Hungry Chelsea 12/5 to leave Old Trafford with a valuable point

With four games remaining and a tough as old boots fixture list for their own personal run-in, Chelsea head up to Old Trafford with a thirst for points. Their record against Manchester United and their top six buddies suggests that they can indeed return south with a draw for their troubles and they can be backed to achieve it at 12/5 with Coral.

It was Manchester United’s 3-2 win at Stamford Bridge in October that first suggested that a new look Chelsea may have been flattering to deceive as early season title-contenders, but though their  form has fluctuated since then, results against Manchester United, and the top six in general have been good.

The Blues have posted two wins and a draw against the Red Devils across three subsequent clashes in league and cup, whilst their 1.86 points per game average against top six rivals is a better record than any of their contemporaries in that illustrious mini league.

United’s last six results – two wins, two losses and two draws – represent a team in season-ending slowdown and with nothing but pride and a place in Fergie’s continued affections to play for they may be prone to exploitation by a Chelsea side that has breached their defences 10 times this term.

Chelsea are reliable conceders on the road, allowing at least one goal in six of their last seven away games and Coral go 8/15 about both teams to score. 

With the exception of their recent cagey FA Cup clash, meetings between the sides have been goal bonanzas, with an average of 4.8 registered in the last six matches. However United haven scored more than twice just once in their last 10 games – against non-more-porous Aston Villa – and they can be backed to bag less than 1.5 goals at 8/11 with Coral.

United’s players may be shorn of motivation having sealed the title, but they are thoroughly schooled in the winning mentality of their evergreen gaffer and will not be letting Chelsea become the third team to post a league win at Old Trafford in a hurry. It’s likely to take a special goal to undo them and luckily the Blues have just the man in maverick defender David Luiz.

The be-afroed brazilian has ushered in three goals – two magic, one mundane – in his last five games and Coral go 13/2 about him scoring at any time during proceedings in Manchester. With his two most recent strikes the last goal of the game, it may pay to lean towards him notching the game’s concluding goal for which he can be backed at 18/1.