Manchester United will be looking to tighten their grip on a spot in the Premier League’s top five when they travel to face Chelsea on Saturday at 8pm.
The Red Devils sit third and are seven points clear of their opponents in sixth. A fifth-placed finish is now enough to secure Champions League football after the Premier League sealed one of the two extra spots.
Man Utd predicted XI vs Chelsea
Man Utd (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Mazraoui, Yoro, Heaven, Shaw; Casemiro, Ugarte; Diallo, Fernandes, Cunha; Mbeumo.
But Michael Carrick’s side go into this game in a rocky bit of form. They’ve won just one of their past three games including a home defeat to Leeds United on Monday.
It comes after the Red Devils had lost just two of their previous 22 league games. They’re now looking to avoid losing back-to-back league games for the first time since season.
Man Utd team news vs Chelsea
Man Utd’s defence is looking threadbare. Lisandro Martinez made his return from injury on Monday but it lasted 56 minutes. The centre-back was sent off for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair and will now miss Man Utd’s next three league games.
To make matters worse, Harry Maguire has also seen an extra game added to his ban for improper conduct. The Englishman swore at the fourth official after walking off the pitch following his red card agaisnt Bournemouth.
Matthijs de Ligt also remains out injury and faces a race to be fit before the end of the season. So Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven are Carrick’s only first-team centre-back options. They are both likely to start, unless Carrick goes for more unorthodox methods.
BOYLE Sports offer: Bet £10 Get £40 in free bets
Not signed up to BOYLE Sports yet? Here's how to claim one of the best bookmaker welcome offers around...
- Sign up to BOYLE Sports using this link.
- Deposit a minimum of £10 (Excluding Skrill/Moneybookers, Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe or prepaid cards).
- Place a minimum bet of £10 or more at odds of EVS (2.0) or greater.
- Receive your £40 in free bets
18+ New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. T&Cs Apply
If Carrick does stick with Yoro and Heaven, then Luke Shaw will remain at left-back — he’s a potential centre-back option. Noussair Mazraoui is likely to start on the right, given the nod ahead of Diogo Dalot last time out after returning from illness.
There are doubts about Kobbie Mainoo, who missed the defeat to Leeds due to injury. So Manuel Ugarte could keep his spot alongside Casemiro. Further forward, Bryan Mbeumo is expected to replace Benjamin Sesko in leading the line.
The rest of the attacking setup should remain the same. Bruno Fernandes will start as the No.10, flanked by Matheus Cunha on the left and Amad Diallo on the right. Patrick Dorgu is closing in on a return, but he’s not ready just yet.
A leaky defence
While Man Utd’s results have generally improved under Carrick, there’s one problem he is yet to solve. Man Utd have kept just one clean sheet in their last 21 away league games.
That did come under Carrick, a 1-0 win against Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium at the end of February. But the leaky defence has been a worry for the Red Devils.
Since the start of the 2025-26 season, only Burnley have kept fewer away clean sheets in the Premier League than Man Utd. That’s despite the Red Devils sitting sixth for the fewest shots on target faced on the road.
The main problem for Man Utd has been their Expected Goals conceded. They’ve faced 24.15 xG away from home in the league this season. And that jumps up to 27.04 xG on Target. It’s the biggest difference of any Premier League side this season.
So there is a case to be made that Man Utd are just on the receiving end of good finishing from their opponents. But it’s still a worry nonetheless.
