Chelsea host Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in a crunch battle in the race for Champions League qualification.
Victory would see Chelsea stay fourth but move level on points with third-placed Tottenham, whilst Man Utd can leapfrog the Blues into fourth with a win.
Team News
Conor Gallagher is a doubt for Chelsea after he was substituted in their goalless midweek draw at Brentford due to illness.
Reece James, Wesley Fofana (both knee) and N’Golo Kante (hamstring) remain absent.
Man Utd will be without Cristiano Ronaldo following disciplinary action after he stormed out of their midweek win against Tottenham prior to the full-time whistle.
Harry Maguire (thigh) is a doubt and could face a late fitness test.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Donny van de Beek (both muscle), Axel Tuanzebe, Brandon Williams (both unspecified), Anthony Martial (back) and Mason Greenwood (personal) remain absent.
Stat Attack
- Chelsea are winless in their last nine league meetings against Man Utd (D6, L3).
- Man Utd are unbeaten in four of their last five league visits to Stamford Bridge (W1, D3, L1).
- Another draw here would see Chelsea and Utd extend their current longest run of consecutive draws in league meetings to five matches.
- Raheem Sterling is yet to score in the Premier League since Graham Potter took charge at Chelsea in mid-September
- Two of Antony’s three league goals for Utd
Prediction
Having delivered two decent if contrastable away performances where they were clinical at Aston Villa but wasteful at Brentford, Chelsea do seem to have mastered the art of grinding out results under Potter given how important their defensive blocks proved in the latter match to earn a goalless draw.
Man Utd meanwhile finally found a fresh spark after last weekend’s goalless draw against Newcastle because they were brave and quick in their aggressive attacks against Spurs, even if they could of been bolder in the first half yet clinical finishing and fast-flowing movement proved key.
Now, I would like to see Utd bring that quality to Stamford Bridge but if Chelsea play like they did at Brentford in terms of defence, yet with the clinical attacking edge saw against Villa then I think we could be in for a cracking battle between two teams who finally are on the up again.
As for the outcome of this game, I feel like this could well be tight and come down to who has the best end product in and around the box, so a draw might well be a solid bet.
Prediction: Chelsea 1-1 Manchester United
Result: Chelsea 1-1 Manchester United
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