Man United vs Chelsea Match Preview

Blues Can Hand Red Devils Third Straight Loss

Chelsea Favored to End Road Drought at Man United

Two of the most successful clubs of the English Premier League era will meet on Thursday as Manchester United hosts Chelsea on Thursday. Chelsea have been up and down lately but are most likely playing Champions League football next season. Chelsea are favorites despite the struggles at Old Trafford lately. We’ll discuss whether they can buck that trend in our Man United vs Chelsea match preview.

Manchester United’s struggles this season are well documented and the club will almost certainly undergo an overhaul over the summer as Erik ten Hag takes over as coach. In the meantime, the Red Devils need to avoid falling further in the table to secure European competition next season.

Man United vs Chelsea Match Info

Date/Time: Thursday, 2:45 p.m. ET
Location: Old Trafford, Manchester, England
TV: USA Network

Head-to-Head

Last Five Premier League Meetings:

  • Nov 2021: Chelsea 1-1 Man United
  • Feb 2021: Chelsea 0-0 Man United
  • Oct 2020: Man United 0-0 Chelsea
  • Feb 2020: Chelsea 0-2 Man United
  • Aug 2019: Man United 4-0 Chelsea

The Man United vs Chelsea head-to-head has been dominated by Manchester United over the last few seasons. The last three Premier League matchups have ended in draws but Man U are unbeaten in the EPL vs Chelsea since 2017.

Chelsea are winless in the last eight Premier League meetings overall and in the last eight EPL meetings at Old Trafford. The Blues outshot Man United 23-2 when they met last November but had to settle for a draw.

Free-Falling Manchester United in Precarious Position

  • Premier League Position: 54 pts, 6th
  • Last Five PL Matches: L,L,W,L,D
  • Injuries and Suspensions: D Luke Shaw (leg), F Edinson Cavani (calf), M Paul Pogba (calf), M Fred (hip)

Manchester United fell 3-1 last Saturday to Arsenal in a chaotic match. Bruno Fernandes missed a penalty for the Red Devils that would have changed the complexion of the game and Cristiano Ronaldo also had a goal called back for a narrow offside. Ralf Rangnick’s Man United have conceded seven goals over their last two matches and have looked disinterested as of late.

A typical Man United vs Chelsea match preview at Old Trafford would see the Red Devils as favorites. However, this Manchester United team lacks cohesion and an apparent drive. So, the Red Devils come into this one as +230 underdogs and are in danger of dropping down to seventh with a loss and a West Ham win on Sunday vs Arsenal. As a silver lining, Manchester United are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League home matches, last falling vs Wolves in January.

Chelsea Back in Win Column

  • Premier League Position: 65 pts, 3rd
  • Last Five PL Matches: W,L,W,L,W
  • Injuries and Suspensions: D Ben Chilwell (ACL), M Mateo Kovacic (ankle), F Callum Hudson-Odoi (back), D Reece James (muscle), D Antonio Rudiger (groin)

Chelsea averted disaster and ended a three-game home losing streak in all competitions by defeating West Ham 1-0 last Sunday. Substitute Christian Pulisic came up clutch with a 90th-minute goal that handed Chelsea all three points. It was a much-needed bounce back after conceding 10 goals in their previous three matches at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues have had a down season by their lofty standards but can still secure a top-four finish. They also will face Liverpool in the FA Cup Final. They’ve got quite a few injuries but could get Reece James, Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen back ahead of this match to tighten up their defense. In a rare occurrence at Old Trafford, the Man United vs. Chelsea betting odds list the Blues as ½-goal favorites.

What to Watch

Despite neither team competing for the title this season, Manchester United vs Chelsea is always a big game and it’s the only one on the Premier League slate for Thursday. This Manchester United vs Chelsea match preview would be incomplete without noting that five of the last six EPL matchups have finished with under three goals. The over/under total is currently set at 2½ goals.

Manchester United are coming in as ½-goal underdogs, which makes sense given they’ve scored one goal or fewer in five of their last six in all competitions. Meanwhile, +115 favorites Chelsea have won their last eight matches away from home and have lost just twice away from Stamford Bridge in the EPL this season.

Ronaldo is still capable of carrying Manchester United and he has been their biggest silver lining in an otherwise forgettable season. The Portuguese superstar is Man U’s only double-digit Premier League scorer this season and has 16 goals in 27 appearances. He’s the biggest threat for Man U, but Chelsea’s defense could be at close to full strength on Thursday.

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