Manchester United - Chelsea live online: score, stats and updates, Premier League
Manchester United vs Chelsea live: Rashford dropped
Erik Ten Hag speaks before Chelsea game
Here's that clip of Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag speaking about his decision to drop Marcus Rashford (and others) to the bench. You can decide for yourself whether the "bad game" or "we have to rotate because we have a lot of games" is the main reason behind it....
Wednesday's Premier League scores
There have been four goals in the other Premier League games being played today, which have just passed the 30-minute mark:
Brighton 1-1 Brentford
Crystal Palace 0-1 Bournemouth
Fulham 1-0 Nottingham Forest
Sheffield United 0-0 Liverpool
Chelsea: last five games
3 December 2023: Chelsea 3-2 Brighton (Premier League)
25 November 2023: Newcastle 4-1 Chelsea (Premier League)
12 November 2023: Chelsea 4-4 Man City (Premier League)
6 November 2023: Tottenham 1-4 Chelsea (Premier League)
1 November 2023: Chelsea 2-0 Blackburn (Carabao Cup)
Manchester United: last five games
2 December 2023: Newcastle 1-0 Man Utd (Premier League)
29 November 2023: Galatasaray 3-3 Man Utd (Champions League)
26 November 2023: Everton 0-3 Man Utd (Premier League)
11 November 2023: Man Utd 1-0 Luton (Premier League)
8 November 2023: Copenhagen 4-3 Man Utd (Champions League)
What happened in Chelsea's last game?
Chelsea had been starting to build a nice bit of momentum, posting a big win away to Spurs and impressing a 4-4 draw against Manchester City before suffering a thumping defeat away to Newcastle. They were already 4-1 down by the time captain Reece James was sent off, with fellow defender Thiago Silva having a day to forget.
But they bounced back well to defeat a leaky Brighton team at Stamford Bridge last weekend, Enzo Fernández scoring twice in a 3-2 win, which was made slightly nervy towards the end by a last-minute goal for The Seagulls.
What happened in Manchester United's last game?
10 days ago, things were looking up for Manchester United. Somehow, they had become the Premier League's form team thanks to a series of narrow wins over teams you'd expected them to beat, as well as a more impressive victory away to Everton. Then came a Champions League collapse away to Galatasaray, which leaves them in big trouble in that competition, followed by a 1-0 defeat to Newcastle.
No shame in losing to this version of The Magpies, of course, but it was the way they went about it that disappointed most fans. Ten Hag's men barely laid a glove on their opponents until the final few minutes, when an inevitable charge came but failed to yield an equaliser as Anthony Gordon scored the only goal.
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire named Premier League player of the month
Let's not tiptoe around this. Nobody saw this coming a few weeks ago, did they?
Harry Maguire was ruthlessly mocked for some poor performances for Manchester United earlier in the season having previously been stripped of the captaincy and lost his place in the team last term. It's been some comeback from the England defender, who must be made of pretty stern stuff.
A bit of positive news for Manchester United.
Marcus Rashford out of sorts for Manchester United
Marcus Rashford had the best goalscoring season of his career last season, netting 30 times in 56 Games in all comPetitions, including in what felt like almost every home fixture. He's scored only twice in 18 appearances in 2023-24 (but still has more Premier League goals than Martial, Antony and Hojlund put together...).
Erik Ten Hag "explains" Rashford omission
"We played bad as a team [against Newcastle]. We can't blame individuals for it. It's part of rotation."
Anthony Martial is also out as Ten Hag revamps his attack. Rasmus Hojlund and Antony are in and will struggle to do any less than their teammates did at St. James' Park...
Chelsea team to play Manchester United: captain James on the bench
I said Chelsea captain Reece James was available again...but he's only on the bench! Raheem Sterling skippers the team once again.
Sánchez; Disasi, Silva, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernández; Sterling, Palmer, Mudryk; Jackson.
Manchester United team to play Chelsea: Rashford dropped
Four changes for Manchester United from the defeat to Newcastle and the big news is there's no Marcus Rashford, who drops down to the bench!
Onana; Dalot, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Amrabat; Antony, McTominay, Fernandes, Garnacho, Hojlund.
Chelsea: the 2023-24 season so far
Manchester United have long been held up as the Premier League's crisis club but things have arguably been less pretty down at Chelsea. As I said earlier, they've literally over $1 billion on new players in three transfer windows but finished 12th last season and are currently 10th.
There have been signs of progression since Mauricio Pochettino came in in the summer, with fine performances in draws against Arsenal and Manchester City, as well as a big away win against Spurs. But they were heavily beaten by Newcastle a couple of games ago and have lost at home to Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Brentford.
Chelsea arrive at Old Trafford
How much have Chelsea paid for Enzo Fernández per hairstyle since his big-money move from Benfica in January?
Manchester United: the 2023-24 season so far
It's been win or bust for The Red Devils in the Premier League this season. They haven't drawn any of their 14 league matches, winning eight and losing six, including three defeats at Old Trafford. The games they've won are the ones you'd expect them to but they've lost to Arsenal, Spurs, Manchester United and Newcastle without ever really troubling them.
They were also easily beaten by The Magpies in the Carabao Cup and need a minor miracle to progress to the Champions League Round of 16 ahead of their final group game (they must beat Bayern Munich at home and hope Copenhagen and Galatasaray draw).
Premier League big guns under the lights
It used to be one of the Premier League's feistiest fixtures (think Ferguson vs Mourinho). Can either United or Chelsea kickstart their push back towards the top of English soccer in this one?
Manchester United hope to make Old Trafford a fortress again
Manchester United's home form was fantastic in 2022-23 but they've already lost to Brighton, Crystal Palace and Manchester City in the Premier League at Old Trafford this season, while Newcastle were 3-0 winners in the Carabao Cup and Galatasaray turned them over in the Champions League. Oof.
Chelsea squad news: James returns, Gallagher suspended
Are you ready (part 2)? Even deeper breath...
Defenders Wesley Fofana, Ben Chilwell, Malo Gusto and Trevor Chelobah, midfielders Roméo Lavia, Lesley Ugochukwu and Carney Chukwuemeka, and attacker Noni Madueke are all out injured. Summer signing Christopher Nkunku is close to make his first appearance but doesn't look likely to play either.
And to make matters worse, vice-captain Conor Gallagher is suspended.
The good news is that club captain Reece James is available again after serving his own ban.
Manchester United squad news: Casemiro injured, Sancho "suspended"
Are you ready? Deep breath...
Casemiro (hamstring) heads Manchester United's list of absentees, while defenders Lisandro Martínez (ankle/foot) and Tyrell Malacia (knee) aren't expected to play again until January. The game against The Blues also comes too soon for veteran centre-back Jonny Evans (thigh) and midfield schemer Christian Eriksen (knee).
On top of that, winger Jadon Sancho is still suspended by the club after publicising criticising Ten Hag at the beginning of the season. The former Borussia Dortmund attacker hasn’t played since 26 August as a result.
PREMIER LEAGUE
Manchester United - Chelsea: times, how to watch on TV, stream online | Premier League
Before we get down to business, you may still be looking for a way to watch today's game. If you’re in the United States, then you’re in luck as there is a way and Will is here with the details!
Just be sure to stick with me too, please!
You can also watch a Manchester United vs Chelsea live stream on Peacock
Midweek round of Premier League fixtures
All 20 Premier League teams are in action this midweek so there's plenty of score for those tables to change. Here's what's gone down so far and who's playing who:
Tuesday 5 December
Wolves 1-0 Burnley
Luton Town 3-4 Arsenal
Wednesday 6 December
Brighton vs Brentford (2:30pm ET)
Crystal Palace vs Bournemouth (2:30pm ET)
Fulham vs Nottingham Forest (2:30pm ET)
Sheffield United vs Liverpool (2:30pm ET)
Aston Villa vs Manchester City (3:15pm ET)
Manchester United vs Chelsea (3:15pm ET)
Thursday 7 December
Everton vs Newcastle United (2:30pm ET)
Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham (3:15pm ET)
How the Premier League table looks: Chelsea
But if you thought Manchester United were struggling, get a load of Chelsea. Despite literally spending over $1 billion (in pretty much any currency) in the last three transfer windows, they are five points behind United in 10th place having lost as many games as they've lost this season. And that after finishing 12th in 2022-23.
There have been some positive signs under Mauricio Pochettino but the results haven't exactly come yet, have they?
| T | MP | W | D | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8 BHA | 22 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
9 WHA | 21 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 |
10 CHE | 19 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
11 BRE | 19 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
12 WVH | 18 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 7 |
How the Premier League table looks: Manchester United
10 days ago, The Red Devils were top of the Premier League's form table and only six points off the top despite impressing pretty much nobody since the start of the season. Since then, they've had another Champions League defensive debacle, lost meekly to Newcastle United and fallen 12 points behind leaders Arsenal (who have played a game more).
Surely not even the most optimistic United fan will think their team can lift the title, so perhaps we should look at the race to qualify for next season's Champions League. The top four will definitely get in and fifth could even qualify depending on how the rest of this year's European tournaments go. As it stands, Erik Ten Hag's team are five points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa and threeadrift of Tottenham in fifth.
| T | MP | W | D | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 TOT | 27 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 3 |
6 NEW | 26 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 4 |
7 MNU | 24 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 6 |
| 8BHA | 22 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| 9WHA | 21 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 |
What time does Manchester United - Chelsea kick off?
We’ll all have to wait just a little though, as the clash in Manchester gets underway at 9:15 p.m. local time, which is 3:15 p.m. ET and 12:15 p.m. PT. Let’s hope you’ve decided to work from home today (those of you who can)…
Over the next 90 minutes or so I’ll be bringing you build-up, team news and plenty more. Let's do this!
Hello and welcome to Manchester United - Chelsea!
Once upon a time in the not-too-distant past, Manchester United again Chelsea would more than likely have had a big bearing on whether The Red Devils or The Blues ended the season as Premier League champions. This season, however, it’s seventh against 10th as two of England’s fallen big guns desperately try to get back on the road to glory and into next year's Champions League.
I’m Roddy and thanks for joining me for Wednesday’s clash at Old Trafford!
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