By Brian Sears
16 September 2011
Chelsea travel to Old Trafford on Sunday knowing they are the most successful club against Manchester United over the last 19 years of Premier League football.
In 38 Premier League games played between the sides, Chelsea have gained 53 points to United’s 47, winning 13, drawing 14 and losing 11. (See top table below).
That gives Chelsea an average 1.39 points per game against United over the period – a stonkingly superior number compared to every other team. In fact only Arsenal and Liverpool have gained as many points as one per game against United on average over the full period – 44 points from 39 matches, for 1.13 per game for Arsenal, and 1.05 point per game for Liverpool.
Wolves also have a point per game – six from six games – but over a limited period.
Wigan and Stoke have no points between them from 18 games between them against United. West Brom, QPR, Sunderland, Tottenham and Sunderland also have pitiful tallies per game against United.
Recent history also favours Chelsea, with four wins, two defeats and a draw in the last seven league meetings. United’s record against all the current top-flight sides is in the top table below.
Sunday will thus be a decent barometer of how storming United’s start can be.
And another thing …
History will make Fulham hesitant about the visit of Manchester City. Fulham are famed for cashing in on the home comforts of Craven Cottage and then struggling on their away trips. But only against City in the Premier League era have they gained more points away from home than they have at home.
(See bottom table below, noting too the brilliant Fulham record at home against Everton and the woeful record at Goodison!).
In nine Premier League games at home to City, Fulham have had just one win – and that was six years ago when Malbranque scored both first-half goals in a 2-1 win. But in the nine games with City in Manchester, Fulham have three wins and only two defeats.
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