football | Tuesday, April 2, 2024 8:26 AM

Chelsea vs Man United Prediction: Team News and Lineups Preview

Tom Winch

It’s a Chelsea vs Man United prediction, team news, lineups, and fixtures preview next on the agenda for Tom Winch here at bettingexpert as we tackle the Thursday night Premier League game at Stamford Bridge.

This game is tricky to call. Both sides have inconsistencies, and neither can be trusted. Chelsea are favourites, but not by much. We know how United can pull out results from nowhere. Goals are likely in this encounter, with each club contributing.

Chelsea vs Man United Tip 1: Cole Palmer To Score Or Assist & Chelsea Over 12.5 Shots
Chelsea vs Man United Tip 2: Over 5.5 Cards
Chelsea vs Man United Tip 3: Jackson & Rashford Over 0.5 Shots On Target

Chelsea vs Man United Prediction 1: Best Player On The Pitch

England, Premier League, Thursday, April 4th, 20:15 (UK)

Cole Palmer has been impressive for Chelsea this campaign. The former Manchester City man has scored 13 times. Cole has also registered a further eight assists. He’s been Pochettino’s best player by some distance. I expect the 21-year-old to continue his fine performances and cause Man United plenty of problems.

If Chelsea were without the Englishman, I dread to think where they would be in the table. Palmer bagged both goals over the weekend. He got himself on the scoresheet against Newcastle the previous week. Cole has scored or assisted in five of his last six Premier League appearances.

Chelsea isn’t exactly brilliant. Let’s be honest. However, Man United’s defensive numbers are atrocious. They concede shots for fun. In recent away days, they have allowed 31, 27, 22, 23 and 16 attempts. This is a problem for Erik ten Hag.

Chelsea should fancy their chances on Thursday night. The home side will have chances. I expect Cole Palmer to shine. United are vulnerable. I struggle to see how they maintain a youngster who’s playing superbly well.

Chelsea vs Man United Prediction 1: Cole Palmer To Score Or Assist & Chelsea Over 12.5 Shots (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 1.80
Bookmaker: bet365
Stake: 4/10

Chelsea vs Man United Prediction 2: Violence Awaits

No side has picked up more yellow cards than Chelsea’s 84. Poch’s men have been dismissed three times this term, only beaten by four other clubs. Manchester United are often receiving caution. The Red Devils have a total of 67 yellows with a single red.

This encounter has got to have cards. Premier League encounters at this venue average 5.86 cards. The hosts have been booked in every game here this term, twice or more in 86% and three or more times an impressive 71% of matches.

Manchester United need to show some fight. They’re strong performers in the card market. 4.93 cards are brandished on average in their away matches. Erik ten Hag’s men have been booked twice or more in 12 fixtures from 15. I expect them to receive at least two here.

Jarrad Gillett is the man in the middle for this one. The Australian has taken charge of 16 Premier League matches this season. He’s shown 76 yellows and two red cards. Jarrad has cleared this line in 44% of matches in the top flight. I’m expecting the Aussie to be busy at the Bridge.

Chelsea vs Man United Prediction 2: Over 5.5 Cards (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 2.05
Bookmaker: bet365
Stake: 4/10

Chelsea vs Man United Prediction 3: Two Forwards In Form

My third selection takes us into the ‘Player Shots on Target’ market. I’m backing two forwards who I expect to have some joy on Thursday night. This encounter is likely to be an entertaining one. I can’t trust either side. Therefore, this seems a sensible angle to attack.

Nicolas Jackson has found the back of the net nine times this term. He’s lively and always puts in effort. The Senegal international has recorded 29 shots on target this season across 1909 minutes. That’s an average of 1.37 per 90.

Marcus Rashford has bagged seven goals in 28 Premier League matches this term. He’s not exactly having an impressive season, but we know the quality he possesses. The Englishman has recorded 60 shots this term, and 21 have hit the target. Rashford is averaging 0.91 shots on target per 90.

Manchester United’s man has covered this line in ten of the previous 11 matches. That doesn’t include the FA Cup encounter against Liverpool. Since returning from AFCON, Jackson has managed a shot on target in four of his five Premier League starts.

Chelsea vs Man United Prediction 3: Jackson & Rashford Over 0.5 Shots On Target (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 2.20
Bookmaker: bet365
Stake: 4/10

Chelsea vs Man United Prediction odds via bet365 as at 17:00, April 1st, 2024. Odds may now differ.

Chelsea vs Man United Team News and Possible Lineups: Plenty Of Absentees

The Chelsea injury crisis continues. Chukwuemeka, Nkunku, Colwill, James, Lavia and Fofana will all miss this clash.

Cole Palmer is fit, and that’s key for Chelsea. He’s been superb. Caicedo and Fernandez will occupy the midfield. Robert Sanchez is unlikely to feature.

Luke Shaw will not play a part for United. He’s likely to remain sidelined until May. Varane was substituted at halftime in their 1-1 draw at Brentford.

The same midfield and attack from the weekend are likely to feature on Thursday night. It’s a side that will allow plenty of chances.

Chelsea possible starting lineup: Petrovic; Gusto, Diassi, Badiashile, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez, Palmer, Gallagher, Mudryk; Jackson

Man United possible starting lineup: Onana; Dalot, Lindelof, Maguire, Wan-Bissaka, McTominay, Mainoo, Garncacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund

The Predicted Chelsea vs Man United Premier League Standings by BETSiE

Our in-house predictive model, BETSiE, has had a go at predicting the Premier League standings ahead of the Chelsea vs Man United, currently 11th vs 6th, fixture by utilising the underlying data from the 2023/24 season up until this point.

For more league-specific BETSiE content including standings, probabilities and predictions, visit her page here – it’s worth it.

Chelsea vs Man United Standings Prediction

Position	Club	Games	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Points
1	Liverpool	38	26.1	8.5	3.4	89.7	36.7	52.9	86.8
2	Arsenal	38	26.4	6.6	5.0	89.8	30.2	59.6	85.9
3	Manchester City	38	25.1	8.6	4.3	84.5	36.5	48.0	83.9
4	Aston Villa	38	20.4	6.7	10.9	73.0	57.0	16.1	67.9
5	Tottenham	38	20.2	6.8	11.0	76.3	60.8	15.5	67.3
6	Manchester Utd	38	17.8	4.8	15.4	53.3	57.4	-4.1	58.2
7	Newcastle	38	16.9	5.9	15.3	80.8	67.3	13.5	56.4
8	Chelsea	38	15.6	9.0	13.4	69.3	63.9	5.4	55.9
9	Brighton	38	13.9	11.1	13.0	63.2	60.7	2.5	52.8
10	Bournemouth	38	14.3	10.0	13.8	58.9	65.3	-6.4	52.7
11	West Ham	38	14.2	9.6	14.2	60.3	71.0	-10.7	52.1
12	Wolverhampton	38	14.7	6.9	16.4	53.3	61.9	-8.6	50.9
13	Fulham	38	13.7	7.8	16.5	58.1	61.1	-3.0	48.9
14	Crystal Palace	38	9.7	11.1	17.2	44.9	63.4	-18.4	40.3
15	Brentford	38	10.3	7.8	19.9	55.6	67.5	-11.9	38.8
16	Everton	38	11.8	9.0	17.2	44.3	54.1	-9.8	38.3
17	Nottingham Forest	38	8.9	10.1	19.0	46.3	62.4	-16.1	32.9
18	Luton	38	6.7	8.5	22.8	52.8	80.6	-27.8	28.6
19	Burnley	38	6.2	7.9	23.9	40.6	78.6	-38.0	26.5
20	Sheffield Utd	38	4.9	7.9	25.3	36.6	95.4	-58.8	22.4

Match OPTA Stats: Palmer to match Juan Mata?

Manchester United have won just one of their last nine Premier League away games against London sides (D3 L5), losing four of their last six. They’ve lost three of their five such visits this season, last losing more in a single top-flight campaign in 1989-90 (4).
Chelsea are winless in their last six Premier League games in April (D2 L4), since beating West Ham 1-0 in 2022. At home, they’ve won just one of their last 10 in April (D3 L6), losing five of the last seven at Stamford Bridge.
Manchester United have won more games (80) and have a higher win percentage (59.7%) in the month of April than any other side in Premier League history. However, they’ve won just one of their last seven away games in the month (D2 L4), beating Nottingham Forest 2-0 last year.
Chelsea have won six of their eight evening kick-offs (7pm or later) in the Premier League this season (L2), having failed to win any of their nine evening games in the competition last term (D3 L6).
Chelsea have both scored and conceded in 19 different Premier League games this season, last doing so more often in 2019-20 (22). They’ve done so in each of their last seven league matches, their longest such run since a run of nine between January and April 2017.
Cole Palmer scored Chelsea’s goal in their 2-1 defeat to Manchester United in the reverse fixture. The last Blues player to score home and away against Man Utd in the same Premier League campaign was Juan Mata (2012-13), while the last English player to do so was Frank Lampard (2010-11).

Chelsea Fixtures: Must Make First Two Count

Vs Sheffield United (A)
Vs Everton (H)
Vs Man City (N) FA Cup
Vs Arsenal (A)
Vs Villa (A)

Man United Fixtures: Three Huge Tests Up First

Vs Liverpool (H)
Vs Bournemouth (A)
Vs Coventry (N) FA Cup
Vs Sheffield United (H)
Vs Burnley (H)

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