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Manchester United v Chelsea
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Competition: Premier League
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Watch Live: Sky Sports Main Event
On Thursday evening, Manchester United host Chelsea in a game that has not been anticipated anywhere near as much as in previous seasons – largely down to Chelsea’s disastrous season. The last five meetings between these two sides have all ended as a draw and United haven’t beaten Chelsea at Old Trafford since August 2019 – where they won 4-0. The visitors have beaten United once in the last 12 meetings between these two sides and have not won in the league since 2017.
Manchester United arrive into this one on the back of a solid, if unspectacular, 1-0 victory over Bournemouth. Casemiro’s bicycle kick early in the first half killed the game as Bournemouth, already safe, were not as competitive as they have been throughout the season.
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Red Devils on the brink of securing Champions League football
Liverpool’s result against Aston Villa has taken an enormous amount of pressure off Manchester United. They now need to pick up just one point from their final two games (against Chelsea and Fulham) to guarantee their place in the top four at the end of the season. Both of those games are also at Old Trafford, where they have not lost a game since September, so their place is almost assured, although they will be hoping that it does not go down to the last day. Having already won the EFL Cup, and an FA Cup final against their Manchester neighbours to come, this could be a very successful season for Erik ten Hag in his first season as United boss.
Manchester United team news
Marcus Rashford was a surprising absentee from that win at Bournemouth due to an illness, but he should be available here. However, Lisandro Martinez, Tom Heaton, Donny van de Beek, Marcel Sabitzer and Phil Jones are all injured. Rashford should come in for Anthony Martial up front.
Chelsea season one to forget
This has been a season to brush under the carpet for Chelsea fans. Last time out, they lost to a heavily rotated Manchester City side and did not pose much threat to the Cityzens, who did not have to reach their top levels. Julian Alvarez scored within 15 minutes and the Blues were fortunate that they did not concede again with 20 minutes to go as Alvarez’s second was ruled out for offside. Players on both sides seemed disinterested with little to play for and as a result, it was a relatively dull game.
The Blues lost in the third round in both the EFL Cup and the FA Cup and, despite somehow making it through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, were humiliated by Real Madrid – who won 4-0 across the two legs. They have won just one of their last 12 games and have failed to score in seven of those games. They can no longer finish in the top half and could even finish as low as 14th if other results go against them. Only Wolves (31), Everton (33) and Southampton (32) have scored fewer than Chelsea’s 36 in the league this season and only Kai Havertz (7) and Raheem Sterling (6) have scored more than three goals for the Blues.
Chelsea team news
Interim boss Frank Lampard has plenty of injuries to contend with too. Benoit Badiashile, Reece James, Ben Chilwell, Mason Mount, N’golo Kante, Marc Cucurella and Armando Broja are all out with different issues, whilst Mateo Kovacic is a doubt. Kalidou Koulibaly came off the bench in defeat at the Etihad and may come into the starting 11 here having recovered from a thigh issue.
‘It was an improved performance for us’
Frank Lampard on the Manchester City v Chelsea game
Manchester United v Chelsea Cheat Sheet
With plenty on the line for Manchester United, look at captain and perennial ‘whinge bag’ Bruno Fernandes as an outside shot for any potential yellow cards in this game. The Portuguese ranks third on United’s fouls committed per game, and should United find themselves behind and chasing the game, look at Fernandes to get in the ref’s ear and pick up a caution for descent.
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Manchester United v Chelsea bet builder tips
Manchester United v Chelsea
Kick Off: 20:00
Competition: Premier League
Watch Live: Sky Sports Main Event
Selection: 1 of 3
Prediction: Manchester United to win
Odds: 1.57
Manchester United have been sensational at Old Trafford this season, and in particular in 2023. Their only two defeats here were on the opening day of the season against Brighton and in the Europa League against Real Sociedad at the start of September. Of their 32 home games this season, they have won 26 of them and have scored at least two goals in 24 of them. In 2023, they have played 20 home games and have won all but three. They have also amassed over one expected goal in all but one of them (the exception being against Southampton when Casemiro was sent off early on and only Leicester have had more than 1.2 expected goals against Manchester United here in that time.
Chelsea have been awful throughout the season, and nothing has changed with Frank Lampard in charge. He has picked up just four points – against Nottingham Forest and at Bournemouth – and they have looked uninspired. His players looked disinterested in the loss at Manchester City and the Blues have nothing to play for. United, on the other hand, will be desperate to win to guarantee their place in the top four for next season. The Red Devils also have been given 24 hours extra to recover having played on Saturday.
Selection: 2 of 3
Prediction: Over 4.5 Manchester United corners
Odds: 1.36
Manchester United have had plenty of corners in their games this season, particularly at home. At Old Trafford, they average 6.18 corners per game and this selection has landed in 76% of those matches. They have had 29 corners across their last four games and this selection has landed in eight of their last nine league matches, having at least eight in five of those games. Erik ten Hag will want to see his team attack from the off which should give rise to plenty of corner opportunities.
Chelsea have conceded at least five corners in each of their last four matches, including against Nottingham Forest (5) and Bournemouth (7). In fact, Frank Lampard has taken charge of seven Chelsea league matches and in this time, the opposition has had 42 corners at an average of six per game. This selection has landed in six of the seven league games that the Chelsea legend has overseen, with the exception being at home to Brentford. Across the season as a whole, this selection has landed in 72% of Chelsea’s away games.
Selection: 3 of 3
Prediction: Over 3.5 cards
Odds: 1.73
Manchester United home games this season average 3.47 cards per game and this selection has landed in 59% of their games at Old Trafford. In four of their last five games here, they have been booked at least twice and in three of them they have seen three bookings. Across their last ten here, they have drawn at least two cards six times.
Chelsea away games this season average 3.89 cards per game, rising to 4.30 across their last ten on the road. This selection has landed in seven of their last ten and four of their last six away from home. In each of their last six away from Stamford Bridge, they have received at least two cards. This selection has landed in eight of the last ten between these two sides in the league, and at least five cards have been shown in six of those ten.
The referee for this one is Stuart Atwell. Over the course of his career, he averages 3.81 cards per game with at least four cards in 65.29% of those games. In the Premier League this season, he has shown over three cards in 52% of his 24 matches in charge. His last game was Wolves’ 1-0 win over Aston Villa 19 days ago where he showed six cards.
Written by an Andy verified content writer
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