Chelsea v Man Utd predictions: Carrick can conjure up a big result

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Chelsea v Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event & Premier League, 4.30pm Sunday

Best bet

Man Utd or draw double chance
1pt 13-10 general

Team news

Chelsea
Ben Chilwell faces a lengthy lay-off and N'Golo Kante is also set to miss out. Romelu Lukaku is back in contention but Mateo Kovacic and Kai Havertz are unlikely to feature.

Manchester United
Harry Maguire serves a one-match ban and Raphael Varane and Paul Pogba are injured. Mason Greenwood, Luke Shaw and Edinson Cavani are doubts.

Match preview

Michael Carrick's short spell as Manchester United caretaker-manager appears to be coming to an end but he started with an important 2-0 success at Villarreal and can continue by securing at least a draw at Stamford Bridge.

Sometimes a change is needed to lift the pressure from the players andUnited played with more freedom and less anxiety during their midweek Champions League encounter.

They head to the capital in a better mental state than they were before the start of last Saturday's 4-1 drubbing at Watford and could offer a serious test to Chelsea, who are having to cope with a busy treatment room.

Thomas Tuchel has looked unflustered for most of the season but he is without Ben Chilwell and N'Golo Kante, who were injured during Tuesday's 4-0 success at home to Juventus.

Chelsea's strength in depth can allow them to cope better than most when injuries arise and they excelled against Juve despite the absence of Romelu Lukaku plus the loss of N'Golo Kante in the first half when the score was 1-0.

However, Tuchel would rather have his big hitters available for big games and the task of beating United has become more difficult since the change in the opposition dugout.

United went to Villarreal low on confidence and were on the back foot in the early stage. But they grew into the game and finished it with a spring in their step after goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho which guaranteed progress to the round of 16.

Sancho has had a tough start to his United career and is yet to start and finish a Premier League game, but he responded positively with Carrick in charge and could build on his midweek efforts with a strong performance at Stamford Bridge.

Bruno Fernandes, one of United's poorest players at Vicarage Road, came off the bench to assist Sancho's goal, and there was more of a team ethic to the performance, even though it took United talisman Ronaldo to get their noses in front.

Ronaldo has at times been labelled part of the problem for United but his work-rate and ability stood out in the loss at Watford when so many teammates went missing.

One good result has not transformed the landscape for United, who are a long way away from challenging for the title. But they are capable of winning any game with a moment of brilliance and their chances of upsetting an under-strength Chelsea are better than the prices suggest.

Key stat

Manchester United are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League matches against Chelsea.

Inside info

Chelsea

Penalty taker Jorginho
Free-kick wizard Marcos Alonso
Set-piece aerial threat Antonio Rudiger
Card magnet Antonio Rudiger

Manchester United

Penalty taker Cristiano Ronaldo/Bruno Fernandes
Free-kick wizardCristiano Ronaldo/Bruno Fernandes
Set-piece aerial threatVictor Lindelof
Card magnetFred

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