Manchester United vs Chelsea Preview: Harry Maguire leads Red Devils to test Frank Lampard’s Blues

The Frank Lampard era begins with a mouthwatering trip to Old Trafford, as the Blues legend takes Chelsea to face Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.

On Sunday, in the last game of the Premier League’s opening weekend, the two most successful English clubs of the past two decades, meet on the opening weekend for the first time in 15 years.

Manchester United failed to win any of their home games against the other ‘big six’ clubs in the Premier League last season, an ugly record the Norwegian manager will look to correct at the first time of asking.

https://www.twitter.com/SuperSportTV/status/1122534663006896133

After a promising start to the Solskjaer era, the Old Trafford side limped to the finish line closing the season with just eight points from the final 27 on offer, their worst defensive record since 1978/79.

Major Acquisitions and Departures

Harry Maguire has been brought in from Leicester for a world-record fee to shore up a United defence that had the fewest home clean sheets in a league campaign for 56 years.

https://www.twitter.com/ManUtd/status/1158362124957167616

Following the centre-back Harry Maguire into Old Trafford is full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka who has been impressive during preseason games.

Striker Romelu Lukaku, Marouane Fellaini, Antonio Valencia, and Ander Herrera have been allowed to leave. Strangely, no replacement forward has come in.

Chelsea, meanwhile, have sold David Luiz to London rivals Arsenal despite being embargoed from signing new players.

https://www.twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1159704862768209922

However, US national team star Christian Pulisic was recruited from Dortmund in January before the ban came into effect, and a clause in Mateo Kovacic’s loan deal from Real Madrid enabled the Blues to sign the midfielder permanently this summer.

That scenario has opened the door for some players to break new ground on Sunday. Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori could start for the Blues for the first time, while Pulisic and Mount may make their league debut for the Blues.

Man United v Chelsea: when, where

Kick-off: 4.30pm
Referee: Anthony Taylor
VAR: Stuart Attwell

Stadium: Old Trafford

Team news

Suspensions: Man United – none; Chelsea – none
Injuries: Man United – Bailly, Fosu-Mensah, Pereira, Sanchez;

Chelsea – Hudson-Odoi, James, Loftus-Cheek, Rudiger