Manchester United take on Chelsea in an English Premier League match at Old Trafford on Friday. The game does not hold much significance for either side after Manchester City clinched its third straight league title a few days ago. Arsenal, who remained at the top for most part of the season, have secured second place. However, if the Red Devils overcome The Blues, they will move third, overtaking Newcastle and secure Champions League qualification. Chelsea, meanwhile, had a disappointing EPL 2023 season.
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Chelsea are currently 12th in the Premier League standings. They recently suffered a 1-0 loss to champs City and will have to put in a strong effort to recover in this upcoming match.
Meanwhile, Manchester United hold the fourth spot in the league table and have performed fairly well this season. In their previous game, the Red Devils secured a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth and will aim to elevate their performance even further in this week’s fixture.
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Manchester United vs Chelsea EPL preview
Manchester United’s final home game of the Premier League season takes place on Thursday against Chelsea, with the Red Devils needing only one point to secure a spot in the Champions League for the 2023-24 season.
After their 1-0 victory over Bournemouth, Manchester United is on the verge of clinching a top-four finish, while Chelsea, who recently lost by the same scoreline to Manchester City, find themselves in mid-table.
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Sitting three points ahead of Liverpool with a game in hand, Manchester United will secure their Champions League qualification if they avoid defeat on Friday (IST) at 12:30 am. However, they will have another opportunity against Fulham on Sunday if they fail to do so.
Erik ten Hag’s priority will be to secure a top-four finish before focusing on the FA Cup final against Manchester City. Manchester United has been formidable at home throughout the current Premier League season, conceding only eight goals at Old Trafford. They have won their last four home games without conceding a goal and have kept six consecutive clean sheets.
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For Chelsea, who have struggled this season, their highest possible finish is 11th place, currently occupied by Crystal Palace. Their poor away form, with just two wins in their last 13 Premier League away matches, does not bode well for their chances of redemption at Manchester United’s home ground.
The past five encounters between Manchester United and Chelsea have all resulted in draws, with the most recent meeting at Stamford Bridge in October ending in a 1-1 scoreline for the third consecutive time. However, another stalemate in their upcoming match would be sufficient for Erik ten Hag’s team to secure a place in European football’s elite competition.
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Manchester United vs Chelsea EPL prediction
Under Erik ten Hag, Manchester United have displayed significant progress and will be desperate to reach the UEFA Champions League with a win. The team has depended heavily on Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes, who can make a considerable impact in this game.
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Chelsea has struggled throughout the season and will look to at least salvage some pride before the league ends. Nevertheless, the Red Devils currently have the advantage as the stronger team and are expected to emerge victorious in this contest.
Prediction: Manchester United 2-1 Chelsea