Chelsea vs Manchester United: Match preview, lineups, quotes, form, injuries and how to watch

When and where to watch Chelsea vs Man Utd

Chelsea vs Man Utd kicks off at 5.30pm on Saturday 22 October.

You can catch all the action from Stamford Bridge on NOW via BT TV.

Chelsea vs Man Utd match preview 

Only 11 games into the season, this already feels like a potentially significant clash in the battle for the top four.

Just a point separates Chelsea in fourth and Manchester United in fifth heading into Saturday’s meeting.

The hosts are still unbeaten under Graham Potter, although Wednesday night’s goalless draw at Brentford was underwhelming and allowed United, who beat Tottenham at Old Trafford, to close the gap.

Chelsea have addressed the defensive issues that plagued the end of Thomas Tuchel’s tenure - the Blues haven’t conceded a goal in their last five matches in all competitions, thanks in part to some excellent performances from the reinvigorated Kepa Arrizabalaga.

There is a better balance to the team now, but the visit of United to Stamford Bridge will likely be Chelsea’s toughest test under Potter.

Erik ten Hag’s side have beaten Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham already this season - albeit at Old Trafford - and seem a more effective team against better opposition, with the exception of their 6-3 loss at Manchester City.

With both sides at the beginning of their respective new eras, it should be an intriguing contest at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea vs Man Utd predicted lineups

Chelsea: (3-4-2-1) Kepa; Azpilicueta, Silva, Chalobah, Loftus-Cheek, Jorginho, Kovacic, Chilwell, Sterling, Mount, Aubameyang

Man Utd: (4-2-3-1) De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw, Casemiro, Fred, Antony, Fernandes, Sancho, Rashford

Chelsea vs Man Utd: Injuries and suspensions

Chelsea are still without long-term absentees N’Golo Kante and Wesley Fofana, while Reece James is set for an extended spell on the sidelines.

Conor Gallagher was taken off after 15 minutes of the draw at Brentford due to illness, so he may be replaced in the starting XI on Saturday.

For United, Axel Tuanzebe, Brandon Williams, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Harry Maguire, Donny van de Beek and Anthony Martial are all injured, but Ten Hag has been boosted by the return of Christian Eriksen.

It remains to be seen whether or not Cristiano Ronaldo will feature after he walked down the tunnel before the end of Wednesday’s win over Tottenham.

Chelsea vs Man Utd: Form guide

Just to add to the unpredictable nature of this game, both teams have picked up exactly the same number of points over the last six games (13).

With four wins, a draw and a defeat each, only Arsenal and Man City are in better form.

Chelsea’s run of four straight Premier League wins came to an end with their draw in midweek, while United got back on track with their victory over Spurs after a frustrating goalless draw against Newcastle last weekend.

Potter’s side are unbeaten at home, winning their last three at Stamford Bridge. United, meanwhile, have been up and down on the road, picking up three wins and three defeats.

A battling win at Everton in their last away game will have encouraged Ten Hag, while Chelsea’s last home match in the Premier League was a convincing 3-0 victory over Wolves.

He said what?!

Chelsea boss Graham Potter has highlighted the importance of recovering properly ahead of Saturday’s game:

“Recovery is now the aim of the game now for the boys. 

“It’s been a tough week, two away matches, so we need to recover and be ready for the game, a fantastic game for us: home, looking forward to seeing our supporters, we need their help because we’ve had a big week and we need to push to perform well and hopefully get the three points.”

Chelsea vs Man Utd: Last time they met

These two sides last met in April at Old Trafford, towards the end of the 2021-22 season. 

It finished 1-1, with Marcos Alonso’s goal on the hour mark cancelled out almost immediately by an emphatic Ronaldo finish.

By then, Chelsea were comfortably in the top four and United were unlikely to trouble the Champions League places.

But there is rarely, particularly in recent seasons, much between the teams. The reverse fixture last season also finished 1-1, and in 2020-21 both matches were goalless. 

Expect another close game on Saturday, though hopefully with a few more goals.

Chelsea vs Man Utd: Players to watch

Kepa has been sensational over the last week for Chelsea. The goalkeeper, reinstated by Potter, made several world-class saves to keep Aston Villa at bay, before proving equally important at Brentford.

The attention will be on the Spaniard again as he looks to continue his run of five successive clean sheets, this time against what should be a more clinical attack.

Mason Mount has also established himself as a key player under Potter and his performance will be key as Chelsea look to win the midfield battle.

For United, there will be plenty of discussion surrounding Ronaldo and his latest tantrum. Ten Hag is in a difficult position given the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s influence at the club, but he will likely see no need to bring him into the team given recent results.

Bruno Fernandes is thriving as the main man again and the win against Spurs was United’s most cohesive performance of the season so far. 

A strong performance from Casemiro on Wednesday night bodes well, too, and he will be integral to any hopes the visitors have of leaving Stamford Bridge with three points.

Chelsea vs Man Utd: Key stats

• Chelsea are winless in their last nine Premier League games against Manchester United (D6 L3) – only against Blackburn (12 between 1992 and 1998) and Arsenal (19 between 1995 and 2005) have they ever had a longer winless run in the competition.
  
  
• Manchester United have won just two of their last 20 Premier League away games against Chelsea (D8 L10), winning 3-2 in October 2012 and 2-0 in February 2020. Indeed, of all Premier League sides they’ve faced more than twice on the road, their lowest away win rate is against the Blues (20% - 6/30).
  
  
• Manchester United have lost each of their last three Premier League games in London – they last lost more consecutively in the capital in league football between April 1973 and January 1974 (5).
  
  
• No Premier League fixture has been drawn as often as Chelsea against Manchester United (25). Indeed, six of the last eight meetings between the sides has finished level, including each of the last four in a row.
  
  
• Chelsea are unbeaten in their last eight Premier League home games (W5 D3), winning the last three in a row. They last won more consecutively at Stamford Bridge between February and July 2020, under Frank Lampard (6)