Danny Murphy has claimed that Manchester United have lost Old Trafford’s fear-factor ahead of the visit of Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.
Jose Mourinho will be looking to put a spanner in Chelsea’s title bid when the Premier League leaders make the long trip to Old Trafford in search of three points.
Manchester United have drawn their last two Premier League games at home to lose ground on their top-four rivals in search of a return to the Champions League.
The 20-time English champions played out consecutive 1-1 stalemates with Bournemouth and Everton to offer Chelsea hope ahead of their trip to Manchester.
Chelsea have already beaten Manchester Untied twice in the 2016-17 season thanks to a 4-0 home win in the league back in October before a 1-0 victory in the FA Cup quarter-final at Stamford Bridge last month.
Speaking to the Evening Standard ahead of Sunday’s clash between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford, former Liverpool and Spurs midfielder Murphy said:
“In recent seasons, visiting teams have shown far more confidence against Manchester United at Old Trafford than during Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign. They arrive at the ground and think, “Bournemouth have got a point here this season, so have Burnley. Why can’t we?”
“What a contrast from years ago, when most teams would go there already beaten.
“There would be a fear factor, meaning players went on the pitch clinging to a tiny bit of hope that things would somehow go well. Chelsea will be far more optimistic about their prospects on Sunday.
“During the best days of the Ferguson teams, United didn’t fear anyone at Old Trafford or play with any caution.
“They would set out to run all over you. Now, they often treat teams with respect by playing more conservatively. That tells you everything about where United were then and where they are now.”