Mourinho Return Adds to the Magic in Premier League 2018

Mourinho Return Adds to the Magic in Premier League 2018

Chelsea vs Manchester United

The Premier League is back and the fixture of the weekend with it.

Any Premier League 2018 news story that involves Manchester United is big business, and it’s even bigger when it involves their manager taking his charges back to his old stomping ground.

It’s Mourinho up against ‘Mister’ for the first ever time – Maurizio Sarri the new Chelsea boss whose side are joint top of the table and seven points ahead of Saturday’s visitors to Stamford Bridge.

Talking Points

There is no doubt the pressure is on United and, particularly Mourinho.

Despite receiving support from a former favourite this week, he knows United have been poor at the back so far this season, already leaking 14 goals in the league. This is terrible in comparison to the three conceded by both their bitter rivals Manchester City and Liverpool as well as Chelsea’s five.

Defeat on Saturday would also ensure they equal the club’s lowest points tally after nine matches of a Premier League season: 13 in 2014-15.

Yet in many ways, there is some pressure off this weekend.

That is because Chelsea are firm favourites.

They have only dropped points this season against West Ham and Liverpool and have shown their own credentials to perhaps make some observers, well me anyway, think twice about whether they can actually to launch a title bid.

I still think the highest they will finish is third. But without the Champions League to take away some of their focus (although the Europa League can be a major distraction), Sarri may be hoping he can do what predecessor Antonio Conte achieved two seasons ago which ultimately led to the top prize returning to Stamford Bridge for the first time since Mourinho guided them.

Chelsea are vying to remain unbeaten in their opening nine Premier League games for only the third time, having done so in their title-winning seasons of 2005-06 and 2014-15 (both under Mourinho).

The irony of achieving or not achieving that against the most successful manager in the club’s history merely adds to the intrigue.

In terms of team news, defender Antonio Rudiger could miss his first Premier League game of the season because of a groin problem. Otherwise, they have a clean bill of health.

It’s not so good for United with Jesse Lingard not expected to recover from a groin injury in time. Mourinho also needs to assess the fitness of Ander Herrera, Scott McTominay, Nemanja Matic (against his former employers), Luke Shaw (fresh from signing a new five-year contract) and Marouane Fellaini before the lunchtime kick-off.

Last time out, United produced a stirring fightback.

Could it be the catalyst for a turning point in their season or will it be a false dawn?

We may be about to find out.

History

The history has taken on a new twist since Roman Abramovich walked into Stamford Bridge with his roubles in the summer of 2003.

That went up another notch when former Chelsea favourite Mourinho was appointed United boss just over two years ago.

Last season, the clubs met three times.

An Alvaro Morata header earned Chelsea, then the reigning champions, a 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge in November.

The tables were turned at Old Trafford in February when Romelu Lukaku and Jesse Lingard secured a 2-1 home win after Willian had fired the visitors in front.

Chelsea had the last laugh, however, when an Eden Hazard penalty won the FA Cup Final in May to clinch victory in the showpiece of the season and ensure United and Mourinho ended the season empty-handed after failing to recover from a slow start to the game.

Mourinho has brought United to Stamford Bridge three times in his first two seasons at United, and they have lost the match and failed to score a goal on all three occasions.

Manchester United or Draw, Double Chance @ 2.00

Given that Chelsea are joint-top of the Premier League and United are leaking goals left, right and centre, it will come as no surprise to SBOBET fans that the Premier League 2018 betting odds point towards a home victory.

So much so, in fact, the 1X2 odds on Chelsea stand @ 1.74 in contrast to United @ 4.40. Even the draw is priced @ 3.70, so it’s certainly worth a punt on United with those odds.

Asian Handicap betting has tantalising odds on both clubs. Chelsea -1.00 @ 2.33 will seem eminently sensible to many, while United +0.50 @ 2.23 is too good to turn down for others.

Under three goals @ 1.60 tells its own story, and another tight encounter is certainly expected.

Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.

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