Prediction: Manchester United vs Chelsea

Verdict: Manchester United win

Best Odds: 3/5

Bookmaker: Dachbet

Knowing that a single point will be enough to clinch a top-four return, Manchester United will welcome Chelsea to Old Trafford on Thursday night.

Manchester United

Starting with the hosts, while Manchester United might have opened May in the midst of a minor wobble, Erik ten Hag’s side have come roaring back over the past week. Last seen claiming a gritty 1-0 victory away at Bournemouth, the former Ajax boss knows that just a single point here would be enough to clinch a lucrative Champions League return. Now securing back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time since the start of April, United will be smelling the chance to make a real statement here. Relishing a return to Old Trafford on Thursday night, a huge part of the Reds’ success this season has come thanks to their continued performances on home soil. In fact, on what has been a remarkable run of form in Manchester, ten Hag’s side have not suffered a single top-flight defeat in front of their own supporters since the opening weekend of the 2022/23 campaign.

Team News

Sustaining a foot injury last month, defensive talisman Lisandro Martinez will miss United’s two remaining Premier League contests. Likewise, ten Hag will also be unable to call upon the likes of Marcel Sabitzer and Donny van de Beek at Old Trafford.

Missing last weekend’s 1-0 victory away at Bournemouth, United are hopeful that England international Marcus Rashford will be able to make a full recall here. Scott McTominay could make a first Premier League start since back on April 8th.

Chelsea

As for the visitors, long since accepting that they will have to settle for a woeful bottom-half finish, it is no secret that Chelsea are enduring what is been a public crisis in SW6. Last seen slumping to a 1-0 loss away at a heavily-altered Manchester City over the weekend, Frank Lampard’s side have come under a huge amount of scrutiny on either side of the World Cup’s winter break. Crashing out of the Champions League last month following a routine 4-0 aggregate defeat at the hands of Real Madrid, the Blues have remarkably claimed just a single win from any of their previous 12 appearances across all competitions. With that record-breaking rut stemming all the way back to the start of March, the ex-Everton boss will know that his struggling squad faces another real test here. With virtually nothing to cheer about this season, Chelsea can not wait to see the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

Team News

Dealing with a mounting injury list in west London, Chelsea will travel to Manchester without the likes of N’Golo Kante, Ben Chilwell, Reece James, Mason Mount and Marc Cucurella on Thursday night. However, Croatian international Mateo Kovacic could make his return from a recent knock.

While Kai Havertz might have failed to find the net in any of his last nine appearances across all competitions, the ex-Bayer Leverkusen ace should once again partner Raheem Sterling in attack.

Key Factors to Consider

• When Manchester United and Chelsea met for their reverse Premier League meeting on October 22nd, the two sides played out a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.
• In fact, each of the last five straight meetings between Thursday’s opponents have finished in a stalemate.
• However, Chelsea have remarkably claimed just a single win from any of their last 12 straight appearances across all competitions.
• Manchester United have not suffered a single Premier League defeat at Old Trafford since the opening weekend.
• Chelsea have claimed just a single Premier League victory at Old Trafford since May 2013.

Conclusion

Knowing that just a single point will be enough to officially confirm a lucrative Champions League return, Manchester United should be confident of finishing off the job here. Securing back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time since the start of April, ten Hag’s side should be relishing Chelsea’s arrival to Old Trafford on Thursday night. Not suffering a single top-flight defeat on home soil since the opening weekend, United will be looking to cash in on Lampard’s struggling squad. With the west London outfit mustering just a single win from their last 12 straight appearances across all competitions, we are expecting a home victory in Manchester.

Verdict: Manchester United win

Best Odds: 3/5

Bookmaker: Dachbet