Preview: Can Chelsea beat Man United for first time since 2020?
Chelsea and Manchester United, two struggling Premier League teams under tremendous pressure to reach their respective European goals, square off at Stamford Bridge.
Both teams played to dismal draws in London over the weekend; Burnley, who was playing with ten men, held the Blues to a 2-2 tie at home, and United was maybe lucky to escape Brentford with a point.
Considering the favourable scorelines for Aston Villa and Tottenham in the Champions League race, the Brentford defeat was devastating. Time is running out for United to close the gap with those teams, as they are currently eight points and 11 points behind the former and latter, respectively, even though fifth place may still be sufficient to guarantee a spot in Europe’s premier league.
Chelsea has at least one game in hand on the clubs above them in the rankings, but they will have to fight to play in any European football competitions next season. Just two of Pochettino’s team’s five games without a loss have come at home against Newcastle and away to Crystal Palace (A), despite the fact that they are undefeated in five games since a 4-2 home loss to Wolves in early February.
Chelsea haven’t beaten Man Utd since the semi-final of the FA Cup in 2020, drawing five and losing two of the past seven games. In fact, Chelsea’s last two victories over the Red Devils have been in the FA Cup, since a 1-0 league win in November 2017.
Scott McTominay scored two goals in the reverse fixture helping United to a 2:1 win against the London side at Old Trafford in December. However, the two sides have been hard to separate when it comes to Stamford Bridge. The two clubs have drawn three of the games at Stamford Bridge.
United will be attempting to win Chelsea home and away in the Premier League for the second time against Chelsea, having defeated the Blues both at home and away in 2019–20. The old Trafford faithfuls have only won six times at Stamford Bridge since the competition’s rebranding in 1992.
CHELSEA VS MANCHESTER UNITED TEAM NEWS
Lesley Ugochukwu, Christopher Nkunku, Reece James, and Wesley Fofana (all hamstring), Carney Chukwuemeka (knock), Robert Sanchez, and Trevoh Chalobah (both unspecified) will all miss the game for Chelsea due to injuries.
Ben Chilwell and Malo Gusto will be evaluated before the game. Ben Chilwell was forced to sit out the entire match because of a knee issue, while the later sustained a hamstring injury in the last moments of the draw with Burnley.
In the event that Gusto is ruled unfit to play, Thiago Silva would have to come back into the starting lineup to join Benoit Badiashile at centre back, leaving Axel Disasi to cover for him.
Palmer, who scored one of his 13 Premier League goals in the rematch with Manchester United, is anticipated to continue on the right side, with Raheem Sterling and Noni Madueke vying for the starting position in the final third with Mykhaylo Mudryk.
For Man United, Luke Shaw (muscle), Anthony Martial (groyne), and Tyrell Malacia (knee) are all in the treatment room along with Victor Lindelof and Lisandro Martinez, who have been sidelined for “at least a month” due to their respective hamstring and calf ailments.
Jonny Evans ( muscular) and Raphael Varane (unspecified) are doubtful, but the former may be able to play in central defence with Harry Maguire if he passes a late fitness test.
Although Ten Hag would be tempted to stay with and Kobbie Mainoo and Scott McTominay—the Scotsman scored twice in the reverse fixture last December —Casemiro and former Chelsea player Mount are both eligible to start in midfield.
Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford are anticipated to remain in their positions on the wings, Even as Amad Diallo has served his one game suspension and Antony returns fit.
CHELSEA PREDICTED STARTING LINE-UP
Petrovic, Disasi, Silva, Badiashile, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernández, Palmer, Gallagher, Sterling, Jackson
MANCHESTER UNITED PREDICTED STARTING LINE-UP
Onana, Dalot, Maguire, Kambwala, Wan-Bissaka, McTominay, Mainoo, Fernandes, Garnacho, Hojlund, Rashford
CHELSEA VS MANCHESTER UNITED TIME AND VENUE
Kick-off date is Thursday 4th April, 2024.
Kick-off time is 8:15pm WAT
Venue is Stamford Bridge
Referee will be Jarred Gillet
CHELSEA VS MANCHESTER UNITED PREDICTION
With their recent record versus Chelsea, Man United may have the psychological advantage, but coming into Thursday’s matchup, there isn’t much separating these two underperforming and defensively weak falling giants.
Although neither team can afford to lose too many more points coming into the last lap of the season, the points may be split once more in a closely contested match this time around given that five of the previous seven top-flight encounters between the two clubs have finished in a draw.
PREDICTION: Chelsea 1 vs United 1
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