Date: Saturday 18th
April 2026
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Kick-off: 20:00 BST
Well,
after having our backsides well and truly handed to us by City in a 3-0
masterclass, you might hope the fixture list would serve up something gentle to
help restore our fragile confidence. Instead, we play host to Manchester United
in tonight’s late kick-off, just what the doctor ordered… if your GP is Dr.
Doom.
At least we should be fully refreshed. We barely broke a sweat in the second half against City, choosing instead to conserve our energy, presumably for the post-match lego. On the other side, United slipped up against Leeds -thanks in part to the ponytail incident United are suggesting was a bit of bobble rearranging – and a red card that presumably had the hairdresser’s union up in arms.
Today, we find ourselves clinging to sixth place like a cat to a
curtain, slowly sliding away from Europe and wondering if we’ll need passports
for next season at all. United, meanwhile, are busy polishing their Champions
League credentials under Carrick, probably hoping we’ll provide the comedic
relief.
United nicked the
reverse fixture 2-1 at Old Trafford back in September. Yes, we generally do
well at home against United, but these days, the club’s hierarchy treat records
like last year’s Christmas decorations—out of sight, out of mind, and certainly
not worth dusting off for tonight.
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going
into today’s game, Liam Rosenior says, “To be capable is one thing. To go
and produce it is another. Time is running out. We need to make sure we
get each performance as perfect as possible in every aspect of the game, and in
the knowledge that if we do that, we have the potential to win every game
between now and the rest of the season.
When
you see the lack of ego in this team when it was at its best, with John
(Terry), with Frank (Lampard), with Didier (Drogba), they were a team. It
wasn’t a team of egos. That was a team of big personalities who fought for the
shirt. That’s what we need to show now.”
Manchester
United interim manager, Michael Carrick, meanwhile, says “It’s an important
game, we’re in a good position but we need to keep building on that. It’s a
tough place to go and we always have tough games down there. Most of the time
they have been good games in terms of the product, so we’ll be ready for that
and we take the confidence from what we’ve built. We didn’t get the result
against Leeds, but certainly, the way we finished the game and the character we
showed, we need to take that into this game.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Chelsea, Levi Colwill (ACL),
Trevoh Chalobah (ankle), Jamie Gittens (thigh), Reece James (hamstring),
and Filip Jorgensen (groin) are all injured, whilst Mykhaylo Mudryk continues with
the never-ending suspension. Benoit Badiashile will face a late assessment,
whilst Enzo Fernandez should be back from the naughty step.
For Manchester United, Matthis de Ligt
(back) remains sidelined through injury, although Kobbie Mainoo could be
available, whilst Martinez and Maguire are both suspended.
TEAMS
CHELSEA
(Possible line-up): Sanchez;
Gusto, Fofana, Hato, Cucurella; Caicedo, Santos; Palmer, Fernandez, Neto; Pedro
MANCHESTER UNITED (Possible
line-up): Lammens; Dalot, Yoro, Heaven, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Diallo,
Fernandes, Cunha; Mbeumo
LAST SEASON
Chelsea 1-0 Manchester
United (16th May 2025)
CURRENT FORM (PL)
CHELSEA: DLWLLL
MANCHESTER UNITED: WWLWDL
OTHER STUFF
- Chelsea
have lost just one of their last 12 home games in the Premier League against
Manchester United
- Manchester
United won the reverse fixture at Old Trafford in September
- Chelsea
v Manchester United has been drawn more than any other Premier League fixture
- Manchester
United have lost two of their last four league games
- Chelsea
have lost their last three Premier League games
- Manchester
United have kept one clean sheet in their last 21 away games in the Premier
League
PREDICTION
Sportsmole: Chelsea 2-2 Manchester United
