Chelsea host Manchester United today at Stamford Bridge as they look to extend their unbeaten run under Thomas Tuchel.
With a top-four challenge appearing difficult in the latter stages of Frank Lampard’s tenure, Chelsea have picked up 14 points from the last 18 available to rise into fifth position in the table since Tuchel was appointed on January 26th.
Tuchel has vastly improved Chelsea defensively with Takumi Minamino the only outfield player to score against them in eight games.
The Blues will enter this weekend’s contest off the back of a brilliant result and performance having beaten Atlético Madrid 1-0 in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie on Tuesday night, which has left them in a strong position to reach the quarter-finals of the competition. The victory was Chelsea’s first away win in the knockout stages of Europe’s elite club competition since 2012.
In the reverse fixture back in October at Old Trafford it ended in a 0-0 draw as former manager Frank Lampard changed to a three at the back in a game of very little chances. Edouard Mendy made an excellent last minute save to deny Marcus Rashford in the games only real chance of note.
Team news
Thomas Tuchel confirmed on Chelsea TV the only absentee for Sunday’s clash is defender Thiago Silva, otherwise he has a fully fit squad at his disposal.
‘Thiago cannot play on Sunday, he’s still not ready to return just yet’
The head coach said with a view to Silva returning to full training next week. The Brazil defender has not featured for the Blues since the 1-0 win at Tottenham on February 4 due to a thigh injury.
Olivier Giroud is expected to start after scoring the winner on Tuesday in Bucharest against Atlético Madrid and with a huge set of fixtures on the horizon it wouldn’t be a surprise if Tuchel utilised his squad and rotated a couple of players this weekend.
Kai Havertz also returned in midweek coming off the bench in the 87th minute and Tuchel was quoted saying that ‘Since I have arrived the only thing that kept Kai Havertz from making a big impact is his injury, nothing else.’
Tuchel on Giroud – (chelseafc.com)
‘He deserves to start all the time!’ acknowledged the boss.’
‘He trains very well, he is a leader in the group, a big personality. Even when he has not started he deserves to start. I will not tell you now if we will let him play from the first minute!’
‘He is as fit as ever and you can rely on his physical impact in the game. It’s hard to play against him. He is used to playing a high rhythm, used to playing in the Premier League, and this helps him stay in this high level.’
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is hoping Edinson Cavani can return for Sunday’s trip to West London. Cavani has missed the past three matches with a muscle complaint while Scott McTominay has been absent since coming off 60 minutes into last week’s Europa League last-32 first-leg win against Real Sociedad and Solskjaer confirmed he (McTominay) will miss the trip.
Donny van de Beek is now available after missing the last two matches with a muscle injury.
Daniel James will be assessed after limping off in Thursday’s second leg and Solskjaer has confirmed Juan Mata will be out for a couple of weeks joining club record signing Paul Pogba on the side-lines.
Match facts
Chelsea haven’t lost four consecutive home games in all competitions against an opponent since a run of four against Watford between 1981 and 1986.
Only leaders Manchester City have conceded fewer goals than Chelsea’s tally of 25.
The Blues are looking to keep four consecutive home clean sheets in the Premier League for the first time since January 2018 under Antonio Conte.
Chelsea have only lost two home games in all competitions in the last 24, winning 16 of them. The two defeats in that time were to Liverpool (0-2) and Man City (1-3).
In all competitions, Manchester United have won their last three away games against Chelsea, winning in the FA Cup in February 2019, League Cup in October 2019 and Premier League in February 2020. They have never won four in a row away against Chelsea.
Form(all competitions)
Chelsea – WDWWW
Tuesday 23rd February – Atlético Madrid 0-1 Chelsea
Saturday 20th February – Southampton 1-1 Chelsea
Monday 15th February – Chelsea 2-0 Newcastle
Thursday 11th February – Barnsley 0-1 Chelsea
Sunday 7th February – Sheffield United 1-2 Chelsea
Manchester United – DWWDW
Thursday 25th February – Manchester United 0-0 Real Sociedad
Sunday 21st February – Manchester United 3-1 Newcastle
Thursday 18th February – Real Sociedad 0-4 Manchester United
Sunday 14th February – West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Manchester United
Tuesday 9th February – Manchester United 1-0 West Ham United (AET)
Predicted line ups
Chelsea – 3-4-2-1: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger; Hudson-Odoi, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso; Mount, Werner, Giroud.
Manchester United – 4-2-3-1: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Fred, Matic; Greenwood, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial.
Score prediction
Chelsea 2-1 Manchester United