Manchester United secured a crucial victory, boosting their Champions League qualification hopes with a 10-point lead. Meanwhile, Chelsea's performance continues to decline, leaving them in disarray.
Key points
Manchester United boosts Champions League qualification hopes
10-point margin of safety with five games left
Michael Carrick gains leverage as temporary manager
Chelsea's performance continues to decline
Team in disarray amid ongoing struggles
Mentioned in this story
Michael Carrick
Manchester UnitedChelsea
Matheus Cunha of Manchester United celebrates
Matheus Cunha gave Man Utd the lead in the first half - Julian Finney/Getty Images
There is still some distance to go but delivering a 10-point margin of safety on Champions League qualification with five games left has given Michael Carrick the kind of leverage that not every temporary appointment at Manchester United has had.
This was, by some measure, the kind of victory that looked well beyond this United team for some time pre-Carrick. They came to Stamford Bridge without four first-choice centre-halves and locked Chelsea out. On the counterattack against a home team desperate for a goal, there was an opportunistic winner from Matheus Cunha that says a lot about the confidence of the team.
Certainly, it was a long way from the defeat on Monday night to Leeds United at Old Trafford that was the low-point of this Carrick era. They finished this game defending the penalty box as Chelsea’s urgency reached fever pitch. There were superb performances from and in the centre of defence and the kind of grinding intensity that the team had previously lacked.
Q&A
How did Manchester United secure their Champions League qualification?
Manchester United secured their Champions League qualification by achieving a 10-point margin of safety with five games remaining.
What impact does this victory have on Michael Carrick's position at Manchester United?
This victory gives Michael Carrick significant leverage as a temporary appointment, enhancing his chances of a longer tenure.
What is the current state of Chelsea's performance in the league?
Chelsea's performance has been declining, leaving the team in disarray and struggling to compete effectively.
How many games are left for Manchester United to secure their Champions League spot?
Manchester United has five games left to secure their Champions League spot.
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For Chelsea, and Liam Rosenior, this is reaching crisis point. Supporters of the club marched with peers from RC Strasbourg, the other team under the ownership of the BlueCo consortium in protest against the latter before the match. That did not attract as much support as the US investors who own Chelsea might have feared but the mood soon changed in the stadium. As time ticked down, the senior partner in that venture, Behdad Eghbali, was singled out for criticism.
It is more than six hours of regulation Premier League match time now since Rosenior’s team scored a goal. Both clubs have sacked managers this season, and it is United who have emerged the much stronger. Carrick has taken 26 points from a possible 36. Rosenior has lost six of his last seven games and the team has not won at Stamford Bridge in the league since West Ham visited on January 31.
Liam Rosenior and Michael Carrick shake hands at full time
Liam Rosenior (left) and Michael Carrick shake hands at full time - Andy Rain/Shutterstock
There were further injuries for Chelsea, this time EstêvãoWillian, and for Rosenior the walls are closing in. It will be hard to imagine an ownership as restless as this one will be able to resist the temptation to change – however much this may be the fault of others outside the manager’s office.
More to follow...
10:30pm
More from Rosenior, talking to TNT Sports
“Up until the box, we were very good. I can only say what I saw, I thought we were the dominant team from minute one until the end of the game. But to lose this game in the manner we did is extremely disappointing because we had many opportunities to win it.”
On Manchester Utd scoring with Wesley Fofana off the pitch:
“Extremely frustrating. I think it was their only shot on target, we were down to ten men in that moment but we have to defend it better. At this level, you cannot switch off at any moment, no matter how in control of the game you are. It feels like any small mistake is ending up in the back of our net and that has to change.”
10:27pm
Liam Rosenior speaking to the BBC
“It is so difficult. Today they [Manchester United] had one shot on target while we were down to 10 men [whilst Wesley Fofana was off the pitch]. We had wave after wave of attack and hit the woodwork I think four times. I do not want my team to feel things are against us. We have to keep fighting.”
On the goal they conceded:
“We have to defend that moment better. We do not and we get punished. At the moment any small mistake we are making and the ball ends up in the back of our net and that has to change. It is about results and we have not got a result today we should have. The small things add up but we have to keep working hard.”
Does he feel under pressure?
“No. I put myself under the most pressure. We just have to keep working with the staff and the players to turn things around.”
10:25pm
Post-match thoughts of Michael Carrick
10:21pm
Owen Hargreaves on Bruno Fernandes
10:18pm
Manchester United’s final five fixtures (all Premier League)
They are not too far off sealing Champions League qualification for next season. It may well be that they only need a handful more points to do it.
10:14pm
Post-match thoughts of Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes
10:09pm
Chelsea’s next five games
April 21: Brighton vs Chelsea (Premier League)
April 26: Chelsea vs Leeds (FA Cup)
May 4: Chelsea vs Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
May 9: Liverpool vs Chelsea (Premier League)
May 17: Chelsea vs Tottenham (Premier League)
Chelsea are back in league action on Tuesday at Brighton before a FA Cup semi-final next weekend against Leeds. Liam Rosenior’s side are four points off the top five and that could grow to seven tomorrow if Liverpool beat Everton in gthe Merseyside Derby.
10:06pm
This round of Premier League fixtures
Today:
Brentford 0 Fulham 0
Leeds 3 Wolves 0
Newcastle 1 Bournemouth 2
Tottenham 2 Brighton 2
Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1
Sunday:
Everton vs Liverpool 2pm Aston Villa vs Sunderland 2pm
Nottingham Forest vs Burnley 2pm
Manchester City vs Arsenal 4.30pm
Possession: Chelsea 60%-40% Manchester United Shots: 21-4 Shots on target: 3-1 Corners: 7-1 Touches in opposition box: 40-10
Plenty of statistics were in Chelsea’s favour tonight but the all-important one was in Manchester United’s favour.
10:00pm Analysis
Losing run
Chelsea have lost four league games in a row without scoring a goal for the first time since 1998. They have not scored in the Premier League in more than six hours.
09:56pm
Full time
Manchester United deal with the danger before the final whistle is blown. A massive three points for the visitors, who take another big step towards Champions League qualification. The final whistle is met with boos by the home fans, who could fall seven points off the Champions League places with five games to go if Liverpool beat Everton tomorrow.
09:55pm
90+4 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1
Neto clips in the free-kick but Manchester United deal with it. However, Chelsea keep it alive and win another free-kick on the other side. Mainoo is into the book and this is last chance saloon for Chelsea with keeper Sanchez sent up.
09:53pm
90+3 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1
Manchester United are just a minute away from a big three points in the race for Champions League football.
However, they are going to have to defend a late free-kick after a handball from Mount. This will be Chelsea’s final chance to find an equaliser.
09:52pm
90+1 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1
Mount is booked for kicking the ball away after Fernandes gave away a free-kick. The home fans took some joy in that yellow card, even though their side are heading for another damaging defeat.
09:50pm
90 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1
There will be four added minutes. Chelsea do not have much time to find an equaliser.
09:49pm
89 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1
Manchester United are edging towards what would be a huge three points in the race for Champions League football. They would go 10 points clear of Chelsea with five games left so they would be nearly there in terms of that race.
09:48pm
87 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1
Mbeumo is limping off for Manchester United and is replaced by Zirkzee. That looked more like cramp than an injury.
Chelsea also make a change as Lavia replaces Fernandez, who also appeared to be struggling with cramp.
09:45pm
84 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1
Caicedo is urged to shoot by the home fans and he obliges. He strikes it really well from outside the box but it goes just wide.
09:43pm
83 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1
That is fantastic defending from Mazraoui, who times his slide tackle on Garnacho in the Manchester United penalty area to perfection. Had he got that wrong, it would have been a certain Chelsea penalty.
09:42pm
82 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1
So this is interesting. One goal down, Liam Rosenior has brought on two defenders in Chalobah and Acheampong. Fofana and Gusto head off.
09:41pm
81 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1
Michael Carrick is going to make his first two changes of the night as Amad and Mount replace Sesko and Cunha. Plenty of boos from the home fans as Mount comes on against his boyhood club.
09:39pm
78 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1
Fernandes plays the ball into the path of Mbeumo on the right and Manchester United have a two-on-two. However, Mbeumo fails to take advantage and good defending from Hato on the edge of the Chelsea box ends the danger.
09:35pm Analysis
75 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1
Pedro Neto looks the most likely player to pull Chelsea back into this game. He has been busy throughout and some of his deliveries from wide have been excellent.
09:33pm
73 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1
The pressure is ramping up on Manchester United as they hold onto this one-goal advantage. Chelsea are on top and pushing the visitors back.
09:31pm
71 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1
Mazraoui brings down Cucurella just outside the Manchester United box and this is a good shooting position for either Fernandez or Palmer.
It is taken by Palmer who, like Fernandez in the first half, hits the wall.
09:27pm
67 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1
Chelsea hit the bar again and it is similar to the last one. Neto again has some space on the right and clips a lovely delivery towards the far post. Fofana wins the header but his effort comes back off the bar. There were some appeals for handball inside the Manchester United box not long before that, which VAR is checking. The potential handball incident is checked and cleared. What the replays actually show is it may have come off Fofana’s arm anyway so it probably would not have counted anyway even if the ball had gone in.
The ball hits Wesley Fofana's arm as he tries to head it
It would have been a handball anyway - David Klein/Reuters
09:25pm
64 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1
Fernandes, on the edge of the Chelsea box, looks to pass it to either Casemiro or Cunha in space on the left side of the box. It takes a big deflection off Fofana and that forces Sanchez to scamper across to his left to make a diving save as that was creeping in.
Robert Sanchez makes a diving save
Big save from Robert Sanchez - John Walton/PA
09:22pm
62 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1
Gusto clips in a cross from the right first time and picks out Palmer, who volleys first time from 12 yards out but his effort goes wide. Chelsea have had two shots on target in this game, Manchester United one but they made that one count.
09:21pm Analysis
60 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1
Chelsea have taken control in the past few minutes, putting sustained pressure on the United backline. Delap’s header is a lovely flicked effort and he’s unlucky it didn’t drop in time. The danger for Chelsea is that Mbeumo, Cunha and Sesko are all keen to counter, and all three are quick over long distances. When United go, those three will really go.
09:20pm
59 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1
There are appeals from the home players and fans for a handball against Mazraoui right around the Manchester United penalty area but those appeals are waved away. VAR confirms that there was no penalty there. It did strike the arm but it was not an intentional handball.
09:16pm Key moments
56 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1
Chelsea hit the bar! Neto clips in a cross to the far post and picks out Delap, who leaps well to meet it but his header comes back off the bar. It was a good header from Delap and he is unlucky that did not find its way in.
Liam Delap's header comes back off the bar
Chelsea very close to an equaliser - David Klein/Reuters
09:12pm
52 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1
Caicedo is urged to shoot from range by the home fans and he obliges. He shot takes a deflection off Casemiro and spins behind for a corner. However, Fernandez’s delivery is woeful and cleared away at the front post.
Manchester United counter and it ends with Fernandes shooting from just outside the box but he drags his effort just wide.
09:09pm
48 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1
Caicedo spots the run of Cucurella in behind but there is just slightly too much on the ball and it runs through to Lammens.
09:05pm
Second half
We are back under way at Stamford Bridge. Fofana was struggling with a blow to his ribs before the break but he has come back out after half-time.
09:04pm Analysis
Long wait
The last goal Chelsea scored in the Premier League was on March 4th. They have played almost 350 league minutes without scoring.
09:01pm
Another assist for the Manchester United captain
08:59pm
This round of Premier League fixtures
Today:
Brentford 0 Fulham 0
Leeds 3 Wolves 0
Newcastle 1 Bournemouth 2
Tottenham 2 Brighton 2
Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1 HT
Sunday:
Everton vs Liverpool 2pm
Aston Villa vs Sunderland 2pm
Nottingham Forest vs Burnley 2pm
Manchester City vs Arsenal 4.30pm
Monday:
Crystal Palace vs West Ham 8pm
08:55pm
HT stats
Possession: Chelsea 57%-43% Manchester United Shots: 6-2 Shots on target: 2-1 Corners: 2-0 Touches in opposition box: 12-3
08:50pm
Half-time
The first half is brought to an end and Manchester United lead 1-0 at the break courtesy of that Cunha goal. Three points for the visitors would be massive in their hopes of Champions League qualification and would represent a big blow to Chelsea’s chances. Plenty of boos from the home fans as the whistle was blown.
08:48pm Analysis
45+3 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1
Before the Cunha goal, this had been a decent half for Chelsea given their recent form, and in spite of the two injuries they have suffered. They lost Estevao Willian, and then Wesley Fofana came off in the moments before the United goal. United have clearly looked at attacking the Chelsea left-back position. Mbeumo had got in behind once and Fernandes was then able to shrug off Garnacho very easily in the build-up to the goal. Lots of space behind the more advanced Cucurella.
08:45pm
45 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1
There will be five added minutes.
08:43pm Key moments • Goals • Video
GOAL! Cunha puts Manchester United in front
A quality assist from Fernandes and a quality first-time finish from Cunha. With just a few minutes remaining in the half, Fernandes gets the better of his former teammate Garnacho down Manchester United’s right and cuts the ball across from the byline. It comes through for Cunha, whose first-time shot from the penalty spot finds the top right corner.
It looked to me like Moises Caicedo was more focused on blocking the run of Benjamin Sesko than actually clearing the cross that allowed Matheus Cunha to score. It’s an ugly goal for Chelsea to concede, starting with Alejandro Garnacho’s poor attempt to stop Bruno Fernandes.
08:43pm
42 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 0
Fofana has now gone down, a couple of minutes after that collision, and is clutching at his ribs. Are Chelsea going to be forced into a second injury-enforced change in this first half? That would also mean the home side would only have one substitution slot remaining. Fofana is now back to his feet, still clutching at his left rib but it appears he is going to try and continue, at least for now.
08:40pm
40 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 0
Action at both ends. Firstly, Chelsea fail to take advantage of a good cross from Neto on the right which just hits Fernandez inside the six-yard box. Then Manchester United counter and Hato is into the book for a foul on Mbeumo.
Fernandes whips in the delivery and an almighty collision takes place in the Chelsea box. Sanchez punches away but him, Casemiro and Fofana all collide. All are fine.
08:38pm Key moments
38 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 0
The ball is in the Manchester United net but the offside flag has gone up. Fernandez’s shot is saved by Lammens but parried straight into the path of Palmer, who lays it across to Delap to put into the empty net. However, Palmer was offside when Fernandez took his shot so the goal will not stand.
Liam Delap puts the ball in the net but the offside flag goes up
Chelsea thought they had taken the lead but not to be - John Walton/PA
08:36pm
36 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 0
There is a growing sense of frustration from the home fans that at times their side is playing too slow and not moving forward quickly enough. Already some groans and moans from the Chelsea fans.
Chelsea could and perhaps should take the lead. Mazraoui loses the ball inside his own box and it is stolen by Fernandez, who looks to curl one into the far corner but it goes inches wide of the far post.
08:30pm
30 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 0
Fernandez is the one who takes but his effort is blocked by the Manchester United wall.
08:29pm
29 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 0
Heaven brings down Palmer just outside the Manchester United penalty area. He get away with one earlier on Palmer but this time he does not.
Palmer and Fernandez are standing over this one...
08:29pm
28 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 0
Garnacho battles for the ball with Dalot right in front of the away fans and, much to their amusement, Dalot gets the better of his former teammate.
08:25pm Analysis
25 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 0
That is a real waste from Cunha. Fernandes plays a lovely first-time ball from inside his own half to pick out the run in behind from Mbeumo down the right channel. Mbeumo drives to the Chelsea box and is unselfish, laying it across to Cunha, who should hit it first time but instead takes a touch. That touch is a dreadful one, far too heavy, and he ends up fouling Hato and gets booked for it.
You know a first touch is bad when it turns a clear goalscoring opportunity into a yellow card. So poor by Cunha.
08:24pm
23 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 0
Despite Manchester United missing most of their centre-backs, Michael Carrick has still named four attacking players in Fernandes, Mbeumo, Cunha and Sesko so Carrick has not decided to play it too safe tonight.
08:18pm
18 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 0
Neto clips a clever ball into the Manchester United box, looking for Garnacho, who was in space on the right side of the penalty area, but there is probably slightly too much on it and Garnacho cannot hook it back across the box.
08:15pm Analysis • Key moments
15 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 0
Estevao’s eventful 15 minutes are over; he struck the post before picking up an injury. He is indeed replaced by the former Manchester United man Garnacho, who is booed by the travelling supporters.
The warm-up area for substitutes is directly in front of the United supporters and Alejandro Garnacho was, er, not welcomed warmly as he prepared to come on for Estevao. The United fans were not impressed by the nature of Garnacho’s exit for Chelsea last summer.
08:15pm Analysis
14 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 0
Enjoyable start to this game, with both teams attacking quickly. Chelsea have looked the more dangerous side in the last few minutes, with Palmer and Estevao causing problems. I must say it’s a gorgeous night for football. Perfect conditions. It’s a very visually appealing match, too: red against blue, on floodlit green grass. Lovely.
08:14pm
13 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 0
Shaw and Manchester United are fortunate. His lapse in concentration gives possession away inside his own half and the ball comes to Delap, who plays a pass into Estevao. However, the Brazilian stumbles at just the wrong moment, which allows the Manchester United defenders to get back, and then his shot is weak.
Estevao then stays down and it appears he may have injured his hamstring. Former Manchester United winger Garnacho is sent out to warm up; he receives a good ovation from the home fans, not so much from the travelling fans.
Estevao down injured for Chelsea
An early injury blow for Chelsea - John Walton/PA
08:12pm Key moments
11 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 0
Chelsea hit the post. Estevao receives it on the right and moves into the penalty area before cutting inside onto his preferred left foot. The young Brazilian curls one towards the far corner and it clips off the outside of the post.
08:11pm
10 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 0
Is that a foul? If so, is it a penalty? Palmer runs onto a pass and gets to the ball first ahead of Heaven. No free-kick is given by referee Michael Oliver but it was definitely a foul. Now VAR will take a look to see if the contact was inside the box. It is very close but VAR deems that the contact was outside the box so no penalty was given and, as no free-kick was given in the first place, VAR does not have the power to give one even though on should have been given. Heaven is very lucky.
08:05pm
5 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 0
That is an important tackle from Heaven, who initially had been beaten by Delap but slides in before the Chelsea striker could get a shot or cross away from the right-side of the box.
Chelsea take a short corner before Palmer sends in a cross but Sesko heads away at the front post.
Ayden Heaven slides in to tackle Liam Delap
Important intervention - Julian Finney/Getty Images
08:02pm
2 mins: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 0
A lot of eyes will be on Fernandez, who returns from his two-game club ban and comes straight back into the starting XI. He reunites with Caicedo in the centre of Chelsea’s midfield.
For Manchester United, Mazraoui is alongside Heaven at centre-back. Heaven is their only recognised centre-half available to them tonight and the 19-year-old has a right-back playing alongside him.
08:00pm
Kick-off
We are under way at Stamford Bridge. This is a huge game in the race for the Champions League, arguably a bigger match for Chelsea as a defeat would be more costly for the hosts, who could be 10 points behind Manchester United with a loss and then potentially seven off Liverpool if they beat Everton tomorrow.
07:56pm
Nearly ready for action
Both sides emerge from the tunnel and we are just moments away from kick-off at Stamford Bridge. Here is a reminder of how the two sides line up this evening:
I would estimate there were around 500-1000 Chelsea and Strasbourg fans at the protest against the BlueCo owners outside Stamford Bridge. I was also here for a fan protest in January and I can say with confidence that today’s effort was much, much more impressive. Perhaps the involvement of the Strasbourg supporters helped to add some seriousness to the occasion. The French, after all, know how to protest.
Today’s protest is against the BlueCo ownership in general rather than any specific issues. The NotAProjectCFC group say they are shining a light on the “incompetence and mismanagement” of the club, and also the “restrictions imposed by multi‑club ownership, where clubs like RC Strasbourg are being stripped of their identities”.
07:25pm
The 10 players Chelsea need to sell – and why Garnacho’s time should be up
Enzo Fernandez
If he likes Madrid so much, or anywhere else for that matter, then let him go. Fernandez is a good player, but he is certainly not irreplaceable and he is not an effective leader. The problem Chelsea have is that they overpaid by spending £106.8m on him and it is highly questionable whether any club could, or would, offer a deal that would prevent Chelsea from making a loss on the books. Banning Fernandez for two games was slightly strange, but selling him would send a strong message that no player is bigger than the club. Giving in to his contract demands would be utter lunacy.
Wesley Fofana
The Frenchman can be a Rolls Royce of a defender, but far too often he is more akin to a (not very reliable) Reliant Robin. If he is not injured, Fofana can be prone to switching off and his performances this season have been as extreme as his driving, which has resulted in him amassing 50 points on his licence – two more than Chelsea have managed in the Premier League so far this season. Without Trevoh Chalobah next to him, Fofana has been the mainstay of a central defence that has conceded seven goals in three successive League defeats by Newcastle United, Everton and Manchester City.
07:19pm
Manchester United’s last five results (all Premier League)
Manchester United 1 Leeds 2
Bournemouth 2 Manchester United 2
Manchester United 3 Aston Villa 1
Newcastle 2 Manchester United 1
Manchester United 2 Crystal Palace 1
Manchester United have dropped points in three of their last four league games but they could take a huge step towards Champions League qualification tonight. With a win this evening, they would move 10 points clear of Chelsea and, with five games remaining,
07:14pm
Fan frustration ahead of kick-off
Chelsea fans protest against their owners ahead of kick-off
Chelsea fans protest against their owners ahead of kick-off - David Klein/Reuters
07:10pm
Chelsea’s last five results
Chelsea 0 Manchester City 3 (Premier League)
Chelsea 7 Port Vale 0 (FA Cup)
Everton 3 Chelsea 0 (Premier League)
Chelsea 0 PSG 3 (Champions League)
Chelsea 0 Newcastle 1 (Premier League)
Chelsea’s form of late has not been good at all, with their only win in their last five in all competitions being at home against Port Vale in the FA Cup. They start the day in sixth, four points behind Liverpool, who occupy the final of five Champions League places.
07:07pm
Moises Caicedo signs new contract at Chelsea
“I am so happy to have extended my contract at Chelsea,” Caicedo said. “I believe in this team, this club and I know we are going in the right direction. We have only just begun together. There is still a lot more to achieve, and I am very hungry to keep improving every day. I want to win more trophies with Chelsea and give everything for this club and for the fans. We have enjoyed some great times together already and my dream is to become a Chelsea legend, and I will work as hard as possible to make that happen.”
Chelsea fans taking part in a protest against their owners
Chelsea fans taking part in a protest against their owners - John Walton/PA
06:38pm
This round of Premier League fixtures
Today:
Brentford 0 Fulham 0
Leeds 3 Wolves 0
Newcastle 1 Bournemouth 2 Tottenham 1 Brighton 1 (48’)
Chelsea vs Manchester United 8pm
Sunday:
Everton vs Liverpool 2pm
Aston Villa vs Sunderland 2pm
Nottingham Forest vs Burnley 2pm
Manchester City vs Arsenal 4.30pm
Monday:
Crystal Palace vs West Ham 8pm
06:31pm Key moments
Race for the Champions League heating up
It is sixth versus third at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea host Manchester United, with the race for the Champions League places hotting up. Manchester United won the reverse fixture 2-1 at Old Trafford back in September, with Chelsea spending most of the game down to 10 men after Robert Sanchez’s fifth-minute red card. If Manchester United were to win tonight, they would complete a league double over Chelsea for just the second time after the 2019/20 campaign. Chelsea have lost just one of their last 12 home league meetings with Manchester United.
Chelsea lost 3-0 at home against Manchester City last weekend. Chelsea have just one Premier league win in their last seven games and go into tonight’s game four points behind Liverpool, who occupy the final Champions League place in fifth.
“That is the great thing about the quality we have in this team,” Liam Rosenior said. “We are capable of a run, but capability is one thing and producing it is another. Time is running out, so we need to be as close to perfect as possible in every aspect of the game. If we do that, we have the potential to win every game for the rest of the season.
“When the team was its best with players like John [Terry], Frank [Lampard], Didier [Drogba], it was a team of big personalities fighting for the shirt, not a team of egos. I feel we have those kinds of characters in our squad, and that is what we need to show in this moment.”
Enzo Fernandez has been suspended for their last two games but is back available for selection tonight, although it remains to be seen in what capacity.
Manchester United lost 2-1 at home to Leeds last Monday but remain in third, level on points with Aston Villa, three points ahead of Liverpool and seven ahead of Chelsea.
“It is an important game,” Michael Carrick said. “We are in a good position in the league and we want to keep building on that. It is a tough place to go, always has been. We have had some tough games down there. Most of the time they have been good games in terms of what it brings. It has the feelings of a real, proper game so we will be ready for that. We have prepared well and take the confidence from what we have built. We did not get the result we wanted against Leeds but the character that we showed we have to take into this game with an extra player and make the most of it.”
Manchester United will be without centre-backs Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez for the trip to Stamford Bridge due to suspension. Maguire was given an extra game ban for improper conduct following his red card against Bournemouth whilst Martinez was sent off against Leeds. They could have a real centre-back problem tonight with Matthijs de Ligt still out injured and Leny Yoro set to miss out. Kobbie Mainoo though could be fit to return having missed the loss to Leeds.
