Chelsea vs Manchester United

Chelsea hosts domestic underdogs Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Friday night in an attempt to guarantee a crucial Champions League berth.

Last time out, the Red Devils suffered a heartbreaking loss at home to West Ham United, while the Blues' ambitions of playing in the highest division of continental football were dashed at the bottom of Newcastle United.

Chelsea wants to improve by at least one spot this season in order to earn a spot in the Champions League, which they won as recently as 2021 under Thomas Tuchel, after finishing sixth in the Premier League during the 2023–24 season and earning Conference League football for this season.

Chelsea’s Top-Five Push Stalled by Newcastle Defeat

Chelsea’s impressive five-match winning streak came to an abrupt halt last Sunday as Newcastle United secured a 2-0 victory at St. James’ Park. Goals from Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimarães on either side of halftime handed the Blues their first Premier League defeat since March 16. The loss leaves Enzo Maresca’s side clinging to fifth place, level on points with Aston Villa, with their Champions League hopes now hanging by a thread.

However, Chelsea will be optimistic about bouncing back this Friday at Stamford Bridge, where they’ve been formidable in the league. Their last home defeat dates back to Boxing Day, when Fulham snatched a late winner. This season, only Liverpool and Aston Villa (with one loss each) have been more resilient at home than Chelsea’s two defeats. Additionally, the Blues are unbeaten in their last four competitive home meetings against Manchester United, a streak stretching back to February 2021.

Manchester United’s Struggles Continue

Meanwhile, Manchester United’s dismal Premier League form hit a new low on Sunday as West Ham secured a 2-0 win at Old Trafford, thanks to goals from Tomáš Souček and Jarrod Bowen. The defeat extended United’s winless league run to seven matches, leaving them languishing in 16th place with just 39 points—their worst-ever top-flight campaign.

Their struggles on the road have been particularly alarming, with just one point from their last four away matches. Their last away victory came on March 16 against Leicester City, a side destined for the Championship.

With 17 league losses already this season, United are fortunate to avoid a relegation scrap only due to the poor form of Ipswich, Leicester, and Southampton. However, with tricky fixtures against Chelsea and Aston Villa sandwiching their Europa League final against Tottenham, there’s a real risk they could finish the season without even reaching the symbolic 40-point mark—a tally usually associated with relegation battlers.