Key occasions
26 min: There didn’t appear to be a lot incorrect with Chalobah’s deal with, however he by chance caught Antony on the ankle, and the United participant writhes round in ache fairly dramatically. It doesn’t look good and the stretcher comes on.
24 min: Antony tries to trick his manner down the inside-right channel, solely to be tackled effectively by Chalobah on the sting of the field. A fantastic and truthful problem, and play goes on, however Antony stays down. He appears in a whole lot of ache. United play the ball out so their stricken solider can obtain consideration.
22 min: Sky flash up an fascinating stat: in the present day’s Chelsea beginning XI is their youngest in Premier League historical past. At a median age of 23 years and 238 days, it knocks the staff despatched out to face Crystal Palace in November 2019 (24 years and 88 days) right into a cocked child’s bonnet.
20 min: Azpilicueta wants some therapy after stretching to make that essential problem. He’s good to proceed for now, although.
19 min: Antony races into area down the suitable and slips Martial into the Chelsea field with a cute diagonal go. Martial takes a heavy contact and permits Azpilicueta to poke the ball again to Kepa. The probabilities carry on coming.
18 min: Casemiro comes sliding throughout Chukwuemeka and will get nowhere close to the ball. He’s fortunate not to enter the e book. Ought to he get himself despatched off in the present day, he’d miss the cup ultimate. “Amazingly Casemiro is an anagram of I’m rating,” writes Malcolm Shuttleworth. “Not superb English however he’s attempting!” A rattling sight higher than my Portuguese.
16 min: Fernandes fizzes in a cross from the suitable. Martial can’t resolve whether or not to shoot or try and play a by way of ball for Sancho, and the ball squirts by way of to Kepa. Each groups are so open on the again. Some would say shambolic. Each are wanting fairly nifty up entrance, although. There’s completely no manner the scoring has ended this night, absolutely.
14 min: Gallagher has a chance to shoot from the right-hand nook of the United field however his slip is straight out of the circus custom. Then United break rapidly, Antony slicing in from the suitable and curling vast left from distance.
12 min: Gallagher and Chukwuemeka are seeing various the ball on the sting of United’s field. No manner by way of in the meanwhile, although.
10 min: Chelsea are everywhere in the store on the again … however United don’t precisely look watertight both. Havertz races down the inside-right channel and may discover Gallagher, inexplicably free on the penalty spot. However his low cross is just too sturdy and too far forward of his team-mate. This might fairly simply be 2-2 already.
9 min: Sancho drives down the inside-left channel and slips a diagonal go by way of what passes for Chelsea’s again line and in direction of Fernandes, free within the center on the sting of the field. However Fernandes can’t management and the ball squirts by way of to Kepa.
8 min: The purpose stands! In the meantime right here’s Jeff Sax: “That improbable Chelsea counter-attack that ended with a spectacular miss, it sums up Todd Boehly.”
7 min: VAR are checking this for offside. To the bare eye, the purpose appears fantastic. However let’s see. We’ve been incorrect earlier than.
GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 Chelsea (Casemiro 6)
A free kick for United out on the left touchline. Shaw and Eriksen stand over it as their team-mates queue up on the sting of the field. Eriksen curls it in. Casemiro rises highest, six yards out, and crops a header into the highest left. Kepa rooted to the spot. Champions League ahoy for United!
4 min: Chelsea needs to be main. Corridor is shipped scampering into area down the left by Gallagher’s intelligent ball across the nook. Corridor rolls into the centre for Mudryk, who’s free, six yards out. Mudryk opens his physique and wafts a depressing effort vast proper. He had to attain. He’s not precisely prolific, to be truthful, besides.
3 min: Madueke makes good down the suitable and cuts again for Chukwuemeka, who makes an attempt a roller over De Gea and in direction of the top-left nook. It’s at all times flying over the bar.
2 min: Inside 20 seconds, Chalobah presents the ball to Antony, who almost releases Fernandes into the Chelsea field with a go down the inside-right channel. That’s intercepted, however United come once more, Casemiro profitable possession and beginning a transfer that sees Fernandes almost discover Sancho free, 12 yards out. Chelsea concede the primary nook of the match and take care of it, however it is a sturdy begin by the house facet.
Chelsea get the ball rolling. They’ll be kicking in direction of the Stretford Finish on this first half.
The groups are out! Manchester United put on their storied crimson, Chelsea their royal blue. Previous Trafford is buzzing forward of its penultimate recreation of the season. Pleasure Division, the Stone Roses, reworkings of John Denver songs, there’s one thing for everybody. In the meantime seems Peter Oh (7.41pm) isn’t the one one wishing United by some means make a monumental balls of their Champions League bid. “The complexity of being a soccer supporter when the 2 groups you dislike most are taking part in one another,” begins Richard Hirst. “As a Fulham supporter do I hope United get some extent, in order that they subject a weakened staff towards us and we get some revenge, albeit hole, for the FA Cup defeat? Or on condition that Chelsea can’t end above us, do I subordinate my lifelong antipathy in direction of them and hope they win, in order that on Sunday we are able to get actual revenge and kick United out of the Champions League (at all times assuming Liverpool win)? It needs to be the latter, so come on Chelsea (how a lot I hate saying that!).” We’ll be off in a minute.
A reminder of simply how shut Manchester United are to securing Champions League soccer. We’ll assume Chelsea followers gained’t need reminding of the place their lads are within the desk.
Pre-match postbag o’patter. “I discover it unimaginable that Garnacho doesn’t begin forward of Sancho and even Antony” – Paul Howarth
“Ought to Lampard postpone any additional Premier League goals and comply with his golden technology mate Wayne Rooney and get your hands on a MLS supervisor place and work a bit at his craft earlier than returning down the road?” – Mary Waltz (who already is aware of the reply)
“I hate what fashionable soccer does to me. It’s virtually definitely an excessive amount of to count on Chelsea and Fulham to beat United and hold Liverpool’s top-four hopes alive, however hey, so long as the prospect has not been mathematically extinguished: Come on you Boehly-ball Blues!!! Lamps you Legend, Do it for Stevie G!!! Sigh. It positive is tough to take care of one’s dignity within the period of contemporary soccer” – Peter Oh
Lampard exits, and Erik ten Hag instantly takes over the mic. “You don’t get some extent, it’s important to deserve some extent … however for me that may by no means be an strategy for a recreation, it’s important to win a recreation … we need to play in our model, proactive and dynamic … we’re in a very good place however now we have to get the job executed … now we have to give attention to this recreation … now we have to point out a profitable perspective and go for it … Chelsea have excessive potential, as a gaggle of gamers they’re excellent … however it’s not about them, it’s about us, and now we have to make it our recreation … it needs to be excessive ranges as a result of they’ve good gamers … there’s a actually optimistic vibe at Carrington … a high tradition … now we have to set larger requirements and get higher.”
Frank Lampard talks to Sky. “We’re taking part in for pleasure, taking part in for Chelsea … alternative for every particular person … the season could also be over when it comes to what we are able to obtain and what Chelsea are used to attaining, however individually there’s a cause within the dressing room for everybody … there’s a whole lot of pleasure at stake … [the large squad size] has been difficult … it’s been a tough stability this 12 months and I’ve clearly are available on the again finish of that … the squad measurement is one thing the membership will deal with … there are a whole lot of requirements and fundamentals which have dropped down a stage … the essential stage earlier than you get to ways must step up once more.”
As for the Mason Mount state of affairs? “I don’t know what the answer goes to be … it’s a membership and Mason challenge … I don’t know the place Mason is at personally … I do know he’s held in excessive regard on the membership and do what they’ll to make him keep … I might by no means discuss within the modern-day about what a participant ought to do … gamers transfer on … it’s a disgrace we’ve acquired into this case the place it’s perhaps taking place.”
Manchester United are on a two-game profitable tear-up, so if it ain’t broke, and many others., and so forth, and so forth. Erik ten Hag names an unchanged beginning XI after the 1-0 win at Bournemouth final weekend. Marcus Rashford returns from damage and takes a spot on the bench.
Chelsea make three adjustments to the facet that began the 1-0 defeat at Manchester Metropolis on Sunday. Carney Chukwuemeka, Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke substitute Thiago Silva and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who drop to the bench, and Raheem Sterling, who misses out altogether.
The groups
Manchester United: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Lindelof, Shaw, Casemiro, Eriksen, Antony, Fernandes, Sancho, Martial.
Subs: Butland, Dalot, Maguire, Malacia, Fred, McTominay, Garnacho, Rashford, Weghorst.
Chelsea: Kepa, W Fofana, Chalobah, Azpilicueta, Fernandez, Chukwuemeka, Madueke, Corridor, Gallagher, Havertz, Mudryk.
Subs: Mendy, Silva, Pulisic, Felix, Loftus-Cheek, Ziyech, Koulibaly, D Fofana, Gilchrist.
Preamble
Manchester United can sense it, scent it, almost style and contact it. Sure, the return of Champions League soccer to Previous Trafford, after one lengthy season roaming the barren plains of Europa, is merely a single solitary level away. You’d count on them to get it tonight, not least as a result of the final 5 conferences between these two giants have led to a draw. There’s additionally the small matter of United having not misplaced a Premier League match at residence for the reason that opening day of the season … whereas Chelsea have misplaced seven of their final 9 matches in all competitions, and Frank Lampard has tasted defeat 18 occasions in his final 23 managerial outings.
Chelsea have solely pleasure left to play for. They’re already condemned to their first bottom-half end since 1996; they’re already assured to complete decrease than each Brentford and Fulham for the primary time in historical past. So they might do with a lift. Will it spur them on to shock the upwardly cell Pink Devils? Or will Erik ten Hag’s staff safe Champions League soccer tonight and render the ultimate day go to of Fulham a stress-free expertise? Kick off is at 8pm BST. It’s on!
