English Premier
2026-04-18 - Chelsea vs Manchester United
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 18th April 2026 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV
Chelsea
They were the better team in the first half, but Chelsea were not able to get their noses in front of Premier League title challengers Manchester City and paid the price in the second half. An eventual 0-3 scoreline may have been a touch harsh on Liam Rosenior's men, but the pressure is on the young manager to get things turned around with Chelsea losing some ground on the top five.
Not only are 6th placed Chelsea now 4 points behind Liverpool, but the latest Premier League setback has allowed a number of clubs to close in behind them. Finishing outside of the Champions League places would be tough to explain away, but slipping further down the standings may be too much for Rosenior to overcome. The Blues have a disappointing 6-5-5 record at Stamford Bridge ahead of this fixture against a Champions League chasing rival.
Chelsea have suffered 5 losses in the last 6 games in all competitions and the exception is the FA Cup Quarter Final win over League One strugglers Port Vale. The side have lost all 3 Premier League games played without scoring a goal since Chelsea's 1-4 win at Villa Park. Chelsea's loss to Manchester City means they have lost 3 of the last 4 at Stamford Bridge in all competitions and failed to score in any of those defeats to Newcastle United, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City.
Enzo Fernandez was left out of the squad by the manager after the comments made on international duty, but he is expected to be involved on Saturday. Reece James and Trevoh Chalobah are both edging closer to returns, but this fixture is expected to come too soon for the latter.
Manchester United
There was a big opportunity in front of Manchester United on Monday night when hosting rivals Leeds United and they could have placed one foot in the Champions League with a victory. Instead, the three week layoff between matches seemed to negatively impact the squad and Manchester United were punished for a sloppy first half performance in the 1-2 defeat to an old rival.
Despite that defeat, Manchester United remain amongst the favourites to finish in the top five and return to the premier European competition. With 6 games remaining, 3rd placed Manchester United have a 7 point advantage over Chelsea outside of the top five of the Premier League table. The side will bring a 5-7-4 away record into this fixture in the capital on Saturday evening.
Manchester United had made a very strong start under the guidance of interim manager Michael Carrick, but they have only won 1 of the last 4 Premier League games played. They have suffered a couple of defeats in that time against Newcastle United and Leeds United, while Manchester United's 2-2 draw at Bournemouth in the last away fixture played means having won 1 of the last 4 on their travels.
Harry Maguire has been given an additional one game suspension after his sending off at the Vitality Stadium before the March international break and Lisandro Martinez is also suspended following his own recd card on Monday. Kobbie Mainoo was a big miss on Monday and is a doubt, while Patrick Dorgu could return next weekend.
Head to Head
Robert Sanchez was sent off after just five minutes when the teams met at Old Trafford and Manchester United took advantage in a 2-1 win over Chelsea.
Recent visits to Stamford Bridge have been more difficult- Chelsea are unbeaten in 5 at home against Manchester United and have beaten them in each of the last two seasons.
Prediction
The setback against Leeds United will have stung and Manchester United could be down to a very young centre half partnership after both Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez have to serve suspensions.
Despite that defeat on Monday, Manchester United have to take confidence from the fact they are still on course for a return to the Champions League. It is partly down to the struggles of Chelsea that Manchester United can still feel relatively comfortable in their current position, but Michael Carrick has to be demanding a positive reaction to the loss on Monday night.
A strong run immediately after he came in as interim manager has pushed Manchester United into their current position, but a single win in 4 games has slowed things down. They have been beaten twice in that time, while the side have also won 1 of the last 4 away Premier League games as the pressure has perhaps ramped up to earn a return to the Champions League.
Kobbie Mainoo's absence on Monday hurt and being without him and the two senior centre halves does leave Manchester United looking vulnerable.
Confidence may have been dented, but they should still have a lot more than this Chelsea squad that suffered yet another defeat last Sunday. The latest 0-3 home defeat has really put some pressure on a club that can ill-afford missing out on the Champions League and Liam Rosenior has some big decisions to make.
The manager has to be have been pleased with the first half display against Manchester City, but Chelsea look vulnerable and edgy and have struggled to respond when they have conceded. Underlying numbers from recent games suggest they have not taken chances when being on top in matches and that has ultimately led to the downfall, but having Enzo Fernandez back in the squad has to be a positive.
Chelsea are under pressure to win, which can be a hindrance in big games, but they can take belief out of the fact they are unbeaten in 5 at home against Manchester United. Relatively late goals have led to back to back wins over United at Stamford Bridge and there is quality in the final third that can test what is likely to be a makeshift visiting defence.
Ignoring the difference in levels of performance from matches at Old Trafford compared with those on their travels under Michael Carrick would also be a mistake.
An injury time goal earned a point at West Ham United, while Bournemouth and Everton will feel hard done by in recent home results against Manchester United. Even a struggling Newcastle United beat Manchester United at home and that despite playing the entirety of the second half with ten men and so this looks an opportunity for Chelsea to reignite the Champions League push.
Nothing will come easy for either team on current form with both Chelsea and Manchester United not playing with complete confidence.
However, it feels like Chelsea are being underrated on the results achieved- yes, they have been losing a lot of fixtures, but on another day, Chelsea would have beaten Newcastle United and perhaps led against Manchester City and that is a level that Manchester United cannot really compare with in recent away games played.
The first goal is going to be huge, but Michael Carrick's team are not exactly playing with a lot of momentum and Chelsea may just find a way to earn the three points at the prices on offer.
Of course, this is a selection that would not disappoint the writer if it is to go wrong.
The Pick :
Chelsea 2-1 Manchester United
