Manchester United vs. Chelsea: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview
Louis van Gaal faces the biggest test of his Manchester United career thus far when the Red Devils host table-topping Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday.
United have been inconsistent to say the least so far this season and, while always threatening in attack, they are still lacking real strength in a back line which will be severely tested by Jose Mourinho's side.
The Blues have yet to lose a match so far this season and are a comfortable five points clear at the summit of the English top-flight. However, they could be without a fully fit striker on Sunday due to injury.
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Read on for full television, live streaming and scheduling information for the weekend's blockbuster event in the Premier League.
Date: Sunday, Oct. 26
Time: 4 p.m. GMT, noon ET
TV Info: Sky Sports 1 (UK), NBC (US)
Live Stream: Sky Go, NBC Sports Live Extra
United Must Tighten Up
It has certainly not been boring watching the Red Devils of late. Their most recent outing on Monday saw them twice go behind against West Brom before claiming a late point through Daley Blind.
Their remarkable combination of abundant attacking talent—in the likes of Angel di Maria, Radamel Falcao and Juan Mata—and often atrocious defending makes for entertaining viewing as they always give their opposition opportunities going forward.
However, they cannot afford to give Chelsea any freedom in attack at Old Trafford. If they do, Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard and Oscar will cut them to pieces.
Van Gaal may look to add an extra midfielder to his starting 11 on Sunday—Michael Carrick is certainly an option having returned from injury—which would allow United to control the ball more easily.
That would mean jettisoning one of their more attacking players, with Robin van Persie looking vulnerable after a string of poor performances, per Eurosport:
United must tighten up against Chelsea or they will be severely punished by a side who have bagged 23 goals in eight Premier League games so far this season.
Chelsea's Striking Problems
In Loic Remy, Didier Drogba and particularly Diego Costa, Mourinho has three excellent strikers on which to call for Sunday's game.
The problem is that all three of them have had fitness issues of late and none of them will be 100 per cent for the trip to Old Trafford, per Matt Barlow of the Daily Mail.
Costa is Mourinho's No. 1 pick—the former Atletico Madrid man has scored nine goals in seven Premier League appearances so far this season, per WhoScored.com—but missed out on last weekend's 2-1 away win at Crystal Palace.
He was also absent from the squad that beat Maribor 6-0 in the Champions League midweek with an ongoing groin problem and recently had to be hospitalised with a stomach complaint, per the BBC's Match of the Day:
Remy was substituted early on against Maribor with his own groin issue and Drogba has only recently returned from an ankle injury and, at 36, is unlikely to be able to play a full 90 minutes.
Mourinho certainly has problems up front but in the likes of Oscar, Hazard and also Andre Schurrle, Chelsea still have enough attacking threat to trouble United, especially on the counter-attack.
Chelsea are firm favourites for Sunday's game given the respective form of both sides but it is likely to be an eventful occasion with the Blues looking to keep their unbeaten record intact and United eager to make up ground on the league-leaders.
