In an attempt to secure a vital Champions League spot, Chelsea took on domestically struggling Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Friday night. The Blues' hopes of advancing to Europe's top football league were dashed last time out against Newcastle United, while the Red Devils suffered a heavy defeat at home to West Ham United.

Chelsea finished sixth in the 2023-24 Premier League, securing qualification for the English Football Association League this season, and their goal this time around is to move up at least one place to qualify for the Champions League, which they won in 2021 under Thomas Tuchel. The Blues' charge for a top-five spot was halted by a boisterous group of Magpies in the northeast, with Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes scoring before and after half-time respectively to give Newcastle a 2-0 win.

After five straight wins in all competitions, Chelsea suffered their first Premier League defeat since March 16, putting their Champions League spot in jeopardy, with Enzo Maresca's side currently fifth, tied on points with sixth-placed Aston Villa. The Blues should be confident of a positive result at Stamford Bridge this Friday, with the West London side last beaten in the Premier League on Boxing Day, when Rodrigo Muniz's last-minute goal helped neighbours Fulham win the game. Only defending champions Liverpool and Aston Villa have lost fewer Premier League home games than Chelsea so far this season, with the hosts on Friday remaining unbeaten in four official matches against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge since February 2021.

Manchester United's shocking seven-match winless streak in the Premier League was helped by goals from midfielder Tomas Soucek and winger Jarrod Bowen, who helped West Ham United win 2-0 at the Theatre of Dreams, as West Ham United overtook the hosts in the Premier League standings. Manchester United are currently 16th in the Premier League and facing their worst run in Premier League history, but the upcoming Europa League title could mask that slump, with the 20-time English champions set to face Tottenham Hotspur in the final next week. Ruben Amorim's side have collected just one point from their last four domestic away games, with their last away win coming on March 16 when goals from Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Ganacho and Bruno Fernandes beat Leicester City, who are set to advance to the Champions League.

The Red Devils have lost 17 games in the top flight this season and currently sit in 16th place with 39 points, saved from the embarrassing relegation zone only by the inferior performances of Ipswich, Leicester City and Southampton. With league games against Champions League powerhouses Chelsea and Villa both before and after the Europa League final in Bilbao, United are likely to miss their 40-point target, which would be a further blow to a team at the bottom of the Premier League.

Chelsea's Nicholas Jackson was suspended for the rest of the season after receiving a red card in the first half at St James' Park last weekend; Sancho's absence from the game against his parent club at Stamford Bridge means Chelsea's attacking area will be further restricted. United also has several players out for a long time, including Joshua Zirkzee, Lisandro Martinez and Diogo Dalot, and United's defensive problems may be further exacerbated, with centre-back Lenny Yoro forced off with a foot injury in the last loss to West Ham United.

Chelsea's predicted starting lineup:

Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Colwell, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez, Madouque, Palmer, George; Neto

Manchester United's predicted starting lineup:

Baindiel; Frederiksen, Lindelof, Shaw; Camarsone, Eriksen, Ugarte, Armas; Mainu, Ganacho, Obi