Manchester United vs. Chelsea: Predicting and Previewing the Starting 11

Chelsea travel to Old Trafford knowing Manchester United have triumphed in four of the last five meetings. 

Though which team has won the most games at Old Trafford in the Premier League era? 

Chelsea. 

This will be Chelsea manager André Villas-Boas' litmus test of his competency.

Seven years ago, Villas-Boas watched on as Eiður Guðjohnsen scored the decisive goal in José Mourinho's first encounter and defeat Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.  

There are many subplots: will Fernando Torres score? Will David de Gea make another mistake? Can Chelsea stop Manchester United in their tracks? Is the writing on the wall for Rio Ferdinand? 

Here are my predictions and previews of the starting 11 for Manchester United and Chelsea.   

Goalkeeper: David de Gea

Statistically David de Gea is the second best goalkeeper in terms of save/shots percentage with 85, second only to Stoke City's Asmir Begović with 93. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index rank de Gea as the best goalkeeper.

Yet the statistics mask the three mistakes he has made in five games so far. Also in the game against Tottenham Hotspur where he didn't make a mistake, he was outperformed by the ageless Brad Friedel. 

Then there's the Opta statistic of de Gea conceding the most goals outside the box in La Liga.

Here's an interesting statistic: Did you know de Gea has saved five penalties this year?

Pierre Webó, Fernando Llorente, David Trezeguet, Yevhen Konoplyanka and Robin van Persie can attest to this fact.     

Right Back: Phil Jones

Having had to contend with his brother Rafael who is out with injury, Fábio now is behind make-shift right backs Chris Smalling and Phil Jones.

So I feel sorry for the Brazilian youngster.  

Jones had an astonishingly good game at right back against Bolton Wanderers but it was against a pretty mediocre Paul Robinson.

Fábio was average against Benfica and should have troubled Emerson a lot more.

Having started the season with Smalling at right back, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson for whatever reason decided to play Jones at right back against Bolton and subbed Fábio off to give Jones a small cameo at right back. 

Fábio didn't make the most of his start and Smalling hasn't played at right back for the last two games, so therefore it's probable that Jones will start at right back against Chelsea. 

Centre Back: Rio Ferdinand

Having played against Bolton Wanderers, I interpreted Rio Ferdinand's omission from the squad against Benfica as a chance to rest him for the big game against Chelsea rather than him being dropped.

Assuming he hasn't suffered another injury in training, Ferdinand should start against Chelsea. 

Centre Back: Chris Smalling

Chris Smalling played all right at right back, but has been shifted back to centre back.

I cannot envision Sir Alex Ferguson starting Jonny Evans because surely it's a concern if he gets turned by Óscar Cardozo, who has no pace at all. 

Left Back: Patrice Evra

With Manchester United looking flat, stand-in captain Patrice Evra led by example and did his best to spark attacks as he raided down the left wing. 

At times, he is in la-la land when it comes to sticking to his man, but so far he's been resilient in defence and has linked up efficiently with Ashley Young.   

Right Wing: Nani

Do you know who has attempted the most dribbles and runs in the Premier League? 

It's not Nani; surprisingly it's Blackburn Rovers' Canadian winger David Hoilett.

With Antonio Valencia still needing time to regain be 100 percent match fit and perhaps even physically fit, it's unlikely Nani won't start. 

The other alternative is to play Park Ji-Sung, who in recent big games has produced the goods but will probably be an impact sub. 

Centre Midfielder: Anderson

Anderson has been such a dynamic driving force in Manchester United's midfield that if you didn't knowing the starting lineups 10 minutes into the game, you would have known Anderson wasn't playing. 

The Brazilian is generally always looking for a lateral pass, taking players on, running at players when he doesn't have possession and doing everything in his capacity to hold onto the first-team position he has worked so hard to gain. 

If he keeps up this intensity and level of play, he will be finally living up to his £20 million transfer fee. 

Centre Midfielder: Michael Carrick

For a player so polarising to Manchester United supporters because he doesn't offer defence in midfield and he's too conservative with possession, he played two exceptional games against Chelsea last season which dispelled those myths. 

What about his game against Schalke where he made 13 interceptions and two tackles?

Manchester United supporters received a glimpse of what a energetic midfield pairing of Anderson and Cleverley could provide—fast, incisive and dynamic football. 

Carrick was average against Benfica, and worryingly Manchester United's midfield look devoid of ideas, creativity or energy without Anderson and Cleverley.

Cleverley stepped up when Carrick didn't in the Community Shield; now Carrick needs to step up against Chelsea with Cleverley out injured.   

Left Wing: Ashley Young

Since joining Manchester United, Ashley Young has scored two goals and provided five assists in four games.

In the Premier League, he has created nine scoring chances. 

How many assists do you think Young has accumulated in 2011? 12. 

Forward: Wayne Rooney

Eight goals and one assist in four Premier League games. 

To think Wayne Rooney wanted out of Manchester United. We now know he didn't; it was just a twisted ploy to steal money from the Glazers, who have been stealing money from Manchester United. 

In 2011, Rooney has scored 24 goals and provided eight assists in 36 overall games.

He also scored two hat tricks; can he net another one against Chelsea?  

Forward: Chicharito

Fortune favoured Danny Welbeck, who made the most of Chicharito's concussion, yet fortune has favoured Chicharito in regaining his first-team position after Welbeck pulled his hamstring. 

Chicharito has scored three goals in five games against Chelsea. 

Manchester United: 4-4-2: ---> 4-4-1-1

This season, in every Premier League game so far, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has used a 4-4-2 formation, which he has used in 440 Premier League games. 

On paper it's a 4-4-2 but in reality, it's closer to a 4-4-1-1 where Wayne Rooney drops deep to create and it would be accurate to call him a trequartista. 

He isn't constrained by the tactical positioning required by a normal No. 9 because he has a free role.

Let's look at Chelsea's starting 11.   

Goalkeeper: Petr Čech

Unlike David de Gea, Petr Čech doesn't have an ambitious Anders Lindegaard looking over his shoulder so desperate to become No. 1.

Rather Čech has Hilário, who is contemplating life after football, and Ross Turnbull, who is content with picking his wage slip for just turning up for training.

Čech hasn't kept a clean sheet in his last five games against Manchester United.     

Right Back: José Bosingwa

José Bosingwa was given a chance by manager André Villas-Boas, and he has grabbed it with both hands.

He said this of Villas-Boas: "The manager is important because he believes in me."

Villas-Boas has shown a preference toward Portuguese players so it's highly unlikely that Bosingwa, who has been in great form, will be dropped for the more defensively solid Branislav Ivanović.

Bosingwa's first real obstacle will be keeping Ashley Young quiet.      

Centre Back: John Terry

Wrapped in cotton wool to avoid injury against Bayer Leverkusen, John Terry will captain Chelsea against Manchester United. 

He'll look to ensure his defence can keep a clean sheet—something they haven't accomplished in the last five games against Manchester United.  

Centre Back: David Luiz

David Luiz looks like Simpsons character Sideshow Bob, and his defending resembles what Bob is about—crazy. 

I don't have too much issue with Luiz cynically pulling down André Schürrle as long as he doesn't test the limits like he did against Manchester United, where it was miraculous that he didn't get sent off. 

What I do have issue with is him clattering into Stefan Kießling out near the touch line. Credit to Kießling, who just stood there staring ironically at Luiz, who was on the floor in agony having come off second best. 

If Luiz committed the same foul against Dani Alves, you would have had Alves going off on a stretcher and the entire Barcelona team surrounding the referee pressuring him into giving a red card to Luiz.

One can't help but envision Luiz taking out Chicharito in one rush-of-the-blood moment that could cost Chelsea. 

Though Luiz offers so much going forward that one wonders why not play him as a holding midfielder?

Just to delve into Branislav Ivanović's situation.

Considering he lost his right back position to José Bosingwa, hasn't played solidly at centre back and has only played due to Luiz's injury, I wouldn't be surprised if Ivanović finds himself spending more time on the bench.    

Left Back: Ashley Cole

The undisputed left back at the club is so unrivaled that reserve left back Ryan Bertrand couldn't even get a position in the UEFA Champions League squad. 

That itself shows how much faith the club management have in Ashley Cole. Perhaps a bit of blind faith in that they don't believe Cole will get injured. 

Holding Midfielder: Raul Meireles

Raul Meireles showed against Sunderland that he can play a deeper role whilst being more dynamic, more influential, and more creative and adventurous than John Obi Mikel.

I believe Chelsea manager André Villas-Boas has preference toward Portuguese players; therefore Meireles will play as a holding midfielder.     

Centre Midfielder: Ramires

With directness, all-action tackling, a Park Ji-Sung-esque work ethic and box-to-box running, why wouldn't a Chelsea midfield that looked dull against Bayer Leverkusen welcome Ramires back with open arms? 

Ramires has contested in 32 challenges over four Premier League games.

Here's an interesting statistic showing the progress of Ramires' passing percentage.

• vs. Stoke City: 34/45 passes (76 percent success rate)
• vs. West Bromwich Albion: 39/45 passes (87 percent success rate)
• vs. Norwich City: 33/38 passes (87 percent success rate)
• vs. Sunderland: 35/37 passes (95 percent success rate)

A 95 passing percent success rate against Manchester United would be great.  

Centre Midfielder: Frank Lampard

Who has created the most goal scoring chances so far in the Premier League?

Frank Lampard, with 14.

So it's ludicrous when Chelsea supporters criticise Lampard for slowing down.

Right Forward: Nicolas Anelka

"

"Daniel Sturridge, who has been ruled out for a while, is also an incredible player—maybe the one that has surprised me the most since I came here."

"

That was Fernando Torres praising Daniel Sturridge, but against Bayer Leverkusen, I do not think Sturridge passed the ball once to Torres in an advantageous position.

It's not Sturridge's fault because he is being played out of position; the left back already knows he will cut in to shoot. 

Considering how well the young Englishman has played even out of position shows how much quality he has.

It wasn't any surprise that as soon as Nicolas Anelka came on, Bayer Leverkusen left back Michal Kadlec looked less reassured.

Against Patrice Evra, it's better to have Anelka, who has the ability to get to the byline and deliver in a cross. 

Whereas Sturridge will make Evra's life a lot easier because even if he beats the Manchester United left back to the byline, can he consistently deliver in quality crosses with his opposite foot?

Centre Forward: Fernando Torres

Fernando Torres has received a lot of criticism justifiably, but when he plays well like he did against Bayer Leverkusen, he deserves praise.

Not giving him praise would be unfair.

As far as I'm concerned, an assist is as good as a goal. Two assists equals two goals.

The worrying aspect of Torres is that he still can't manufacture his own goal.

He couldn't do it against a very inexperienced Leverkusen centre back pairing of Ömer Toprak and Stefan Reinartz, during which Toprak was making his European debut. 

Where's the dominance of a £50 million valued forward?

That being said, considering how dire he's played, I'm just relieved he played well when the chips were down.

He has suffered humiliation by not making the Spanish bench, being "rotated" against Sunderland, having the English media report his criticism of teammates as if it's breaking news and then being investigated by Chelsea management over his criticism.

Torres came to the party against Leverkusen and hopefully two more assists against Manchester United. 

The Spaniard hasn't score a hat trick since the 26th September 2009, almost two years ago, against Hull City in a 6-1 thrashing. 

Left Forward: Juan Mata

The best case scenario for Juan Mata is if Manchester United play Fábio at right back, though I believe it will either be Chris Smalling or Phil Jones. 

Both are substantially bigger and stronger than Mata and don't have any noticeable defensive frailties.

Having been gifted a goal against from a selfless-yet-seriously-desperate-to-score Fernando Torres, hopefully Mata can be as generous.  

Chelsea: 4-3-3 --> 4-1-2-3

On paper, it will be a 4-3-3, but on the field it will be a 4-1-2-3, assuming Raul Meireles plays the same way he did against Sunderland.

John Obi Mikel would sit a bit deeper whereas Meireles is a bit more adventurous and his passing vision is more expansive.   

Let's look at the key matchups in Manchester United vs. Chelsea.   

4-4-1-1 vs. 4-1-2-3

Key matchups

Wayne Rooney and Chicharito vs. Chelsea defence: Can the Chelsea defence keep a clean sheet? They've failed in the past five games against Manchester United. 

Fernando Torres vs. Manchester United defence: Against an inexperienced Bayer Leverkusen defence, Torres could not dominate the game. 

Ashley Young vs. José Bosingwa: I've always held the belief that Bosingwa's defending was always suspect, and against the smaller teams, it doesn't show up. Against Young, it will if Bosingwa neglects his defensive duties. He needs to stick to Young like glue. 

Anderson and Michael Carrick vs. Raul Meireles, Frank Lampard and Ramires: Without possession, Meireles will push up to form a midfield three to pressure Anderson and Carrick.

Factors to consider

 Will David de Gea make his fourth mistake in six games? 

How effective will Ashley Young and Nani be?

Can Rooney pull of a world class performance?

Is Michael Carrick a liability in midfield?

If John Obi Mikel starts, will Chelsea's slow build up in midfield cost them dearly?  

How much influence can the impact subs have for both teams? From a Chelsea perspective, surely Romelu Lukaku will be given a 15- to 20-minute cameo. 

Comment below on your predicted starting 11s for both or either team and predict the scoreline.

Please also read Anzhi Makhachkala: What you need to know about Russia's answer to Manchester City.