Inkwell & Algorithm Back to Matchweek 9
The breakdown · Saturday 31 October, 12:30

Nothing to split Chelsea and Man United

We call Chelsea win, 2–1, with a 39% chance. Here is everything that went into it.

Home
Chelsea
5th · 13 pts
Our call · confidence: too close to call
2–1
Home win
Away
Man United
16th · 7 pts

Us against the market

Our model
39%
26%
35%

No bookmaker odds for this game yet.

Chelsea winDrawMan United win

Most likely scores

1–1
12%
2–1
9%
1–2
8%
2–2
7%
0–0
6%
How we got to 39%
We start from an average home side against an average visitor, then add or take away for each factor. Hover a bar for the detail.
Pushes towards our call Pushes against it Starting point
Average home side v average visitor
40%
Chelsea's attack
+9
Chelsea team news
−6
Man United's defence
+6
Chelsea's defence
−6
Man United's attack
−5
Man United team news
+2
Our call: Chelsea win
39%
0%30%60%

The reasons

1 · Chances created and allowed

Chelsea are leaking chances at home

Expected goals (xG) measures the quality of chances. Over their last 5 home games Chelsea created 1.6 and allowed 1.7 a game. Over their last 5 away games Man United created 1.6 and allowed 1.3.

xG per game, last 5 at this venue
Chelsea created (home)
1.6
Chelsea allowed (home)
1.7
Man United created (away)
1.6
Man United allowed (away)
1.3
2 · Team news

Chelsea without João Pedro

Chelsea: João Pedro (injured), Martinez (injured), Chavarria (injured), James (injured), Lacroix (doubtful, 75% to play). Man United: Shaw (injured), Mainoo (injured), Rashford (doubtful, 75% to play).

PlayerStatusImpact
Chelsea João PedroInjuredBig
Chelsea MartinezInjuredMedium
Chelsea ChavarriaInjuredMedium
Chelsea JamesInjuredMedium
Chelsea LacroixDoubtful, 75% to playSmall
Man United ShawInjuredMedium
3 · Form

Chelsea arrive in better form

Last five league games: Chelsea took 7 points, Man United took 3.

Chelsea
DLWWL
Man United
LDDDL
Last 5 league games, most recent on the right
4 · Results vs performance

Chelsea's results flatter them by 4 points

Chelsea have 16 points from their last 10 league games, but their chances were worth 12. We rate teams on their chances, so Chelsea get less credit than their results.

5 · Head to head

Tight when they meet

All of the last 4 meetings were drawn or won by one goal. Past meetings count for little in the model.

  • Apr 2026Chelsea 0-1 Man United
  • Sep 2025Man United 2-1 Chelsea
  • May 2025Chelsea 1-0 Man United
  • Nov 2024Man United 1-1 Chelsea

What would change our mind

If Chelsea's attack were only average, this would swing to an away win (42%).

Verdict

Chelsea 2–1 Man United, home win, too close to call