Monday, 8pm, live on Sky Sports 1
JOSE MOURINHO'S back – and on Monday he's back at Old Trafford to face a side he loves beating more than any other.
His battles with Sir Alex Ferguson in his first spell in charge of the Blues was legendary and contributed to the record 14 Premier League defeats the Reds have suffered to their London rivals.
Chelsea are branded United's bogey team by some and last season won three out of five meetings with another one drawn.
So if Davie Moyes loses on Monday night he'll be following in the footsteps of his predecessor – but if he wins he'll be quickly established as a hero with United fans.
In terms of the title race it's too early to tag this a six-pointer but whoever wins will lay down a marker and take a psychological edge which could be just as important.
Mourinho lost just two of his seven games as Chelsea boss in the Theatre of Dreams, winning three of them and suffering nightmares only twice.
So he has nothing to fear but this is an incredibly tough encounter to call. I've got a feeling United won't lose and while games between close rivals can sometimes be non-events as they cancel earch other out, the presence of Mourinho on the touchline and the Wayne Rooney saga should mean this fizzles for 90 minutes.
Both made winning starts last week, United being more impressive, and I can see plenty of goals as they go hell for leather in what's anticipated to be a thrilling 90 minutes.
If forced to pick a winner I'd side with United at 6-4 with the likes of William Hill and Paddy Power while Chelsea are 11-5 at William Hill. But I'm quite happy to sit on the fence and pick a draw – and it should be a scoring one with 2-2 a possibility at 14-1 with Coral, Ladbrokes, William Hill and others.
So go for goals. Both teams to score pays just 13-20 at BetVictor while over 2.5 is 5-6 at BetVictor and over 3.5 is 2-1 at Betfred, Ladbrokes and Coral.
Robin van Persie has netted nine goals in his last eight league appearances and must be considered for first goal at 5-1 at William Hill and 188Bet. Just to net the Dutchman is 11-8 to BetVictor.
Mourinho has started Fernando Torres and Demba Ba – with neither scoring – so this could be a chance for Romelu Lukaku who is 8-1 (various) to first and 11-4 (Coral) at anytime.
Cast your mind back to last season and remember Lukaku ruined Ferguson's last day just a bit when he banged in a hat-trick in loan side West Brom's 5-5 draw with United at the Hawthorns.
Chelsea's biggest threat seems to come from midfield and Frank Lampard, loved by Mourinho, is 7-2 at Betfred and Coral to net during 90 minutes.
Expect this one to be as fiery as the atmosphere in both dugouts and I can see an early booking. This is always risky but a card in the first 15 minutes pays 7-2 at Paddy Power.
Recommended Bets
Draw
(5-2, Betfred)
Over 3.5 goals
(2-1, Betfred, Ladbrokes, Coral)
RVP to score first
(5-1, William Hill)
First card 0-15 minutes
(7-2, Paddy Power)
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
Looking to be a fantastic game and love the odds
Draw (3.45 odds) £10 pays £24.5
Correct score 1-1 (7.8 odds) £10 pays £68
+2.5 goals (1.87 odds) £23 pays £20
With these three separate bets I have places I’m covered all results except 1-0, 2-0 To either team. Any orher score im covered and with a even, small profite or large profit especially with a 1-1 or 2-2 result.
Do you think the score will be 1-0 or 2-0 to either team???
So do you think it’s going 1-0 or 2-0 game?
Chelsea -1
11/2
Worth a bet
Thinking 2-0 Chelsea reggie
What do you reckon Paul, take RVP @ 5/1 or @ 4/1 doubled to 8/1 if scored in first 20 mins
Chris, it’s up to you mate, you know the deal.
First Goalscorer double RVP and Ronaldo @ 20/1 with William Hill looks appealing.
Paddy Power 7/2 cut to 5/2 already. I like how they offer no booking @ 70/1 and hills offering 14/1.
I see bookings but 14/1 seems right. 70/1 is too big
Draw also seems most likely result to me. So, I’ll be on RVP anytime and draw, which is 11/1 with betvictor.
Rvp 6/1 first goal ladbrokes . Just incase anyone’s betting on him . On ladbrokes.com it says 9/2 .but it will be 6/1 tomorrow.
Tough game to call this one Chelsea do look appealing at 2/1 tho. Bet365 have their inplay offer on for this game
Putting all this weekends winning on a 2-2 score line. Got a feeling this will be a cracker
reggie.
in all seriousness I think 1 or 2-0 either way is a distinct possibility.
there is no fact behind this, just a hunch, which is no good to you but there you go.
on the face of it I should be lumping on bts at bet365’s 8-13, especially when you consider Chelsea have scored on their last 6 visits to old Trafford and except for last seasons game (united had clinched the league so the game was a dead rubber) they scored in the previous 14 homes v Chelsea.
but like I say, I have a nagging feeling this will be a tight, no one wants to lose game which could be settled by a solitary late goal either way.
just a hunch !!!!!!!!!
Had a think about this game and atm I’m going with pre-match 1-1 and inplay 2-2 with bet365 offer. So if it ends 0-0 I get bet365 bore draw money back so covering three outcomes with two bets. That’s what I’m thinking right now, may change by midday tomorrow!
I might have a crafty tenner on under 2.5 goals and 4-6 cards at 3-1 hills
Sky bet are offering 7/2 on group correct scores 1-1, 2-2, 3-3
in mourinhio’s 1st spell, 7 out of the 10 games v united were under 2.5 goals.
1-1 out of those 3 for me dave, if its not 1-0 either way.
do you get 7-2 if any of the 3 results happen ????.
if so, and you fancy the draw get on, because there is no history of goal less games between these 2 sides
Mr. F, just a thought. i see you recommended over 3.5 goals and a draw for the chelsea utd game.. would’nt it be better to go for a 2-2 result at higher odds instead of the draw? the only possibility of a draw over 3.5 goals would be a 2-2 or a 3-3(which i dont see happenin).
Mr K, I probably will go for a 2-2 draw with small stakes but the draw is just a prediction. It could be 3-1 or 3-2 to either side which at least would bring up the goals bet.
MANHESTER UNITED v chelski
A very hard game to bet on with any certainty on the outcome as this could go either way,home or away,unders or overs,even a bore draw stalemate.
I was drawn to the 6/4 on offer for a home victory but that was more the fan in me looking the victory for united over the plastic chelski,the recent run of only 1 win for united in last 6 meetings has put me off so I took another look at stats for my safest bet whilst still siding with united and the stat of RVP scoring 9 times in last 8 games makes a safer betting option.
So its RVP to net anytime at odds of evens for me…..GO ON UNITED!!!
Very good weekend for me.just wanna top it of tonight what is the best way to use the free bet on bet365 tonight any thoughts
Racking my brains with this one. Gonna use free bet on RVP 1st goal score but narrowed to 4 possibilities for pre-game bet;
Card before 24 mins – 1.83
1st half goal line over 1.0 – 2.00
Btts – 1.61
Man U team goals +1.5 – 2.00
Any thoughts anyone?
The more I think about this game the more I’m thinking under 2.5 goals. Jose is more defensive minded and will set his team up for the counter. But with so many quality players this screams goals. Still undecided
that’s my £50 on over 0.5 gls in the match at 1/20 for£52.50 and will put £50 on the draw after 10 minutes covering no goal scorer and a chance of both bets up if it’s a score draw. looking forward to it already and praying on a 1-1 or 2-2 but should still be some game.
chrissy, depends if you want to go for guaranteed profit or a riskier bet you decide :) this is mines but there’s loads on twitter just now #prayforthedraw
MrT I’ve took the Man U over 1.5 goals, I think that going forward they might cause Chelsea a lot of problems however you might wanna stay clear of it mate i’ve not been doing so well with my bets recently! Gonna take RVP anytime scorer in play I think with the free bet
The Ararat game just had another 4 goals in the space of 4 minutes lol good tipping guys
sorry guys placed the Ararat thing in the wrong thread!
After much deliberation I’m doing £50 on united pre match will give it 25-30 mins then go draw with the in play bet. £70 profit roughly if either one comes in!
So if I was you I’d go Chelsea for the win ;-)
Know the bookies(PPow&Lads) are laying Van Persie to score 1st.tonight??? But he is available in Ladbroke shops @ 6/1
Some one please correct me if I’m wrong if I put £50 on Chelsea or draw pre match at 4/7 it returns £78. If I then put the £50 in play bet on united at 7/5 return is £120.
If bet 1 comes in I’ll have £28 profit and if bet 2 comes in ill have £20 profit as it’ll be minus the £50 in play stake and obviously mini the £50 put on bet 1.
Is this correct please help only an hour to go!
That’s correct Bazza!!!
Went with 1-1 and 2-2 so nothing lost but nothing gained. Had a feeling it would be a tight game especially with Jose in charge, just wish I had gone with 0-0. Boring game really