Michael Carrick approaches another potential make-or-break fixture as Manchester United travel to Chelsea

Manchester United reach another crossroads as they visit Chelsea in the Premier League's early kick-off today. This week came with the news that Michael Carrick would be kept on as manager, though his sacking is seen as inevitable by some.

A win at Stamford Bridge this weekend has the potential to change all that. Xabi Alonso's side are coming off the back of a Carabao Cup exit at Liverpool and lost at home to Tottenham several days prior to that.

Many would hope Carrick is capable of stirring a performance out of his side in west London to get his career back on track. However, MEN Sport has broken down the pre-game predictions - with pundits all siding in one direction.

Peter Crouch - Chelsea

"It was a strange one with Chelsea, mad one. I didn’t see that coming," said former Premier League hitman Peter Crouch on That Peter Crouch Podcast. "It will be interesting; at the time of recording, Carrick is still in charge, but if he is still in charge, it is a difficult one to navigate.

"Especially having fallen out with Bruno. Joao Pedro is injured, [Emi] Martinez is injured and the goalkeeper [Mike Penders] had a howler against Spurs. I don’t like it. You’d expect Chelsea to win. I’m going Chelsea 2-1."

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Mark Goldbridge - Chelsea

Speaking on his official YouTube channel, Mark Goldbridge predicted this will be Carrick's last game in charge: "I've seen quite a lot of people [back the] draw, maybe that's not a bad shout, but I'm gonna go with a Chelsea win.

"I watched Chelsea play against Spurs at Stamford Bridge and Spurs deserved to win. I don't think [United] are capable of playing like Spurs do. Spurs played like that against us at Old Trafford, they played us off the park in the first half.

"So I don't think we can do what Spurs do and dominate possession...I watched [Chelsea] against Liverpool, it was a much more equal game but I don't think we can defend like Liverpool did and Chelsea still created chances.

"I think Chelsea's system causes us problems...and when Alonso's system works, when you're quite a rigid team, it becomes problematic."

Result: Chelsea 6-0 Manchester United

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Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink - Chelsea

"We had a very, very good match against Everton, 2-0 away, magnificent, and the performance was great," Chelsea icon Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink told the Straits Times this week.

"Yes, the game after that [2-0 loss at home to Tottenham] was a little bit disappointing, but they’ve got an opportunity to put that right against Man United, and I think they will."

Steve Sidwell - Chelsea

Former Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell agreed with his former Premier League rival and added: "Big game for Chelsea. I’ve done a couple of draws, and they’ve come in, but I do see this being a draw. But I’m going to go Chelsea 1-0."

Steve Nicol - Chelsea

Liverpool icon Steve Nicol joined the Chelsea bandwagon and predicted a 2-1 win for Chelsea on ESPN FC: "Give me one thing that will make a difference. And there is only one thing...responsibility. If the penny dropped and the players could look in the mirror and go, 'I'm partly responsible for this. I'm gonna do my bit...if they all do that, then you might get something.

"But then the question is, do we really think enough of them are gonna think they're responsible for this? Because right now it looks like they're blaming anybody and everybody except themselves."

John Mikel Obi - Chelsea

Blues icon John Mikel Obi cast his prediction on his YouTube channel and said: "I'm gonna go for my club, my team, Chelsea, to beat struggling Manchester United."