Lee Dixon: Double chasing United will have too much for Chelsea

 

This looks like a clash of Premier League heavyweights but Manchester United's form far outstrips Chelsea's and, with the double now their main aim, Lee Dixon is  backing a home win...

 

Chelsea must be fearing a Manchester United backlash on Sunday afternoon after the league leaders were dumped out of Europe in controversial circumstances in midweek.

 

The Champions League dream is over for another season at Old Trafford but the Reds will be chasing the league and cup double very hard from now on. The best clubs very  rarely produce two bad results in quick succession and I have to side with the home team.

 

I certainly think the Blues can keep it close and competitive, but I do see United progressing. Their home record is utterly exceptional and there are too many doubts  about the current Chelsea side to justify an investment.

 

If anything, the match odds market looks surprisingly generous to United backers with a back price of 1.86 available on a home win. Given they have beaten 13  of the 14 teams to have paid a visit in the league I couldn't put anyone off a straightforward back of the Reds.

 

There has been plenty of speculation on Wayne Rooney's future in the media after the England man started the Real game on the bench, but I wouldn't buy into that too  much. Sir Alex Ferguson got the team selection and tactics right on Tuesday night. For 60 minutes, United pretty much nullified Madrid and Fergie deserves credit for  that. He set the team up to get through the tie and the XI performed well, until Nani's sending off of course.

 

I imagine Wayne will start this game here and, after being left out, he will put a proper shift in. Wayne will be fresh and he's one of those guys who just loves to  play so I'm expecting a big performance.

 

I'm certainly not writing Chelsea off, but they had to travel to Romania on Thursday and their form simply doesn't compare with Sunday's opponents. If United are in  the mood they will win this, and a fantastic opportunity will await after the quarter-final draw. One of Millwall or Blackburn are guaranteed to make the final four  and that would make for a very winnable semi-final.

 

Win on Sunday and, with the league as good as theirs, the double would be very much on for United. That is still a hugely prestigious achievement and United will push  hard for it to make up for the disappointment of Tuesday night.

 

Chelsea are likely to make United work hard for the win and I don't think we'll see too many goals at Old Trafford. I will play a couple of correct scores - 2-1 @  9.4 and 2-0 @ 12.0 - as United take another stride towards a domestic double to ease their European pain.

 

Recommended Bets

Back 2-1 @ 9.4 and 2-0 @ 12.0

 

Bet HERE

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