Opta Big Match Stats: Hernandez is Chelsea's scourge

 

After a three-from-three Champions League tipping hat-trick on Wednesday, Christian Crowther selects three more stats and bets ahead of Sunday's big match at Old  Trafford...

 

Manchester United are unbeaten in four Barclays Premier League meetings with Chelsea (W3 D1), their best run against them since December 1998 (five)

Despite missing out on the opportunity to surpass their visitors' record Premier League points total, don't be expecting any Sir Alex Ferguson side to ease off. This  is particularly true against other top sides, especially one such of Chelsea's ilk, who are already being touted as potential stealers of Man United's crown next  season. After midweek commitments in the Europa League, Rafa Benitez must quickly readjust his squad for this clash and the Spaniard should at least be buoyed by the  FA Cup quarter-final draw and subsequent replay win against United already in 2013. In pole position for third spot currently, Benitez would certainly settle for a  point. Only once in the last ten meetings has either side won by more than a one-goal margin.

Recommended Bet: Back the draw @ 3.6

 

The last six clashes between the Red Devils and the Blues in all competitions have seen 29 goals scored (three in extra time) at an average of 4.8 goals per game

The margins of victory may have been small in one of England's grandest footballing tug-of-wars of late, but the amount of goals has not in any way been lacking. This  season especially, the floodgates have opened in this contest, with three of the four renewals going northwards of the 3.5 goals mark. The reverse league fixture  produced a 3-2 win for United, while the Capital One Cup clash produced a 5-4 classic at Stamford Bridge (after extra time), one of the best games the competition has  ever witnessed. Prolific Chelsea have scored at least two goals in each of their last five games in all competitions while United stuck three away on their last Old  Trafford outing.

Recommended Bet: Back Over 3.5 goals @ 3.05

 

Javier Hernandez has scored in six of his last eight meetings with Chelsea in all competitions

Stats like the above will not be lost on wily old Sir Alex and it would be no surprise to see the Scotsman turn to Chicharito from the start on Sunday afternoon. Even  though the Mexican has been used a little sparingly, Hernandez has still contributed 16 goals from just 33 appearances in United red to date, that's just a smidgen  under a goal every other time he plays. A quarter of those have been notched as a second-half substitute, including a brace against Aston Villa when replacing Ashley  Young at the break. Hernandez's last four net busters have all arrived at home too.

Best Bet: Back Javier Hernandez to score @ 2.9

 

Bet HERE

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