Hazard to be latest left winger to expose Man Utd weakness

Manchester United may have stopped the rot against Swansea last time out, but with the extra quality of players Chelsea possess, the champions’ defensive frailties are likely to be exposed again at Stamford Bridge.

One of Man United’s biggest problems this season has been the inconsistency of selection at the back, which has largely been down to injury.

The net result is that David Moyes’ side always look vulnerable to concede, something they had done exactly twice in their three defeats across all competitions prior to their ship-steadying win over Swansea at home.

In this headline fixture against Chelsea, the hosts are allotted odds of 6/5 to score 2/3 goals against the Red Devils and with a player in the form Eden Hazard is currently in, the Blues have the perfect weapon to help them achieve just that.

Chelsea’s top scorer of the season so far, with 11, has wreaked havoc on Premier League defences from the left flank this term and against United he is an especially good shout to add to his tally at odds of 5/2 with Ladbrokes.

United fans will be praying it’s be Rafael da Silva at right-back rather than Chris Smalling, as the last two times the England man has played there, he’s been ruthlessly exposed.

Both Swansea’s Wayne Routledge in the FA Cup and Tottenham’s Christian Eriksen before him in the league at Old Trafford were able to get ghost beyond Smalling to grab their goals.

However, even if it is the Brazilian Da Silva, there are still question marks over his positioning against the better players.

There isn’t a player better equipped in the top-flight to expose this weakness than the marauding Hazard, who looks a snip at 8/1 to draw first blood.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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