Game Week 10 Predictions: United and Chelsea to serve us goals at Old Trafford

Manchester United faces Chelsea at Old Trafford under new interim manager Van Nistelrooy. Both teams aim for a crucial win in an high-stakes showdown.

Ruud Van Nistelrooy would hope to impress in the dugout when Chelsea comes to town on Sunday as an interim manager following the sacking of Erik Ten Hag. (Photo credit: Opta)

 Manchester United vs. Chelsea.

Old Trafford

5:30pm

Following a poor run of results this weekend, Manchester United fired Erik Ten Hag on Monday, leaving former club striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy in charge on Sunday.

The club announced the signing of Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim, but the Portuguese will not start work until the next international break. Van Nistelrooy will make a league debut in the Old Trafford dugout after leading the team out in midweek in the Carabao Cup.

Chelsea will hope to avoid the new manager's bounce effect when they go to Old Trafford; they’re bleeding from their 2-0 loss to Newcastle on Wednesday. Chelsea must bounce back from that, but they must do it at difficult ground.

The Red Devils enjoyed a great show against Leicester in the fifth round of the League Cup, scoring five goals for the first time since Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s era and hoping to build on that when they take on the Blues on Sunday.

With a win, the Blues could move up to third, an incentive they won't want to pass up. They needed the midweek rotation, and regulars should return to the starting eleven; this is a game they can't afford to lose.

Chelsea has already lost to two top sides this season, losing at home to the champions on the opening day and suffering a 2-1 defeat at Anfield. Chelsea beat Newcastle in the league last weekend before losing to them in the cup; they must get a grip and earn a result at Old Trafford.

Jadon Sancho is the only player unavailable for this game as he can’t face his parent club; everyone else is fit and available for selection. Enzo Maresca is expected to restore Cole Palmer, Robert Sanchez, and Nicolas Jackson to the starting eleven after resting them all in midweek.

Kobbie Mainoo is available for selection; he is expected to feature from the start while Harry Maguire returned from injury already, leaving Leny Yoro, who is back in training, and Antony as the only doubts for the game on Sunday.

United would draw inspiration from their heartbreaking loss to Chelsea last season to exert maximum effort in this game. Despite leading 3-2 deep into stoppage time, they ultimately lost 4-3 due to a Cole Palmer hattrick.

Verdict: Both teams to score