Chelsea vs Manchester United LIVE!
Two fallen giants of English football meet at Stamford Bridge tonight with both looking to salvage something from largely miserable campaigns. The Blues are once again faced with a bottom half place and are currently twelfth, but can still sneak into a spot in the Europa Conference League with improved form in the run-in.
Man Utd, meanwhile, have faint hopes of guiding Tottenham or Aston Villa to a place in the Champions League, but only if the Premier League gets a fifth qualifying round and a nine-point gap can be closed. Victory tonight, Erik ten Hag will certainly feel, will be crucial for those objectives. Otherwise it will be a Europa League spot and a possible new manager in the summer.
Mason Mount is back at Stamford Bridge for the first time since leaving his boyhood club for the Red Devils last summer. It was an injury-hit battle during his first season at United, but he scored his first goal for the club in the previous match. Follow the match LIVE below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea vs Man United latest news
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Kick-off time: 8.15pm BST, Stamford Bridge
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How to watch: TNT Sports
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Chelsea team news: Three back for Blues
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Man United team news: No start for Mount?
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Score prediction: Honor even on bridge
Manchester United XI
19:16 , Alex Young
Rashford has lost weight.
Chelsea XI
19:15 , Alex Young
This is what the hosts look like.
19:08 , Alex Young
It sounds like Malo Gusto is starting for Chelsea and shrugging off a blow.
7:00 PM , Alex Young
Team news is coming. Does Thiago Silva make a rare start?
18:53 , Alex Young
Little has changed for Chelsea and Manchester United since their last meeting in December. writes Nizaar Kinsella.
At the time, United boss Erik ten Hag was under pressure and the Chelsea project around young players did not yield positive results.
It’s much the same story for both clubs ahead of a big match on Thursday evening.
On Saturday, Chelsea gave up their lead twice to draw 2-2 against 10-man Burnley, and United put in a truly terrible performance in their 1-1 draw with Brentford.
So the spotlight is back on Mauricio Pochettino and Ten Hag, with both teams in trouble.
A lack of goals has been a problem for Chelsea for much of this season, but now they have concerns at the back. Injuries continue to see them change their backline, with Reece James, Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana sidelined and now Ben Chilwell out both ill and injured.
Pochettino on Wednesday criticized his players for wanting to play ‘exhibition football’ and said again that they lack the desire to ‘compete’. He has struggled to get his talented players into the starting lineup and insists he needs time to build a winning mentality in one of the youngest squads in the Premier League.
Read more: Chelsea and Man United face a crucial confrontation on a long road to recovery
18:43 , Alex Young
Just over 90 minutes until kick-off.
18:37 , Alex Young
Mason Mount looked heartbroken the last time he was at Stamford Bridge, writes Nizaar Kinsella.
On Thursday evening he returns for the first time as a Manchester United player in what promises to be another emotional occasion for the man who spent eighteen years in Chelsea Blue.
The sight of Mount, teary-eyed, arm-in-arm with Chelsea physio Billy McCulloch after the final home game of last season showed the struggle of leaving his boyhood club.
His £55million move to United has not gone to plan, but on Thursday he will look to make another big impact following his 96th-minute goal from the bench against Brentford last weekend.
That felt like a huge moment for a player who is still counting the cost of his final season at Chelsea.
Read more: Mount is torn for Chelsea’s return as he tries to win over Man Utd fans
Chances
18:26 , Alex Young
I’m surprised to see Chelsea have a chance to win tonight, even though they’re playing at home.
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Chelsea: 8/11
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Draw: 23/10
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Man Utd: 12/5
Odds via Betfair.
Score prediction
6:20 PM , Alex Young
Neither of these teams can be expected to show up and yet both can be said to be enjoying the big occasion.
An oddly intriguing encounter, so we’re on the fence.
A 1-1 draw.
18:12 , Alex Young
Predicted Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Badiashile, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Palmer, Gallagher, Sterling; Jackson
Predicted Man Utd XI (4-2-3-1): Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Maguire, Dalot; McTominay, Mainoo; Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund
Manchester United team news
18:07 , Alex Young
Mason Mount may have to wait for a start at Manchester United despite his former club tonight.
The midfielder is aiming for a first start since October, just days after scoring what seemed an undeserved late winner against Brentford, before Kristoffer Ajer then gifted the Bees with a final equalizer.
United confirmed on Tuesday that Victor Lindelof will now be out for at least four weeks with a hamstring injury sustained against Brentford.
Argentine defender Martinez will also miss the match against Chelsea after suffering another setback in training with a calf injury after playing on the bench for the first time in almost two months on Saturday evening.
Raphael Varane is back in training after being replaced by Harry Maguire as a precaution at half-time against Brentford. Academy graduate Willy Kambwala is on standby and Jonny Evans will also return to training on Wednesday.
Ten Hag is still without Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Anthony Martial, in addition to Martinez and Lindelof.
Chelsea team news
17:57 , Alex Young
Chelsea look set to welcome back a trio of players, with Carney Chukwuemeka, Robert Sanchez and Trevoh Chalobah all back after missing the disappointing 2-2 draw against 10-man Burnley on Saturday.
Malo Gusto should also be fit in the meantime, having avoided injury after being taken off the pitch in the 87th minute of the match at Stamford Bridge.
Ben Chilwell is sidelined through illness after missing a match this weekend due to a blow to his knee suffered while on international duty with England.
Pochettino will likely opt to continue with a stable base for Chelsea against United, with Djordje Petrovic as goalkeeper. The back four will likely consist of Gusto, Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile and Marc Cucurella.
Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Conor Gallagher continue in midfield. The key decision facing Pochettino will be whether to re-deploy Mykhailo Mudryk over Raheem Sterling in a forward line with Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer.
Where to watch Chelsea vs Manchester United
17:49 , Alex Young
TV channel: In the UK, tonight’s match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate HD, with coverage from 7.30pm BST, ahead of the 8.15pm kick-off.
Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also follow the match live online via the Discovery+ app and website.
Welcome
17:44 , Alex Young
Good evening and welcome to Standard’s LIVE coverage of the Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester United.
Two English football giants in need of inspiration, and a morale-boosting win tonight, could be seen as crucial for both teams – and for both managers.
Kick-off at Stamford Bridge is at 8.15pm. Stay with us.