Manchester United vs Chelsea: Five key facts to inform your betting

There's little doubt as to the marquee tie of gameweek six in the Premier League, as Manchester United aim to build on an exceptional midweek win against a Chelsea side that haven't enjoyed their recent trips to Old Trafford.

We've picked out five key facts ahead of the big clash that may help inform your betting, or just make you look smart in a WhatsApp group with your mates!

Another penalty?

Manchester United and penalty kicks go hand-in-hand right now, and while opposing fans have claimed the Red Devils have received favourable treatment from referees for years, the level of ire has cranked up since the start of last season. It should be said that there is a skill to winning penalties and a reward that comes with isolating opponents in the box that this current iteration of the club has mastered.

Indeed, United have been awarded 17 penalties in the league alone since the start of last season - almost one every other game - and have also had spot kicks in three of their last four meetings with Chelsea. Bruno Fernandes to score is a market many might explore (best price of 2.85), while the penalty in the match market is also worth considering given Chelsea have had 11 themselves since the start of last season (best price of 2.60).

Chelsea's sole Old Trafford goalscorer

While it's been a summer of change at Chelsea, that doesn't change the fact that only one member of their squad has ever scored at Old Trafford is pretty remarkable. The Blues were unable to sign players in successive windows prior to the most recent after all, so the fact that - wait for it - Marcos Alonso is the only player to have scored a goal away at United highlights the club's struggles in this fixture for some time now.

We won't be backing Alonso to score in this one, that's for sure, but if you fancy Chelsea's woes in front of goal at Old Trafford to continue, they are priced at 4.00 to fail to score (under 0.5 team goals).

Win or lose, United would make history

It's been 55 years since Manchester United last won three consecutive top-flight matches against Chelsea, looking to do so having hit Chelsea for six without reply across their league encounters last season. In fact, the Blues haven't won at Old Trafford in seven attempts, so many might favour another home win.

However, Solskjaer's side have had a dismal start on home soil this season, losing to Palace and Tottenham and conceding nine goals in the process. Should they fall to another defeat it would be the first time in 90 years that they have lost their opening three league matches at Old Trafford, finishing bottom of the Old First Division in that year (1930).

Given those two stats cancel one another out, a draw would prevent either from happening but would extend Chelsea's winless run on United's patch to eight matches and is certainly a tempting best price at 3.65.

The first goal may not be decisive

If there is one area where United seem to have a clear edge, or at least since the start of the year, it's in their ability to put disappointment behind them. The Red Devils fell behind early on at Newcastle last time out in the league but fought back to ultimately secure a 4-1 win and they have now won an unrivalled 13 points from losing positions since the turn of the year.

By contrast, only Arsenal (15) have dropped more points from winning positions than Chelsea, so if the Blues do manage to find a goal - most likely from one of their new recruits if point two is anything to go by, don't rule out a fight back from the home side. The hosts are priced at 10.50 to win from a losing position, while the price of 6.50 to come from behind and draw perhaps looks the smarter bet.

Super Marcus Rashford

In the headlines for all the right reasons of late, most notably due to his inspirational and unrelenting work to attack the child food poverty problem in the UK, Rashford is doing plenty of talking on the pitch too. The England international has earned back-to-back man of the match awards against Newcastle and PSG, proving to be the match winner in midweek, and enjoys facing Chelsea more than any other side.

Indeed, Rashford has scored five goals in his career against the Blues, which is more than he has managed against any other opponent, and is a very tempting 3.00 to score at any time on Saturday evening.

All odds represent best market prices at the time of writing courtesy of oddschecker.