Man Utd boost Champions League dreams and leave Chelsea in disarray

It is sixth versus third at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea host Manchester United, with the race for the Champions League places hotting up. Manchester United won the reverse fixture 2-1 at Old Trafford back in September, with Chelsea spending most of the game down to 10 men after Robert Sanchez’s fifth-minute red card. If Manchester United were to win tonight, they would complete a league double over Chelsea for just the second time after the 2019/20 campaign. Chelsea have lost just one of their last 12 home league meetings with Manchester United.

Chelsea lost 3-0 at home against Manchester City last weekend. Chelsea have just one Premier league win in their last seven games and go into tonight’s game four points behind Liverpool, who occupy the final Champions League place in fifth.

“That is the great thing about the quality we have in this team,” Liam Rosenior said. “We are capable of a run, but capability is one thing and producing it is another. Time is running out, so we need to be as close to perfect as possible in every aspect of the game. If we do that, we have the potential to win every game for the rest of the season.

“When the team was its best with players like John [Terry], Frank [Lampard], Didier [Drogba], it was a team of big personalities fighting for the shirt, not a team of egos. I feel we have those kinds of characters in our squad, and that is what we need to show in this moment.”

Enzo Fernandez has been suspended for their last two games but is back available for selection tonight, although it remains to be seen in what capacity.

Manchester United lost 2-1 at home to Leeds last Monday but remain in third, level on points with Aston Villa, three points ahead of Liverpool and seven ahead of Chelsea.

“It is an important game,” Michael Carrick said. “We are in a good position in the league and we want to keep building on that. It is a tough place to go, always has been. We have had some tough games down there. Most of the time they have been good games in terms of what it brings. It has the feelings of a real, proper game so we will be ready for that. We have prepared well and take the confidence from what we have built. We did not get the result we wanted against Leeds but the character that we showed we have to take into this game with an extra player and make the most of it.”

Manchester United will be without centre-backs Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez for the trip to Stamford Bridge due to suspension. Maguire was given an extra game ban for improper conduct following his red card against Bournemouth whilst Martinez was sent off against Leeds. They could have a real centre-back problem tonight with Matthijs de Ligt still out injured and Leny Yoro set to miss out. Kobbie Mainoo though could be fit to return having missed the loss to Leeds.

Team news to follow shortly.