Chelsea in numbers

This is the fifth time Chelsea have hosted Man Utd in a Premier League game when starting the day as the league leaders. The Blues have won three of the previous four, going on to win the title in the season of each of the three victories (2005/06, 2009/10 and 2014/15).

Only Liverpool (35) have scored more Premier League goals this season than Chelsea (30).

Michael Carrick will be the 14th different manager to take charge of his first ever Premier League game against Chelsea. Ten of the previous 13 to do so have lost. The only winner was Everton’s Duncan Ferguson in December 2019.

No side has fewer yellow cards in the Premier League this season than Chelsea (13).

Milestones

In that time we won 32, drew 11, lost seven and kept 31 clean sheets, more than any other side in Europe’s big-five leagues in this period, conceding just 24 goals.

If fit, Mateo Kovacic will make his 100th Premier League appearance.

Chelsea vs Manchester United head to head

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Mendy; Azpilicueta (c), Christensen, Rudiger, Chilwell; Kante, Kovacic; Hudson-Odoi (James h/t), Ziyech (Werner 77), Mount; Giroud (Pulisic 65)Unused subs: Arrizabalaga, Zouma, Alonso, Emerson, Jorginho, HavertzBooked: Chilwell 61Head coach: Thomas Tuchel

Manchester United (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire (c), Shaw; McTominay, Fred; James, Fernandes, Rashford; Greenwood (Martial 78)Unused subs: Henderson, Bailly, Telles, Williams, Tuanzebe, Matic, Van de Beek, DialloBooked: Fred 49, Maguire 79Manager: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Referee: Stuart Attwell

Man United are aiming to keep five consecutive clean sheets against Chelsea in the league for the first time.

The Blues are seeking to beat Man United in the Premier League for the first time since November 2017 when Alvaro Morata scored the only goal at Stamford Bridge.

Man Utd are unbeaten in our last seven meetings in the competition (three wins, four draws) which is Chelsea’s longest current run without a win against any 2021/22 Premier League club.

United in numbers

Last seasonPremier League: SecondFA Cup: Quarter-finalsLeague Cup: Semi-finalsChampions League: Group stage – thirdEuropa League: Runners-upTop scorer all competitions: Fernandes 28

This season’s Premier League stats (12 games)Most starts: De Gea 12, Fernandes 12, Shaw 12, Wan-Bissaka 12Most assists: Pogba 7, Fernandes 3Most clean sheets: De Gea 2Red cards: Maguire 1, Pogba 1

Premier League scorers: Fernandes 4, Greenwood 4, Ronaldo 4, Lingard 2, Rashford 2, Cavani 1, Fred 1, Martial 1, Van de Beek 1

When Man Utd lost at Aston Villa six weeks ago, it ended their away 29-game unbeaten run in the Premier League – the longest sequence in English Football League history.

Manchester United have won just 17 points in their opening 12 league games this season; their second-worst start to a Premier League campaign, ahead of only 2019/20 when they had 16 points.

Against Watford last week, United suffered their biggest league defeat against a promoted side since September 1989, a 5-1 loss against Manchester City at Maine Road.

Man Utd have lost four of their last five games in the Premier League: Leicester 2-4, Liverpool 0-5, Man City 0-2 and Watford 1-4. They are hoping to avoid three successive league defeats for the first time since 2015.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer left Man Utd last week after 168 games in charge. He had a 54.17 per cent win rate and was the longest serving manager since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013 (December 2018 - November 2021).

Michael Carrick has taken temporary charge of the team while the club looks to appoint an interim manager to the end of the season. He won 11 and lost 11 of the 32 games against the Blues as a player for Man Utd, Tottenham and West Ham.

Their one win in the last seven Premier League matches was at Tottenham in October.

United have conceded 21 goals in 12 Premier League matches this season. Only Norwich and Newcastle (both 27) have conceded more.

The Red Devils are unbeaten in their last 11 Premier League away games in London (seven wins, four draws), winning the last three. They last won four consecutive league visits to the capital in 2005.

Manchester United are winless in four Premier League matches against newly promoted teams, losing at Watford and drawing against West Brom, Leeds and Fulham last season. It’s their worst run since a similar sequence which ended in September 1997.

Man Utd's major summer signings

Cristiano Ronaldo - JuventusJadon Sancho - Borussia DortmundRaphael Varane - Real MadridTom Heaton - Aston Villa

Discipline

Harry Maguire is suspended for his double yellow against Watford last week. It was his first red card for United in his 121st appearance for the club.

In the Premier League, five yellow cards received before 19 league fixtures have been played will result in a one-match-suspension in the competition.

Premier League bookings list

Chelsea: Alonso 2, Mendy 2, Rudiger 2, Christensen 1, James 1, Kante 1, Kovacic 1, Thiago Silva 1, Werner 1, Ziyech 1

Man Utd: Fred 4, Pogba 4, Shaw 4, Fernandes 3, Maguire 3, Ronaldo 2, Wan-Bissaka 2, Dalot 1, Greenwood 1, Lindelof 1, McTominay 1

Match officials

Referee: Anthony TaylorVAR: Chris Kavanagh

Matchweek 13 Premier League fixtures

SaturdayArsenal v Newcastle United 12.30pm (BT Sport)Crystal Palace v Aston Villa 3pmLiverpool v Southampton 3pmNorwich City v Wolverhampton Wanderers 3pmBrighton & Hove Albion v Leeds United 5.30pm (Sky Sports)

SundayBrentford v Everton 2pm (Sky Sports)Burnley v Tottenham Hotspur 2pmLeicester City v Watford 2pmManchester City v West Ham United 2pmChelsea v Manchester United 4.30pm (Sky Sports)