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Chelsea vs Man Utd: Palmer, Fernandes battle in must-win rivalry
In a midweek Premier League encounter between two underperforming giants, Chelsea will welcome Manchester United to Stamford Bridge on Thursday evening.
For the Red Devils, securing all three points in the Chelsea vs Man Utd fixture is of utmost importance as they fight to keep their fading top-four hopes alive. Failure to emerge victorious in west London could potentially extinguish their ambitions of Champions League qualification for next season.
On the other hand, Chelsea find themselves in the bottom half of the standings, with a return to the prestigious Champions League no longer a realistic target. A failure to secure any form of European football for the upcoming campaign could potentially spell the end of Mauricio Pochettino’s tenure at the helm.
Team news
Due to injuries, Chelsea is without Lesley Ugochukwu, Levi Colwill, Reece James, Christopher Nkunku, Carney Chukwuemeka, Malo Gusto, Robert Sanchez, Trevoh Chalobah, and Ben Chilwell.
Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia are both out for the season.
Victor Lindelof and Raphael Varane both went off against Brentford the last time out, so United is worried about their fitness, and Jonny Evans is still dealing with a little problem.
After overcoming a muscle ailment, Altay Bayindir might be added to the matchday roster; however, Anthony Martial, Tyrell Malacia, and Luke Shaw are out.
Stats
The Blues have been a formidable force on their turf, remaining unbeaten in their last five outings across all competitions. However, their last home game saw them twice relinquish the lead against 10-man Burnley, settling for a 2-2 draw.
Despite the occasional hiccup, Chelsea have lost just one of their previous eight Premier League home matches, showcasing their attacking prowess by finding the net on 19 occasions during this period.
Summer arrival Cole Palmer has been in scintillating form, netting four times in his last three appearances, propelling him to the top of the club’s scoring charts with 13 goals. Notably, the attacker also found the back of the net in December’s reverse Chelsea vs Man Utd fixture at Old Trafford.
In contrast, the Red Devils have struggled on the road, failing to secure a win in their last two away assignments. A 3-1 defeat at the hands of rival Manchester City was followed by a 1-1 stalemate against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium. Rasmus Højlund currently has the most goals in the Premier League for the Red Devil with 7 goals alongside teammates Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay
Defensive frailties have plagued United’s travels, with the team conceding goals in each of their last seven Premier League away matches. Their last clean sheet on the road dates back to December 17.
