Champions League football will officially return to Old Trafford next season if Man United can avoid defeat against Chelsea tonight. With Frank Lampard’s Blues victorious in only one of their nine games under the caretaker boss, Red Devils fans may see that as something of a shoo-in.
Erik ten Hag is hoping to have Marcus Rashford fit for tonight’s Premier League clash, which comes as a game in hand for both teams after being postponed for the FA Cup semi-finals earlier this year. Not only can United guarantee a top-four finish with a point but all three will send them into third place ahead of the final weekend.
Chelsea are playing for little more than pride yet can retake 11th place off Crystal Palace with a draw in Manchester. Raheem Sterling is set to be fit despite being left out of the England squad, while Joao Felix is also back. Follow Man Utd vs Chelsea LIVE via Standard Sport’s match blog with Nizaar Kinsella providing expert analysis from the ground.
Live updates
Who will come out on top?
Raphael Varane and Thiago Silva are, when taken together, arguably the world’s most decorated central defensive duo.
Latest match odds
Manchester United – 8/13
Draw – 16/5
Chelsea – 4/1
Odds via Legal Sports Books, subject to change
Marcus Rashford enters the building
We’ll find out if he’s fit to start at the top of the hour!
Man United are in the house
As ever the early arrivals at Old Trafford, Erik ten Hag’s side have entered the venue with the likes of Diogo Dalot, Bruno Fernandes and Wout Weghorst pictured arriving.
Marcus Rashford has also been spotted off the bus.
Evening Standard score prediction
Chelsea are in such dire form at the moment and Frank Lampard has even questioned the commitment of some of his players.
There is nothing to suggest that they are capable of beating a United team so good at home.
Man Utd to win, 3-1.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Kepa; W Fofana, Thiago Silva, Chalobah; Azpilicueta, Gallagher, Fernandez, Loftus-Cheek, Hall; Sterling, Havertz (3-5-2)
Chelsea team news
Benoit Badiashile is out with what is feared to be a long-term hamstring injury, joining Mason Mount, Reece James and Ben Chilwell in missing the rest of the season.
Joao Felix, however, will return.
Lewis Hall looks set to continue in a left wing-back role.
N’Golo Kante, Armando Broja, Mateo Kovacic, Marc Cucurella and Marcus Bettinelli are also injured.
Predicted Man Utd XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Lindelof, Shaw; Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial (4-2-3-1)
Man United team news
Erik ten Hag has confirmed that Marcus Rashford will likely be fit to feature against Chelsea having returned to training following illness and injury.
He said on Wednesday: “It looks like [he’ll be fit].
“Yesterday, he returned to training. He looks quite fit but we have to see today what is the outcome of the training, how we recover and then we will make our choices.”
Donny van de Beek and Lisandro Martinez remain long-term absentees while Wout Weghorst will look to oust Anthony Martial in attack.
Marcel Sabitzer is also sidelined, along with Phil Jones and Tom Heaton.
How to watch Manchester United vs Chelsea
TV channel: Tonight’s game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra HDR in the UK, with coverage starting from 7pm.
Live stream: Subscribers can also access a live stream online via the Sky Go app.
Source link
