Although neither Chelsea or Manchester United has any real chance at winning the Premier League, it’s been a pretty good year for both clubs. Both Chelsea and Manchester United made it to the knockout rounds of the Champions League and both clubs are in the FA Cup Quarterfinals.
However, the season could turn in a hurry for either team if they don’t finish in the top four in the Premier League. There are just four points separating second place from fifth place in England, and finishing at the bottom of that range will be disastrous for one club. Currently, Manchester United is in second place with 56 points and Chelsea is in fourth place with 53 points, so this match has massive implications.
Don't miss the English Premier League action from Old Trafford at 9:05 a.m. ET on Sunday, February 25, 2018. Catch every moment of the match live on NBCSN.
EPL Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Chelsea +234
Manchester United +126
Draw +225
Over/Under 2, 2.5
Odds Analysis
It’s hard to win at Old Trafford, so oddsmakers have made Manchester United a slight favorite to win this match. The Red Devils are 10-2-1 at home this season, but the home field advantage has dissipated of late. They started the year winning eight straight Premier League games at Old Trafford, but lost to Manchester City and drew against Burnley and Southampton in December.
Chelsea have proven to be a good road team this season. The Blues are 7-3-3 away from Stamford Bridge in Premier League action. However, they were hammered 4-1 by Watford in their last road game.
When these teams met earlier in the season, there was plenty of offense but only one goal. The two sides combined for 28 shots, but Alvaro Morata’s goal in the 55th minute was the only one that found its mark, giving Chelsea the full three points.
Key Injuries
David Luiz and Tiemoue Bakayoko are unlikely to play for Chelsea in this one. Luiz has been out for a bit with an ankle injury, while Bakayoko suffered a minor injury in practice and will likely be on the sidelines.
The news on this end is worse for Manchester United. Ander Herrera is very unlikely to play after suffering an injury against Sevilla in Champions League action on Wednesday, and Marouane Fellaini will be out too. Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones are injured, but they may be able to play by kickoff.
There is a possibility that Zlatan Ibrahimovic could be in the lineup for this one. He has been sidelined due to knee injuries for most of the season, but is back in practice and may be able to contribute in this important tilt.
Recent Form
Neither side has looked particularly sharp in domestic play recently. Chelsea is 2-1-2 with losses to Watford and Bournemouth, while Manchester United is 3-0-2 with losses to Tottenham and Newcastle.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
David De Gea was phenomenal for Manchester United in their game against Sevilla earlier in the week coming up big time and time again for the Red Devils. Sevilla dominated the action, firing 25 shots at the Spanish keeper, but he made some brilliant saves and kept a clean sheet.
Chelsea’s offense may have only scored one goal against Barcelona, but they looked very crisp up front. Willian and Eden Hazard played extremely well off each other, with Willian hitting two posts and finding the back of the net once. After that performance, Antonio Conte won’t want to change anything up front, and will likely leave Pedro up with them as well.
The under is a good bet in this game. These are two of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League, and they won’t let you down with a misplay. As for a side, take Manchester United simply because of how well they have performed at home over the course of a year.
English Premier League Odds: Manchester United 1, Chelsea 0
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