With the grim inevitability of death and taxes, Erik Ten Hag was sacked as manager of Manchester United after a diabolical start to the season that has left the club with just 11 points from the opening nine games. While the death knell, defeat at West Ham, was more down to the players and officials than the manager, the Dutchman can have little argument that things were heading in the wrong direction.
His compatriot, club legend Ruud van Nistelrooy, has taken over as interim manager and began his stint with a 5-2 thrashing of Leicester in the Carabao Cup. It has now been confirmed that Ruben Amorim will become the next permanent manager at Old Trafford, although Van Nistelrooy will remain in place in the short term.
Chelsea have started the season well but were knocked out of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday after defeat to Newcastle, a team they had beaten in the league just a few days earlier. Still, Chelsea rested a lot of key players ahead of the trip to Old Trafford and should be back to full strength. Former Manchester United flop Jadon Sancho missed that cup game due to illness and is ineligible for this one as he is still on the Old Trafford books, having been loaned out to Chelsea. Supporters of either side may not miss him.
Van Nistelrooy will almost certainly have to do without the services of Kobbie Mainoo, Luke Shaw, Antony, Harry Maguire and Mason Mount, although Noussair Mazraoui should be available once more as a Premier League icon leads his team as manager for the first time.
In the other dugout, Enzo Maresca will hope United do not see the traditional new manager bounce and will want his players to focus on the game rather than the occasion. His Chelsea team have started the season brightly and have a serious chance of securing a top-four finish.
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Manchester United vs Chelsea odds
Venue: Old Trafford — Manchester
Time: 4:30 p.m. GMT (11:30 a.m. ET), Sunday
Streaming: Fubo (US only, try for free)
Form guide (league only)
Manchester United: 3-2-4, 11 points (14th); L-W-D-L-D
Chelsea: 5-2-2, 17 points (5th); W-L-D-W-W
Match prediction
Manchester United 2-2 Chelsea
This game is surely the most difficult to call of all the weekend’s fixtures. United have been so poor in the league for so long, yet one cannot discount the good vibes brought about by replacing a failing manager with a genuine club hero. However, this match is a different proposition to Leicester in the League Cup, so let’s meet in the middle.
More Premier League coverage
Premier League predicted line-ups: Who do our writers think will start in Gameweek 10?
Manchester United confirm Ruben Amorim as new head coach
Why the Premier League table after 10 games is a reliable guide to how the season will end
Have clubs promoted to the Premier League become too sensible?
(Photo of Bruno Fernandes: Nathan Stirk / Getty Images)
