. This is the first meeting of these two Premier League giants this season but it’s not the first meeting of Graham Potter and Erik ten Hag, with Potter’s Brighton beating Man United on the opening weekend.
Can Erik ten Hag get some payback for the early season defeat? Don’t miss our Chelsea vs. Man United picks and predictions ahead of a great Premier League clash.
Chelsea vs Manchester United best odds
Chelsea vs Manchester United picks and predictions
When these two managers met in the opening game of the season it was a humiliation for Erik ten Hag. Then Brighton manager Graham Potter masterminded a 2-1 victory that popped the optimism around Manchester United. Now Potter is the manager of Chelsea and so far, his team has performed well.
Potter is unbeaten at his new club across both the Premier League and Champions League, with five wins and two draws. Although it must be said, Milan have been the only particularly good team they’ve faced in that time.
Erik ten Hag’s Man United have endured a mixed season. Midweek we saw them play Spurs and in truth, it was a demolition. Ten Hag benched Ronaldo and the movement of his forwards and the dominance of Fred and Casemiro in midfield was hugely impressive. It was the best performance of his reign at the club so far and they’ll be brimming with confident ahead of this trip to London.
The truth is that besides the Man City defeat, Man United have actually played well against the Premier League’s better teams, winning against Arsenal, Spurs, and Liverpool. The club are progressing forward and if the Dutchman is backed, they will be a formidable team as soon as next season.
Both teams here have improved defensively under their new managers. United have allowed just one in their past three since that Man City defeat, while Chelsea haven't conceded any.
This will be a low-scoring game and a winner is hard to pick. Given the quality of both defenses and the game coming after both played on Wednesday, it’s perhaps the draw at +260 that offers the best value.
My best bet: Draw (+260 at BetMGM)
Looking to bet on EPL action? Here are two of the best bonuses* available:
A) New users at FanDuel can get a no-sweat first bet of up to $1,000! Sign Up Now
B) New users at DraftKings can bet $5 and get $200 in free bets! Sign Up Now
*Eligible USA locations only. Also, check out our full list of best promo codes for 2022.
Chelsea vs Manchester United side analysis
As mentioned above, I’m expecting this one to finish a draw and it’s a result that we’ve seen often between these two teams. In fact, the last four meetings have finished tied, and you need to go back to February 2020 to see a Premier League meeting between the teams which finished with either team taking home three points.
United’s lineup is likely to remain unchanged from the team who beat Tottenham, especially with Cristiano Ronaldo leaving the game before the final whistle. The backline of Luke Shaw, Diogo Dalot, Raphael Varane, and Lisandro Martinez look settled and the midfield two of Casemiro and Fred were superb midweek.
Without Ronaldo the team looks quicker and more dynamic in the final third, even if they aren’t quite as clinical, it’s a net positive. They’ll look to exploit Chelsea’s defensive system which should see Ruben Loftus-Cheek at RWB with Reece James out injured and Marc Cucurella on the other flank.
Potter’s biggest call so far has been playing Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal and the Spaniard has paid him back by putting in some incredible performances. Chelsea’s attacking hopes will revolve around how much space Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang can exploit with runs behind Varane and Martinez, which means that Mason Mount and Raheem Sterling’s deliveries will be key.
These are two teams who are both improving with every training session, as these new managers look to install their philosophy onto the players. Either team could win this and it wouldn’t be a shock but the draw is the best value bet.
Chelsea vs Manchester United Over/Under analysis
The bookies are leaning towards this being a game that finishes with Over 2.5 goals, with the Over at -112 and Under at +100. I’m of the belief that this game will probably finish with Under 2.5 goals.
Firstly, recent results back this up. Between both clubs, they’ve only allowed one goal in their past six Premier League games combined, and in those six matches, the Over landed two times, once with Chelsea and once with Man United.
Those were in games against teams with weaker defenses, Everton and Wolves, and given the quality of both teams, and the importance that both managers place on being defensively sound.
If you look at Chelsea only in the period under Potter, both in Europe and domestically, they’ve seen Under 2.5 goals in four of seven games.
Chelsea vs Manchester United game info
| Location: | Stamford Bridge, London, England |
| Date: | Saturday, October 22, 2022 |
| Time: | 12:30 p.m. ET |
| TV: | USA Network |
Chelsea vs Manchester United key injuries
Chelsea: Wesley Fofana CB (Out), N’Golo Kante CM (Out), Reece James RB (Out), Conor Gallagher CM (Questionable).
Manchester United: Donny van de Beek CM (Out), Aaron Wan-Bissaka RB (Out), Harry Maguire CB (Out), Anthony Martial ST (Out), Christian Eriksen CM (Questionable).
Chelsea vs Manchester United weather
It’ll be a dry Saturday with temperatures around 60 degrees at the time of kickoff.
