Chelsea vs Manchester United Prediction & Betting Tips

Manchester United travel to Stamford Bridge to take on a Chelsea side desperate for three points to help keep their European hopes alive heading into the final stretch of the season.

Date: 04/04/24

Kick-off time: 20:15

Venue: Stamford Bridge

The Blues currently sit in 11th, but are just four points behind seventh place West Ham with two games in hand. It has been yet another disappointing campaign for Mauricio Pochettino’s side, though they still have an opportunity to salvage it with 10 games remaining. However, they did drop points at home to 10-man Burnley in what was a huge missed opportunity to climb the table. Should they pick up victory, they will move just five points behind their opponents having played one game less. Defeat would open up a gap that would most likely be insurmountable with such little time left.

United are sixth, hanging on in the race for Champions League qualification by a thread. They are eight points behind Tottenham, who are fifth, and trail Aston Villa by 11. The gap between them and Spurs is the same as the gap between them and Chelsea. This has not been helped by two defeats in the last four, allowing both Villa and Spurs to pull away. Three points would just about keep them alive, but anything else may mean they will have to settle for the Europa League or Europa Conference League.

There could be goals in this fixture, with Chelsea conceding at least two in their last five games in all competitions, whilst scoring 14 in this period. Erik Ten Hag’s side have kept just one clean sheet in their last six league games. The visitors have also scored as many goals as they have let in, and have the third worst goal difference in the top half. Chelsea’s biggest threats will be Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson. The pair have a combined 22 league goals and the former scored at Old Trafford earlier in the campaign. United will look to Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund, who have 14 strikes between them.

Chelsea have won just once in 14 meetings in all competitions since 2018. That victory came in a behind closed doors FA Cup semi-final tie in 2020 which they won 3-1. It has been a dreadful run which has seen them lose twice in a row, following five consecutive draws. The reverse fixture earlier this season ended in United’s favour as they won 2-1. Scott McTominay scored a brace either side of a Palmer equaliser.

Chelsea

Mauricio Pochettino has a number of injuries to contend with. Malo Gusto was substituted with a hamstring injury at the weekend. Romeo Lavia has been ruled out for the season whilst Christopher Nkunku has suffered a setback in his recovery. Reece James and Lesley Ugochukwu are long-term absentees, and Robert Sanchez and Carney Chukwuemeka are new additions to the injury report. The club hopes that Levi Colwill will make a return from a toe injury soon. Ben Chilwell also missed the last game with a knock.

Man United

Luke Shaw is a long-term absentee, though will hope to make a return before the end of the season. Amad Diallo is eligible to return after serving a one-game suspension. Anthony Martial will remain out until late April.

Chelsea

In their last five games, Chelsea have won three and drawn two. This run started with a 3-2 FA Cup win at home to rivals and Championship side Leeds United. The visitors took the lead as Mateo Joseph scored the first goal of his career to stun the home faithful. However, the away fans were not celebrating for long as Nicolas Jackson levelled the score seven minutes later. The Blues turned it around when Mykhailo Mudryk found the back of the net with a strike before half-time. Joseph then completed his brace to tie the game once more. With the game headed for extra-time, Conor Gallagher stepped up in the 90th minute to send Chelsea through to the quarter-finals.

This set up a tie with another Championship side in Leicester City, the last fixture before the international break. Chelsea broke the deadlock early, as Marc Cucurella finished off a sweeping team move. Cole Palmer gave them a comfortable advantage on the stroke of half-time. The Foxes were gifted a way back into the game as Axel Disasi scored a comical own goal, passing the ball into a vacant net. With momentum on their side, Leicester equalised through Stephy Mavididi, who finished expertly into the bottom corner. Once again, extra-time loomed, but the hosts scored two late goals through Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke, after the visitors had a man sent off.

Between these two cup ties, Chelsea took on both Brentford and Newcastle in the league. Firstly, they drew 2-2 away at the Bees, in which both teams held a lead. They then beat Newcastle 3-2 at Stamford Bridge, as Jackson, Palmer and Mudryk all found themselves on the scoresheet. Their most recent game was a home fixture against Burnley, in which they drew 2-2. Palmer put them ahead from the penalty spot, which came from a challenge which earned the Burnley defender a second yellow card. Against 10 men, the Blues allowed an excellent finish to Josh Cullen, but were able to take the lead again through Palmer. Disappointedly, they conceded again soon after to drop points.

Man United

In their last five games, Man United have won three, drawn one and lost one. United have enjoyed some success as of late, but dropped points away against Brentford at the weekend. In the 1-1 draw, they conceded 31 attempts, but thought they snatched a win as Mason Mount scored in the 96th minute. However, the hosts responded almost immediately through Kristoffer Ajer.

This followed a thrilling 4-3 win at home to arch rivals Liverpool in the Quarter-Finals of the FA Cup. The hosts opened the scoring early on through Scott McTominay, but the tie was turned on its head before the break as Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah scored twice in three minutes to go in ahead. As time was running out, Liverpool looked set to advance, but Antony scored an equaliser in the 87th minute to send the tie to extra-time. The away side retook the lead once more, this time through Harvey Elliott. But United refused to lie down as Marcus Rashford levelled it with eight minutes to go. The game seemed destined for penalties, but youngster Amad Diallo sent Old Trafford wild with a last minute winner to send his side through.

League action saw United beat Everton 2-0 at home, as they picked up an important three points. The Toffees were arguably the better team and should have found themselves on the scoresheet, but it was a pair of penalties from Bruno Fernandes and Rashford which secured the win. Their only loss in this stretch came in the Manchester derby, as they fell 3-1 away at their city neighbours. They actually went in front thanks to a stunning strike from Rashford less than 10 minutes in. They went into the break ahead, but Phil Foden got them back on level terms. Foden added his second to take the lead, before Erling Haaland put it to bed in stoppage time.

The first game of this run was a late 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup Fifth Round. It was heading for extra-time before Casemiro converted from a free-kick in the 89th minute.

Chelsea have a dreadful recent record against this week’s opponents, but at home they should hope to at least pick up a point. Man United will be equally as hopeful of taking home some points following a decent run of form. Both sides will be up for it and are in need of three points, but we expect there to be nothing to split the pair – Chelsea 2-2 Man United

Don’t forget to check out the rest of our previews, tips and offers for this weekend’s action. Footy Accumulators is the #1 football betting site for the latest on betting in the UK - download the Betting Hub app for more!

Chelsea vs Manchester United will be available to watch on TNT Sports 1.

• Latest match predictions
• Football tips
• Football accumulator tips
• Football bet of the day