Two underachieving members of the big six will lock horns at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night.
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Chelsea vs Manchester United odds
Find the latest match odds for Chelsea vs Manchester United prediction. All odds are provided by our best-reviewed football betting sites. Odds are subject to change.
⚡Quick Chelsea vs Manchester United betting tips
Chelsea vs Manchester United predictions
Neither Chelsea nor Manchester United has lived up to expectations in the Premier League this season.
We are now into the run-in with the finish line in sight. Both these teams have serious work to do if they are to salvage something from the 2023/24 campaign.
The FA Cup could yet bring one of Chelsea or Manchester United a trophy, which would go some way to making up for their lacklustre performances in the top flight.
But Manchester City are the favourites to win that tournament. If they triumph, Chelsea and United will both end the season empty-handed.
European qualification remains a possibility. It has been clear for some time that Chelsea will not be in next season’s Champions League, even as the competition gets set to expand to 36 teams.
The Blues could still qualify for the Europa League, for which a seventh-place finish may be sufficient. They are only four points adrift of that target and have played fewer matches than every team above them in the standings.
Yet even Chelsea fans are pessimistic. Their season has been plagued by inconsistency. A 2-2 draw with 10-man Burnley on Saturday was their latest disappointing result.
Mauricio Pochettino has yet to win over a large chunk of the Chelsea fan base. He is unlikely to be sacked until next season at the earliest, but the Argentine is under pressure.
Manchester United, for their part, are eight points adrift of fifth place, which should be sufficient for Champions League qualification. Having finished third last term, Ten Hag’s side have regressed this time around.
A win on Thursday evening would provide a glimmer of hope for both teams, but it will not be enough to placate those who are wondering whether Pochettino and Ten Hag are the right men for their respective jobs.
Chelsea vs Manchester United betting tips
The final game in the midweek round of Premier League fixtures pits Chelsea against Manchester United.
Chelsea to win – Evens (Betfred)
Chelsea really ought to have beaten Burnley last time out. They created a large number of chances but were profligate in front of goal.
It could have cost them dearly: the last opportunity of the game fell to Burnley striker Jay Rodriguez, who would have condemned Chelsea to defeat had he taken it.
Pochettino, with some justification, would present the underlying numbers in his defence for Chelsea’s present position of 11th in the table.
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The expected goal difference, a measure of the quality of chances a team creates and gives up, ranks Chelsea fourth in the division, behind only the three title contenders.
It is true that wasteful finishing has let the Blues down on several occasions, but Pochettino has also underwhelmed in his debut campaign in west London.
Still, we fancy the hosts in this one. Playing at Stamford Bridge should help and they are facing a Manchester United side that is really struggling defensively.
⚽ Back Chelsea to win at evens with Betfred ⚽
Chelsea or draw and over 2.5 goals – 19/20 (Betfred)
It is hard to see this game being low-scoring. While Chelsea have a problem with converting their chances, they are adept at creating them.
Manchester United, on the other hand, find it hard to keep their opponents at arm’s length. Remarkably, only Sheffield United and Luton Town have conceded more shots this term.
We saw United’s main shortcoming again on Saturday, when they were fortunate to draw 1-1 with Brentford, who landed 31 attempts on their goal.
Ten Hag’s team do pose an attacking threat, even if Rasmus Hojlund was quiet at the weekend and Marcus Rashford has been out of form for some time. Over 2.5 goals therefore looks like a no-brainer.
Bear in mind, too, that United have not won an away game against a fellow big-six side in any competition under Ten Hag. Chelsea should be able to avoid defeat, so this combination bet looks like good value at just shy of evens.
⚽ Go for Chelsea or draw and over 2.5 goals at 19/20 with Betfred ⚽
Cole Palmer to score any time – 13/10 (Betfred)
Cole Palmer has been a rare bright spot for Chelsea this season. When he joined the club last summer, it was unclear whether or not he would be a regular starter from the get-go.
Not only that, Palmer has immediately become one of Chelsea’s most important players. In fact, he is probably No.1 in that list right now.
The former Manchester City attacking midfielder has scored 13 goals and provided eight assists for a struggling Chelsea side. That is some effort for a 21-year-old embarking on his first proper season at this level.
Palmer will get plenty of chances from open play on Thursday. He is also Chelsea’s designated penalty-taker and he has a solid record from 12 yards.
Palmer is the man Manchester United most need to keep an eye on, but we fancy his chances of making the net bulge.
⚽ Tip Cole Palmer to score any time at 13/10 with Betfred ⚽
📺 How to watch Chelsea vs Manchester United
- Location: Stamford Bridge, London, England.
- Date and time: Thursday 4th April, 8.15pm.
- How to watch: TNT Sports 1.
About the author
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Greg Lea
Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.
Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball
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