Tune in at 12:00 PM ET as Chelsea takes on Manchester United. David Esposto will be liveblogging for your enjoyment.
Happy Sunday footy fans! I'm David Esposto and welcome to theScore Live Blog's continuing coverage of the English Premier League. In the second of two derby matches on this Sunday in October, we have Chelsea welcoming Manchester United to Stamford Bridge in a clash of first place versus second in the EPL.
Match Preview:
Still unbeaten in the Premier League, Chelsea welcome Manchester United to Stamford Bridge, in a battle of first place versus second. A victory would see the hosts go seven points clear at the top of the domestic table, as they look to bounce back from their shock Champions League defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk.
After stuttering out of the gate in their midweek Champions League clash against Portuguese side Braga, the Red Devils will be looking to get off to a better start. History, though, has not been kind to United at Stamford Bridge, as they have struggled to get a full three points when visiting West London.
Can United break Chelsea’s unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge? Or will the Blues dominance of the EPL continue?
Tune into theScore Live Blog to find out!
Here are your starting XIs, formations and available substitutions for both sides:
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, David Luiz, Cole; Ramires, Mikel; Mata, Oscar, Hazard; Torres. Subs: Turnbull, Azpilicueta, Bertrand, Romeu, Marin, Moses, Sturridge.
Manchester United (4-4-2): De Gea; Rafael, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra; Valencia, Cleverley, Carrick, Young; Rooney, Van Persie. Subs: Lindegaard, Anderson, Giggs, Hernandez, Nani, Welbeck, Scholes.
Chelsea to kick things off in the first half. Clad in their traditional blue kits, they'll be attacking from left to right. United, clad in their traditional red kits, will be defending from right to left.
Game on!
Fans in full voice, as the game kicks off. Away we go from Stamford Bridge!
Having some issues on my end with my connection. Stream is acting up. Trying to get things under control. My apologies.
Technical difficulties fixed, now I can get back to it. Sorry again everyone.
4 mins: GOAL! United 1-0! Rooney cuts it back to RVP following some nice passing between Rooney and Young. RVP then has a right footed effort on goal from about 15 yards out. It beats Cech but comes off the post, only to hit David Luiz and cross the line to give the visitors the all-important, and early, one goal lead.
Chelsea 0 United 1
10 mins: RVP tries to make a run down the left, but Ramires is there to intercept. He finds Torres out wide on the right, he tries to cross and find Oscar on the edge of the area, but it leads to a United goal kick.
12 mins: GOAL! United 2-0! RVP! What a start for the Red Devils! Some nice short and swift passing from the Red Devils, as Ferdinand plays a pass for Rafael down the right. He then plays the ball over the top for Valencia, but thats some poor marking from Ashley Cole, as Valencia then is wide open near the byline to cut the ball across for the Dutchman, who loses Cahill near the penalty spot to thrash the ball low and hard past Cech.
Chelsea 0 United 2
16 mins: Chelsea with pressure now, as Ivanovic throws the ball back into play deep inside the United half. It's headed away, but only momentarily, as the home side are on the ball again.
17 mins: The Chelsea pressure subsides, as its United on the counter again. Valencia has the ball down the right, but Cole does well to defend, as the visitors have a corner from the right.
19 mins: RVP to deliver... It's headed out of the Chelsea area straight away, but United continue to attack. Possession is squandered, as a pass from Cleverley misses everyone and its Chelsea back on the ball.
20 mins: Ivanovic gets beyond Cleverley down the right. The Serbian then tries to cross to the far post for Oscar, but nothing doing. United have the ball back, but its played back into the Chelsea half, as they start again. That's short lived, as United get the ball back. It's a game of cat and mouse here, as the Blues are on the ball now, but Ivanovic gives the ball away with a poor pass.
22 mins: Luiz does well to come back and defend well, as United looked to attack, but almost straightaway gives the ball back to the guests. Lucky for Chelsea though, a cross into the far post from the right by Rafael, leads to nothing.
23 mins: Chelsea free kick from outside the United area. Luiz with the effort that dips over the wall and forces a save from De Gea, who does well to get low and defend to the near post. Chelsea start again, as Ivanovic switches flanks, before the ball comes to Hazard, who wiggles away and finds space outside the area, but he misses the target.
26 mins: Rooney does well to track back and defend, as United do well to stuff the Chelsea attack and hold onto possession and not relinquish it. United have a free kick on their own half and its taken quickly, as Evra gallops down the left. Cahill is there to keep pace with him and reaches in well to put the Frenchman off.
28 mins: Chelsea on the ball now, as United put everyone behind the ball. A ball is played over the top into the area for Torres, but there is too much on it, as United have a goal kick.
30 mins: United on the counter with Valencia down the right. He gets into the area, and Cole just gets a touch on it, as the Red Devils have a corner from the right. Its delivered into the area, and it comes out to Young on the edge of the area. He plays it back into the box for Rooney, who tries to flick it on goal, as Evra rises up to battle with Cech, but the Chelsea keeper picks it out of the air.
31 mins: United again have control and are on the ball in the Chelsea half. After a great passage of play, a ball played through for RVP from Rooney down the left is called offside. The Blues on the ball now, just on the cusp of the United half.
32 mins: Ramires clashes into Cleverley near the right touchline and its a free kick for United, that's taken quickly. De Gea plays it short to Rafael, but the home side get the ball back quickly. Rooney tracking back again, and clears. But Chelsea start up again, with Mikel on the ball. He plays it over the top for Torres, but the linesman has his flag up. Well done by Evans to play him off.
34 mins: United look to go on the attack, as Young onrushes towards the Chelsea area, he tries to feather a ball through for Rooney, but he doesn't make the run, as the ball goes to nobody.
35 mins: Chelsea corner, from the right. Mata delivers to the far post. De Gea half comes for it, and then back tracks, as Cahill gets his head onto the ball, but misses the target, as it took a deflection.
36 mins: It's another corner for Chelsea from the right. United tried to break, but the home side now have a free kick on the left side of the United area. It's driven into the area, but the guests clear, only momentarily though, as the Blues continue to press on.
37 mins: Torres takes on Valencia one on one at the left edge of the area. The United winger then follows the Spaniard, and Chelsea have a free kick on the left. Dangerous spot this. Luiz to deliver...
38 mins: He fires a right footed shot towards goal, but it deflects off the four-man wall. The Blues maintain possession, but Mata failed to keep the ball in on the right, as United try to start on the counter.
40 mins: Ramires with a foul on Rooney that voids the Chelsea possession. United on the ball now, but its a poor pass from the United defender, and it falls to the feet of Mikel, but in the end, the ball goes all the way back to Cech, who plays it short to David Luiz.
Happy Sunday footy fans! I'm David Esposto and welcome to theScore Live Blog's continuing coverage of the English Premier League. In the second of two derby matches on this Sunday in October, we have Chelsea welcoming Manchester United to Stamford Bridge in a clash of first place versus second in the EPL.
