Premier League: Manchester United vs Chelsea Preview

While the Premier League campaign is quickly drawing to a close, Thursday’s match between rivals Manchester United and Chelsea is crucial, especially for the hosts, who are still looking to solidify their spot in next year’s Champions League campaign. The kick-off is scheduled for 3 PM ET at Old Trafford. The reverse tie in October ended in a 1-1 stalemate at Stamford Bridge in London. Keep reading for the analysis.

Head-to-Head History

There’s been a common theme in recent meetings between the two sides. Five straight matches have ended level dating back to October of 2020. Chelsea beat United in the FA Cup semifinals back in July of that year but since then, nothing has separated the English foes since then.

United Has Lots to Play For

The Red Devils are a clear -168 favorite at 888sport  for a reason. They’ve been a mile better than the Blues this term and have every opportunity to play meaningful European football in 2023-24. United is three points clear of Liverpool in fourth with two games to go and can even leapfrog Newcastle with a victory Thursday, who sit in third. 

While Erik ten Hag’s men have seen a dip in form in recent weeks with back-to-back domestic defeats to Brighton and West Ham, they did bounce back across the last two league fixtures, first beating Wolves 2-0 before snatching a vital three points at the Vitality Stadium against Bournemouth. 

To be frank, Man United should’ve won by a lot more than a 1-0 scoreline with a boatload of chances but thankfully, Casemiro’s early goal proved to be enough while the backline was rock solid for the second weekend in a row.

The Red Devils will be fired up to play at the Theater of Dreams on Thursday, where the side owns a 13-3-1 record in EPL action this season. Needless to say, United almost always turns up in front of their supporters. 

Just Pride at This Point For Chelsea

What a miserable campaign for such a historic club. After Sunday’s defeat to a reserve Manchester City squad, Chelsea will now officially finish in the bottom half of the table. Truly a nightmare. Despite spending millions across the last two transfer windows, the Blues couldn’t find a rhythm all season long and most notably, struggled immensely to find the back of the net.

Chelsea has scored an atrocious 36 goals in 36 outings, with absolutely no player proving to be a legitimate threat in the final third. Kai Havertz’s seven goals were a team-best. Frank Lampard’s men come into Thursday’s encounter with only one win in their last 11 across all competitions, with just two draws during that span, which means they tasted defeat eight times since the beginning of April. 

There’s a serious disconnect within this squad and it’s clear major changes are needed in the summer. Former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino is set to take over as manager and numerous players will likely be sold as well. 

On a more positive note, the Blues’ recent track record against United is respectable, but literally, no soccer betting sites are going to be favoring them here. With minimal left to play for, this match is simply about pride.