Like Vikings this season Chelsea have ransacked every ground they have visited producing a W8-D2-L0 away record.

But now the Blues face their toughest challenge – storming Old Trafford where Manchester United’s record this season is W7-D1-L0.

There have been eight previous occasions in the Premier League when a team unbeaten in eight matches at home has hosted a side unbeaten in at least eight on the road with the home team's record W3-D1-L4.

In 2004/05 Chelsea visited Old Trafford in such circumstances and came away with a 3-1 victory, that season the Blues were crowned Premier League champions.

In the Premier League era, Manchester United have lost 26 games at home with seven defeats (27%) at the hands of a Big Four side.

When Manchester United have been beaten, 14 of those matches were L/L and 12 were D/L. The 0-1 score line has been the most common, occurring in 54% (14/26) of United’s home defeats. While United were kept off the score sheet in 62% of matches they lost at home.

Against the Big Four, United’s home record is W24-D12-L7 and when United have been third or lower in the league their record is W12-D4-L2.

United’s worst season at home in the Premier League came in 2001/02 when they went W11-D2-L6 and finished third, ten points off the pace.

Chelsea have been the most successful club at Old Trafford, winning in Manchester four times. Yet Chelsea do not have a great record away to the Big Four (W10-D14-L28). Since Roman Abramovich bought the club, Chelsea have won away at a Big Four side five times, three of which were wins at Liverpool.

Arsene Wenger has been most successful manager with three wins, the next most successful mangers with two wins have been Steve McClaren, Jim Smith (Derby), Gerard Houllier and Sam Allardyce.

This match will be Phil Scolari’s first visit to Old Trafford as a Premier League manager which does not bode well, of 12 new managers of a Big Four side making their first visit to Manchester United only Phil Thompson with Liverpool in 01/02 and Jose Mourinho with Chelsea in 04/05 tasted victory.

(5/01/09)