Michael Owen states his prediction for Chelsea v Man United
The Liverpool legend is expecting that Chelsea and Manchester United will play out a 'tight, cagey game'c at Stamford Bridge on Sunday
Michael Owen believes Chelsea and Manchester United will play out a “tight, cagey affair” at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.
The defending Premier League champions will welcome their former manager Jose Mourinho and his Manchester United team back to Old Trafford for the second time since sacking the Portuguese coach in December 2015.
Chelsea were 4-0 winners against the Red Devils in this fixture in October 2016 thanks to goals from Eden Hazard, Pedro Rodriguez, Gary Cahill and N’Golo Kante.
However, the Blues endured a chastening 3-0 loss to AS Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday night to raise serious questions about Chelsea’s wobbling defence ahead of the visit of Manchester United.
Mourinho’s men have been criticised for a lack of style in recent weeks but Manchester United have still managed to secure a 1-0 win against title rivals Tottenham Hotspur and a 2-0 victory over Benfica without producing champagne football.
Former Liverpool striker Owen is tipping Chelsea and Manchester United to be goalless at half-time in what the retired England international believes will be a close-fought Premier League fixture between two clubs with title ambitions.
“Chelsea have lost just one of their last 15 home Premier League games against United and I expect Jose Mourinho to set his side out against the champions as he did at Anfield and hope to nick a goal on the break against his former club,” Owen told BetVictor.
“United have been functional rather than particularly impressive in recent games while Chelsea were well beaten in Rome in the Champions League earlier in the week. I expect to see a tight, cagey affair at Stamford Bridge.”
Chelsea won the Premier League title with two games to spare last season.
Manchester United finished in sixth spot in the Premier League table.
