Manchester United v Chelsea Tips: Champions League beckons while Blues whimper away

Manchester United should secure a well-deserved Champions League spot this week but, no matter what happens at Old Trafford, this will go down as Chelsea’s worst season in decades.

The Red Devils play host to the Blues on Thursday evening in their penultimate games of the season, and United know that only a point is required to secure a top four finish and their return to the continent’s elite club competition.

Meanwhile, Chelsea will finish below the 50-point mark for the first time since 1990/91 even if they win both of their remaining games. All they have left to play for now is a bit of pride.

Football expert Joe Crann takes you through their meeting on Thursday as United boss Erik ten Hag seeks another feather in his cap. 

Home form 

You have to go all the way back to August to find the last time that United lost at Old Trafford in a Premier League game – and it’s been over eight months since they were beaten in front of their home crowd in any competition.

Since that aforementioned top-flight defeat against Brighton they have played 16 league games on home soil and have incredibly won 13 of them. With that in mind, it’s not difficult to understand why they are favourites at 1.65 to win this match.

They have also scored in 17 of their 19 games in their own backyard, and kept 11 clean sheets along the way. With Chelsea hardly flush for goals at the moment there may be value in a United win to nil (3.15) or selecting ‘no’ in the both teams to score market (2.32).

Feeling blue

Frank Lampard is having a tough time of it over at Stamford Bridge, and his Blues are probably pleased that the season is coming to an end. 

Their run of results over the last couple months constitutes genuine relegation form. There are only two teams that have picked up fewer points than them in the last 10 matches, and they have won just five league games away from home all season. 

Just to add to their misery, Chelsea have scored just four goals against the current top six across 10 matches this season – losing seven of them in the process. It’s been rough viewing for their loyal fanbase. 

Skin in the game

Chelsea have nothing to play for and, with Mauricio Pochettino lined up to take over from Lampard in the near future, it’s hard to see where their desire to pick up points will come from. On the other hand, United need to grab points to achieve their seasonal target and they will bring intensity from the outset. 

Marcus Rashford (2.18 as anytime goalscorer) could be back in the picture after missing the last two games and he will be itching to get the two goals that he needs to make the 2022/23 season his highest scoring league campaign ever.

Manchester United v Chelsea Tips

Manchester United to win and Over 1.5 goals @ 1.82
Second half as highest scoring @ 1.94