Chelsea-Manchester United Preview

Jose Mourinho will face friend and former boss Louis van Gaal when he takes his in-form Chelsea side to play Manchester United at Old Trafford Sunday.

Mourinho spent three years as assistant to van Gaal at Spanish giants Barcelona and goes head-to-head with the United manager for the first time in the Premier League.

United (3-3-2) slipped down to sixth place after a 2-2 draw against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns on Monday evening, with Daley Blind scoring an equaliser with just three minutes left on the clock.

Van Gaal was satisfied with the Red Devils' performance against the Baggies but disappointed by defensive mistakes, which he admits they can't repeat against Mourinho's side this weekend.

"Chelsea are one of the top teams, as are Manchester City at the moment," van Gaal said at his pre-match press conference. "Jose has worked more than a year with his team and last year didn't win anything.

"You have to build up. They are playing like a team and we have to as well, but to play for 90 minutes. We played as a team against West Bromwich Albion but made individual errors."

Chelsea (7-1-0) remain the only unbeaten side in the Premier League and head the table by five points.

The Blues secured their seventh league win of the campaign with a 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace last weekend on goals from Oscar and Cesc Fabregas. Both sides finished with 10 men after Blues defender Cesar Azpilicueta and Palace's Damien Delaney were both dismissed in the first half.

Chelsea are also going well in Europe and recorded their biggest win in the Champions League as they routed Maribor 6-0 in a Group G match at Stamford Bridge in midweek. Eden Hazard scored twice against the Slovenian side, while Didier Drogba netted his first goal since re-joining the Blues in the summer.

Mourinho was upbeat about his team's chances during at his pre-match press conference.

"We are playing well, we are confident, we are top of the league and we are in a good position to qualify in the Champions League," Mourinho told reporters. "The camp is happy and we are ready for the game.

"We go to every match to win but sometimes during a game a point is a positive point and a positive result. Last year at a certain moment the game was very difficult to win and I think both teams accepted the point as a normal result. On Sunday we go to win. If you give me one point now - and we don't play the game - I will not accept it. I want to fight for the three points."

United midfielder Angel Di Maria is available after recovering from a thigh injury, but skipper Wayne Rooney remains suspended.

Chelsea's leading scorer Diego Costa could return from a hamstring injury and illness, but fellow front man Loic Remy (groin) is out. Full-back Cesar Azpilicueta starts a three-match ban after his red card at Palace.

The Blues took four points off United last season, including a goalless draw at Old Trafford. Mourinho's side won 3-1 at Stamford Bridge, with Samuel Eto'o scoring a hat trick. Javier Hernandez netted a consolation goal for United, while defender Rafael was sent off deep into stoppage time.

The all-time Premier League record between the two teams is very even, with 13 United wins, 15 Chelsea wins and 16 draws.