Manchester United - Chelsea: Preview and Lineups Prediction

Manchester United awaits Chelsea at Old Trafford as Guus Hiddink takes charge of his second match as the Blues' interim boss on Monday evening.

The Dutchman, who has three games in eight days to experiment with his new squad, got off to an unconvincing start in his second spell in the Stamford Bridge hot seat with a 2-2 draw at home to Watford on Saturday afternoon.

Despite the injection of optimism that arrived with the new manager, Chelsea still desperately needs a win to have any hope of surging up the Premier League table over the course of the remainder of the season.

Manchester United is in an similarly worrisome state for the time being with Louis van Gaal potentially facing the axe should he fail to clinch three points from a wounded Chelsea side. The former Bayern Munich boss has watched his side suffer four straight defeats, the first time United has done so within a single season since 1961.

Manchester United Team News

The hosts will be without long-term absentees Luke Shaw (broken leg), Marcos Rojo (shoulder), and Antonio Valencia (ankle).

Matteo Darmian is an outside chance to take Ashley Young's place at right full-back should he be passed fit enough to play, while Bastian Schweinsteiger will resume his midfield role after serving a three-game suspension.

Memphis will likely drop to the bench following his awful Boxing Day outing to make way for Anthony Martial out wide, leaving Wayne Rooney to return at the tip of the attack.

Manchester United Starting XI Prediction

De Gea | Young, Jones, Smalling, Blind | Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin | Mata, Herrera, Martial | Rooney

Last Five Meetings

Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United (Premier League, April 2015)
Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea (Premier League, October 2014)
Chelsea 3-1 Manchester United (Premier League, January 2014)
Manchester United 0-0 Chelsea (Premier League, August 2013)
Manchester United 0-1 Chelsea (FA Cup, April 2013)

Score Prediction

What a strange fixture this is considering the current circumstances of Chelsea and Manchester United. As we look to begin our climb upwards from the relegation zone (for the umpteenth time), the Red Devils are likely to be playing for the future of their manager.

Results over the coming weeks and months will determine whether the Chelsea board was right to sack Jose Mourinho, but for the time being, at least the players can walk onto the pitch under significantly less pressure now that he's gone.

We have a real chance to have a go at a faltering United side which has failed to win in seven matches in all competitions. Although our form is hardly a source of confidence, any Chelsea player worth their salt should be chomping at the bit to get one over the Red Devils.

I think we might spring a surprise 2-1 win as the hosts crumble beneath the pressure on LVG, while Hiddink slowly gets to grips with his new players. What are your score predictions?