Premier League Big Match Focus: How to back a 23/2 bet builder in Chelsea v Man Utd

• Both teams coming off clean sheets
• Pressure on Rashford
• Potter can make history
• Recent run of draws

Chelsea and Manchester United are both coming off successive clean sheets as they prepare to face off at Stamford Bridge, but their preparations for the clash have been rather different.

The Blues have continued their impressive start under Graham Potter, though they dropped points against Brentford in midweek. Perhaps more concerning for the Blues is their growing injury list, with Conor Gallagher joining N'Golo Kanté and Reece James on the sidelines.

United will also be without a senior player on Saturday, but for different reasons. Cristiano Ronaldo will not be available for selection after reportedly refusing to come on as a substitute on Wednesday, distracting from what might have been the Red Devils' best performance of the season at home to Tottenham Hotspur.

Potter's challenge

Graham Potter has started impressively, with Chelsea unbeaten since he took over from Thomas Tuchel in September. They are also coming off three successive home wins in the league, but an underwhelming recent record against United could stand in the way of that.

The Blues' last nine games against United have brought six draws and three defeats for the London side. Last season's meetings both ended 1-1, and the last time the teams didn't draw in the Premier League was United's 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge in February 2020.

While Chelsea haven't beaten United in the league since Álvaro Morata scored the Blues' winner early in the 2017-18 season manager Potter doesn't have to go back nearly so far. His Brighton team beat United in their last two meetings - a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford on the opening weekend of this season and a comprehensive 4-0 win at the Amex Stadium in May.

No manager has ever beaten Man Utd with two different teams in one Premier League season. Indeed, you have to go back more than a century to find the last time it happened, with Andy Aitken achieving the feat in the 1908-09 season with Leicester City and Middlesbrough.

Can Rashford keep firing?

United's last victory over Chelsea came via goals from Harry Maguire and Anthony Martial. Both will miss out through injury, though, which means plenty of the pressure will rest on the shoulders of Marcus Rashford.

The England international has been pushing for a recall to Gareth Southgate's side with the World Cup around the corner, and needs just two goals to bring up 100 in all competitions in United colours. Stamford Bridge is as good a place as any to achieve the feat - he has seven goal involvements against the Blues in all competitions (five goals and two assists) and doesn't have more than eight against any opponent.

Two of those five goals came in August 2019 as United beat Chelsea 4-0 in the league. That remains the biggest winning margin for either side in this fixture this century, though the Blues also got a 4-0 victory when Jose Mourinho was in charge in Manchester.

Change of scene for Sterling

This fixture is a Bet 5 Get match which means if you place a £5 Bet Builder on the match you can get a free £5 bet upon settling.

Raheem Sterling has, quite remarkably, never scored against Manchester United in 23 attempts. Considering his scoring record against other clubs, this statistic can be hard to get your head around.

Perhaps new surroundings will help, though. United haven't had the best of records in London of late, losing their last three games in London including a 4-0 hammering at Brentford in August.

Sterling hasn't been hugely prolific since joining Chelsea from Manchester City, but he hasn't been profligate either. Three of the forward's four goals this season have come at home, but he hasn't scored against opponents from the north-west - home or away - since netting for Manchester City against Everton in November 2021.

Chelsea v Manchester United prediction

Both of these teams have been tough to beat of late, and this - coupled with the recent history of draws in the fixture - points in one direction. Draws come in different flavours, though.

This is a Bet 5 Get 5 fixture, meaning if you bet £5 on this and other selected football matches this season, you will be rewarded with a £5 free bet from Betfair. And there are plenty of options as far as this is concerned.

One potential bed builder which has caught our eye involves Bruno Fernandes, who ended his goalscoring drought on Wednesday and may take a more advanced role with Ronaldo and Martial absent again. The draw, with Fernandes taking two or more shots on target, is available at 12.49.