Man Utd vs Chelsea preview | Latest injury news | Expected line-up’s | Prediction

Manchester United get their 2019/20 Premier League campaign underway with a mouth-watering heavyweight clash against Chelsea at Old Trafford this afternoon.

It’s been another busy summer of upheaval at United as they’ve splashed out big bucks on the signings of Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James while Romelu Lukaku joined Inter Milan on deadline day.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be relieved to put the transfer window behind him and focus on football but there will continue to be question marks surrounding the future of Paul Pogba until the European window’s close later this month.

It’s been a much quieter summer at Chelsea due to their transfer ban but they did see a change of manager at Stamford Bridge with club legend Frank Lampard coming in to replace Maurizio Sarri after he moved to Juventus.

It’s a tough start for Lampard but the former Chelsea midfielder will be desperate to kick-off his tenure as manager with a positive result against old foes Manchester United this afternoon.

Team news

Man Utd will be without Eric Bailly as he’s facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a knee injury. Alexis Sanchez is back in training but isn’t match fit after picking up a hamstring problem at the Copa America this summer.

Pogba is available after recovering from a back issue that kept him out of United’s last pre-season friendly against AC Milan while Maguire, Wan-Bissaka and James are expected to make their competitive debuts.

Chelsea will hand a late fitness test to N’Golo Kante as he’s only just returned to full training following a knock while Willian is also lacking match fitness having returned late to training following his exploits at the Copa America.

Antonio Rudiger isn’t likely to feature as he’s still working his way back to full fitness from a knee injury while Ruben Loftus-Cheek is out with a long-term Achilles injury.

Callum Hudson-Odoi is back in light training but won’t be available for a while yet and youngsters Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham could start alongside Christian Pulisic.

Expected line-ups

Predicted score

Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea: United have looked good in pre-season and the additions of Maguire and Wan-Bissaka will certainly tighten up a defence that conceded 54 goals last season. However, Man Utd have won just two of their last 13 league meetings with Chelsea with almost half of those games ending in a draw. Lampard will be desperate not to lose his first competitive game in charge of Chelsea so I think the spoils will be shared at Old Trafford this afternoon.