Preview: Amorim determined to beat Chelsea? Hojlund to lead the attack, supported by Amad & Garnacho? Fernandes in midfield with Ugarte?

Chelsea -v- Manchester United

Premier League

Stamford Bridge, London

Friday 16 May 2024, KO 20:15 BST

Manchester United face Chelsea in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge on Friday evening – the penultimate Premier League match of the season. United sit in 16th place in the league ahead of kick off with Chelsea sitting in fifth place – a major difference between the two sides who face European finals over the next fortnight.

United face Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Europa League final in Bilbao in a week’s time with Chelsea preparing to face Real Betis in the UEFA Europa Conference League final in Wrocław in a fortnight. United have two league matches to find better form in the league this season with concentration on the Europa League final.

Chelsea have fallen short this season with them spending £1.5 billion in the last three years with nothing major to show for it. United have struggled in domestic competitions, being out of the league since November and exiting the Carabao Cup and Emirates FA Cup – but sitting undefeated in the Europa League this season.

United – Form, Goals Scored & Assists

West Ham 2-0 L, Bilbao 4-1 W, Brentford 4-3 L, Bilbao 3-0 W, Bournemouth 1-1 D, Wolves 1-0 L

Goals: 19 – Bruno Fernandes, 11 – Alejandro Garnacho, 10 – Amad, Rasmus Hojlund, 8 – Marcus Rashford, 7 – Joshua Zirkzee, 5 – Casemiro, 4 – Diogo Dalot, Christian Eriksen, Harry Maguire, 3 – Mason Mount, 2 – Matthijs de Ligt, Kobbie Mainoo, Lisandro Martinez, Manuel Ugarte, 1 – Antony, Jonny Evans, Leny Yoro

Assists: 17 – Bruno Fernandes, 10 – Alejandro Garnacho, 8 – Amad, 6 – Manuel Ugarte, 5 – Diogo Dalot, 5 – Christian Eriksen, 3 – Marcus Rashford, 2 – Casemiro, Rasmus Hojlund, Lisandro Martinez, Noussair Mazraoui, Joshua Zirkzee, 1 – Kobbie Mainoo, Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro

Chelsea – Form, Goals Scored & Assists

Newcastle 2-0 L, Djurgardens 1-0 W, Liverpool 3-1 W, Djurgardens 4-1 W, Everton 1-0 W, Fulham 2-1 W

Goals: 15 – Cole Palmer, 14 – Christopher Nkunku, 12 – Nicolas Jackson, 11 – Noni Madueke, 7 – João Félix, Enzo Fernández, 6 – Marc Cucurella, Marc Guiu, Pedro Neto, 4 – Tosin Adarabioyo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Jadon Sancho, 3 – Mykhaylo Mudryk, 2 – Axel Disasi, Tyrique George, Reece James, Renato Veiga, 1 – Moisés Caicedo, Levi Colwill

Assists: 13 – Enzo Fernández, 10 – Cole Palmer, Jadon Sancho, 8 – Pedro Neto, 5 – Moisés Caicedo, Tyrique George, Nicolas Jackson, Noni Madueke, Mykhaylo Mudryk, Christopher Nkunku, 4 – Marc Cucurella, 3 – Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, 2 – Axel Disasi, João Félix, Malo Gusto, 1 – Tosin Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill, Reece James, Roméo Lavia, Renato Veiga

Previous Meetings & Connections

United and Chelsea have met 65 times in the Premier League. United have won 19 times, drawn 27 times and lost 19 times. United have scored 85 goals, winning eight penalties, scoring six. Chelsea have scored 81 goals, winning six penalties, scoring all six. This fixture has been pretty equal for both sides.

United have kept 16 clean sheets against Chelsea with the London club keeping 19 clean sheets against United. Discipline has been an issue between the two sides with United players shown 149 yellow cards and four red cards. Chelsea players have been shown 147 yellow cards and six red cards.

Mason Mount, Jadon Sancho, Nemanja Matić, Juan Mata, Romelu Lukaku, Radamel Falcao, Juan Sebastian Veron, Mark Bosnich, Mark Hughes, Paul Parker, George Graham, Mal Donaghy and Ray Wilkins have played for both United and Chelsea in the history of both clubs.

Team News

United: The Red Devils have some injury problems ahead of the Chelsea clash with Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez out in the centre of defence with Ayden Heaven also an absentee. Diogo Dalot is training on his own with a potential vue of making the Europa League final Joshus Zirkzee is out too. United could have some players back.

Ruled Out: Matthijs de Ligt (knee), Lisandro Martinez (knee), Ayden Heaven (ankle/foot), Diogo Dalot (calf/shin/heel) and Joshua Zirkzee (thigh)

Doubts: Leny Yoro (ankle/foot), Jonny Evans (other) and Toby Collyer (other)

Suspended: None

Chelsea: The Blues have a fair few players out of action through injury plus the fact that Jadon Sancho will not feature this weekend due to being on loan at Chelsea and being unable to face United. Two players are also suspended with Nicolas Jackson and Mykhallo Mudryk on the sidelines through suspension.

Ruled Out: Wesley Fofana (thigh), Omari Kellyman (thigh), Christopher Nkunku (other), Marc Guiu Paz (thigh), Aaron Anselmino (thigh) and Jadon Sancho (unable to face parent club)

Doubts: None

Suspended: Nicolas Jackson (red card – three matches) and Mykhailo Mudryk (suspended – drug test)

Predicted United Starting XI – 3-4-2-1

Bayindir;

Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw;

Mazraoui, Ugarte, Fernandes, Dorgu;

Amad, Garnacho;

Hojlund

Predicted Chelsea Starting XI – 4-3-2-1

Sánchez;

Caicedo, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella;

Lavia, Fernández;

Neto, Palmer, Madueke;

Guiu

History, training and the lead up to the big match

United and Chelsea have a massive history of fixtures between the two clubs with 196 matches played before Friday’s fixture at Stamford Bridge. United have won 83 times, drawing 57 times with Chelsea winning 56 times. At Old Trafford earlier this season, it was a 1-1 draw between these two sides. United will want a win.

In this fixture last season, United lost 4-3 but before that they were unbeaten at Stamford Bridge going back to October 2018 when they drew 2-2 in the Premier League. United have won three and drawn four of the seven undefeated matches at Stamford Bridge. United will be seeking to get back to winning ways.

United have a fair few players out of action at this stage of the season but they should have enough players, with the addition of youth players added to the squad, to have some depth at Stamford Bridge whilst also keeping an eye on the fitness of players ahead of the UEFA Europa League final in a week’s time.

Chelsea 1-2 Manchester United

Written by Paul