Amidst lingering financial concerns, Chelsea look for a late push into the expanded European places as they host annual thorn Man United at Stamford Bridge on Friday morning (AEDT).
The Blues sit 11th in the Premier League table, which most seasons would make the run-in to the season merely a formality. Yet this season, with just a four-point gap to seventh and additional European qualifying spots likely to be afforded to the English top flight, the Blues can still harbour hope of snatching a spot if they make a late push down the stretch.
Chelsea will need to be nearly perfect across the final nine games to complete that charge, starting with this match against Man United, a club they surprisingly haven't beaten in Premier League play in 12 straight games.
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Manchester United are in the opposite position, as they sit sixth in the table and face a nearly insurmountable eight-point gab between them and Spurs in fifth. As such, the Red Devils are largely left to look over their shoulder, with West Ham, Newcastle, Brighton, Wolves, and Chelsea all giving chase. While the Blues hope to catch those above them, United will spend the rest of the Premier League season fending off those behind them.
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Chelsea vs Man United prediction, odds
- Moneyline lean: Chelsea ($1.96)
- Score prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Man United
A matchup between two of the Premier League's most Jekyll and Hyde teams is one that remains exceedingly difficult to call. Both Chelsea and Manchester United, at various points this season, have looked vastly improved, only to see all the progress evaporate weeks — or sometimes days — later.
Such was the case in the last match for both these clubs — Chelsea twice coughed up a lead to 10-man Burnley in embarrassing fashion just weeks after promising wins over Newcastle and Leicester City, while Man United were battered by Brentford and lucky to draw 1-1 one match after an emotional win over Liverpool in the FA Cup.
Chelsea have not beaten Man United in an incredible 12 straight Premier League matches. While they should create enough chances to stop that skid, it's all about finishing for the Blues, something they've been tragically poor at this whole entire season, but against a Man United side missing loads of defenders, this could be a chance.
| Unibet (AUS) | |
| Chelsea win | 1.96 |
| Draw | 4.00 |
| Man United win | 3.45 |
| Both teams to score Y/N | 1.41 / 2.85 |
| Over / Under 3.5 goals | 2.02 / 1.80 |
| Chelsea -0.5 goals | 1.96 |
| Man United +0.5 goals | 1.87 |
Chelsea vs Man United match facts
- Date: Thursday, April 4, 2024 (Fri, Apr 5 AEDT)
- Kickoff Time: 8:15 p.m. local (6:15am AEDT /3:15 p.m. ET / 12:15 p.m. PT)
- Location: Stamford Bridge (London, England)
- Referee: Jarred Gillett, VAR: David Coote
- Last meeting: Man United 2-1 Chelsea (Dec. 6, 2023 | Premier League)
