Manchester United are set to face Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon at Old Trafford. Under the interim guidance of head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy, United enters this match fresh off a high-scoring 5-2 win over Leicester City in the EFL Cup, a result that secured their place in the tournament’s quarter-finals. While they’ve shown potential in cup competitions, the Red Devils have faced a difficult Premier League season so far.
With just 11 points collected over nine games, Manchester United currently sits in 14th place in the league standings, a position far below expectations for the 20-time English champions.
One of the focal points for United will be Marcus Rashford, who has contributed four goals and three assists across 15 games this season in all competitions. However, the forward has found the Premier League particularly challenging, managing only one goal and one assist in nine league matches. As Rashford prepares to face Chelsea again, his past performances against them offer some insights into what fans might expect on Sunday.
Throughout his professional career, Rashford has encountered Chelsea on 19 occasions. His record includes six victories, seven draws, and six defeats, alongside six goals and two assists. Most of these clashes (14) have been in the Premier League, where Rashford’s record against Chelsea includes four wins, seven draws, and three losses.
He has scored four times and provided one assist in league play against the Blues. The FA Cup has proven tougher for Rashford, as he has faced Chelsea four times in that competition, winning just once and suffering three defeats, one of which was a semi-final loss during the 2019-20 season.
One of Rashford’s standout moments against Chelsea came in the 2019-20 EFL Cup when he scored twice to lead United to a 2-1 win in the fourth round. Additionally, his first Premier League goal against Chelsea was instrumental in a 2-0 victory for United at Old Trafford during the 2016-17 season.
Another memorable performance occurred at the start of the 2019-20 campaign when Rashford scored twice in a commanding 4-0 win on opening weekend. More recently, he scored in United’s 4-1 home win over Chelsea in the 2022-23 season.
However, his involvement in the current season’s first fixture against Chelsea was limited to a brief substitute appearance in United’s 2-1 victory. In the reverse fixture, Rashford’s side fell 4-3 in a close contest in London.
Notably, all of Rashford’s league goals against Chelsea have come at Old Trafford; he is yet to score against the Blues in a Premier League game at Stamford Bridge. As the two teams prepare for another encounter, Rashford will be eager to improve both his season’s performance and his record against Chelsea by making a significant impact at home on Sunday.
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