Manchester United v Chelsea - Let's not throw another chance away Maurizio Sarri.

Chelsea take on Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday having had yet another golden opportunity to finish in the top four handed to...

Chelsea take on Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday having had yet another golden opportunity to finish in the top four handed to them by Arsenal and United this past week. If we blow it again this weekend, it could be our top four hopes well and truly over.

I cannot recall how many chances we have had this season, how many times we have been given a chance to steal a march on our rivals, to take advantage with our destiny in our own hands to then blow it under Maurizio Sarri. Check out the latest odds on Chelsea finishing in the top four here. If you then also consider the amount of dropped points to sides we should be beating including yet another debacle on Monday night against Burnley, it all adds up to what can only be considered as frustrating beyond belief so far!

That’s been this season under the stubborn Italian hasn’t it, frustrating with literally every other Chelsea fan on the planet having a view on what needs to be changed but nothing ever does! I would like to think that it would on Sunday, but it won’t will it.

Forgetting everything else that has happened so far this season in addition the fact that Eden Hazard has been ignored in favour of Paul Pogba in the PFA team of the season (which is an absolute joke by the way), we should travel up north this weekend knowing that we face a team in decline having lost seven out of their last nine games with last weekends defeat to Everton a particular highlight for all of us. On that day United were nothing short of pathetic but played better against City in the first half the other night.

The problem for United is a complete lack of confidence in the players and with the manager who literally does not know his best eleven or formation. The way Solskjaer set up against City was to defend with three at the back and two wing-backs. The problem was, as soon as they conceded a goal their formation restricted their options to attack, so I expect a totally different side to face us on Sunday.

I would expect United to match up our formation 4-3-3 with Lingard, Rashford and Martial up top which will cause our shaky back-four problems. We need to ensure we have the balance through our midfield and up-front right in order to win the game because let’s face it, despite our problems at the back, their defence is awful so expect Eden Hazard to run riot (as long as he is not deployed as a false-nine).

It was a shame for Callum Hudson-Odoi to pick up the injury he did but it opens the door for Willian to come in and play the opposite side to Hazard with hopefully Olivier Giroud up front. Gonzalo Higuain took his goal well the other night but did little else apart from throw his toys out of the pram on the bench when he came off and should be punished for it. Besides, I have made an argument for Giroud to start every game now as he offers us much more.

If we can take the three points here, it puts an end to their top four hopes and heaps massive pressure on Arsenal to win every game with just a couple left now. Any dropped points at Old Trafford could potentially be a disaster for us and it’s something we do not want to think about.

On Sunday, it’s arguably Chelsea’s biggest game of the season and we MUST take three-points. Will Maurizio Sarri screw this one up like so many others? Only time will tell.

Selected Chelsea match odds below:

Chelsea to win 2-0 13/1

Chelsea to win 3-1 21/1

Eden Hazard first goalscorer 5/1