By Charlotte Daly For Mailonline
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Relive the action with Mail Sport’s live blog for the Premier League clash between Manchester United and Chelsea.
Host commentator
Manchester United have officially secure Champions League football next season after beating Chelsea 4-1 at home. Erik ten Hag will be happy with United’s second half performance while Frank Lampard will be furious with his side’s display.
90+3mins: Chance for Scott McTominay! The United midfielder fires one into Kepa from close range. I’m surprised he didn’t score but the Chelsea goalkeeper did well to get in the way.
90+2mins: The sooner the final whistle goes the better for these two teams. But, as it stands… United are just two minutes away from officially securing Champions League football next season.
90mins: There will be four minutes of added time. It wouldn’t surprise me if we saw another goal in that time given how things have been going…
88mins: Looks like Felix is the only one that doesn’t want this game to end! He’s just found the back of the net to give Chelsea a consolation goal.
88mins: Chelsea look like they want this game to be over. I don’t blame them. Their fans are dead silent, their manager looks furious and Manchester United just keep coming!
87mins: Without stating the obvious… it’s not been the best of evenings for Chelsea. But, credit to Hall. I think he’s preformed pretty well despite having next to no help from those around him.
85mins: United make a change. Bruno Fernandes makes way for Scott McTominay. Before leaving the pitch Fernandes runs over to David de Gea to hand over the captain’s armband. The fans are heard singing ‘Bruno, Bruno, Bruno’.
UNITED HIT THE CROSS BAR! United are absolutely flying at the moment. Rashford picked the ball up on the left-hand-side, drove forwards before slipping it to Garnacho at the top of the box. He connects beautifully with it but he couldn’t quite keep it down. As a result, it bounces off the cross bar!
81mins: It’s all kicking off again! Pulisic and David de Gea square up to each other after Chelsea’s attempt on goal. Pulisic leapt into the air to head the ball towards goal. De Gea came charging out and the two clashed. When on the floor, De Gea pushed Pulisic… causing the eruption.
RASHFORD SCORES! A very cool, calm and collected finish from Rashford. But, the goal comes from a Chelsea mistake. The Blues tried to play out from the back but Fernandes does well to intercept it and play it to Rashford in the middle of the box. Kepa comes flying out to close Rashford down. However, the England international cuts past the keeper and slots it home.
Chance for Rashford! The England international goes for goal from distance but he couldn’t quite get enough whip on it to curl it into the top corner.
75mins: Things are kicking off down on the pitch. It looks like Enzo took issue with Fernandes’ celebration. He ran over to the Portuguese midfielder and said some choice words. To which Fred snapped back. Both teams were then involved in a heated exchange but being separated.
Fernandes finds the back of the net! A very cool, calm and collected Fernandes slots the ball into the bottom right corner as Kepa dives the wrong way. It looks like United WILL be playing in the Champions League next season.
MANCHESTER UNITED AWARDED A PENALTY! It marks the first penalty Chelsea have conceded in the Premier League this season. The penalty comes after Bruno Fernandes was taken down by Fofana in the box.
70mins: Manchester United make a couple more changes. Martial and Eriksen have come off. While Garnacho and Fred have come on.
70mins: Fernandes is growing frustrated. He’s making runs in behind Chelsea’s backline but his team-mates are struggling to find him. He’s just thrown a mini strop but the likes of Rashford are telling him to get on with it.
68mins: Manchester United are outletting well from the back. They are utilising their midfielders but it’s the next connection that is missing. They are struggling to link with their front line.
66mins: Chelsea’s confidence is definitely building. They are engaging in more 1vs1 battles with Manchester United’s backline. The fresh legs will only help with this…
65mins: Chelsea make their first changes. Jao Felix makes way for Kai Havertz. The German clearly wasn’t happy with the decision – kicking the pitch after crossing the sideline. Mudryk has also made way for Christian Pulisic.
62mins: United are still giving Chelsea lot of time on the ball. They need to close the ball down a lot earlier as they are inviting pressure in and around the box.
60mins: What a run from Rashford! He picked up the ball just outside his own box, ran the entire length of the pitch before slipping it to Fernandes. Fernandes cut back and looked to play Rashford in. However, he played his pass behind the England international. That’s the type of sloppiness we are talking about. Wasted opportunity.
59mins: Chance for Hall! He picked up the ball on the corner of the box, cuts inside and unleashes an absolute rocket at goal. David de Gea did incredibly well to hold onto that.
58mins: Chelsea earn themselves a free-kick on the right-hand-side of the pitch. They play it short to Azpilicueta. But, United do well to block the cross – sending it out for a corner.
56mins: Chelsea are playing some short sharp passes around the edge of box but they are struggling to penetrate United’s defence and find a way into the box. Patience is key for Chelsea when they’re in that area. They’re getting frustrated and throwing it away.
CHANCE FOR UNITED! It was chance after chance after chance for United. The most notable came when Eriksen connected with the ball at the back post. However, Chelsea’s goalkeeper managed to scramble across and get a hand to it JUST before it went over the line. The ball then spilled to Casemiro – who struck it from just outside the box. He connected with it beautifully but it just flew wide.
Chance for Chelsea! Hall plays a lovely ball through the United defense to find Mudryk. He beats his defender in a footrace and breaks into the box before slotting it through to Havertz at the back post. However, David de Gea does well to react and comes out to tap it behind.
48mins: Erik ten Hag will be looking for a good defensive performance this half. United appear to be listening as they look much more compact in the opening couple of minutes of the second half.
46mins: MANCHESTER UNITED HIT THE CROSS BAR! Chance for the Red Devils as Bruno Fernandes hits the cross bar to set the tone for what’s to come in the second half.
45mins: Manchester United make a chance. Luke Shaw has made way for Tyrell Malacia. Shaw has reportedly sustained a back injury so Erik ten Hag is ‘being careful’.
And, we’re back underway at Old Trafford. Good news for United fans (look away Chelsea fans)… Manchester United are unbeaten in their last 135 English Premier League matches when leading at half-time dating back to 21 September, 2014 against Leicester City.
And… there goes the half-time whistle. Manchester United will be delighted to have a two goal advantage, although I’m not sure it’s a true reflection of the game. Both teams have been sloppy and need to up their game for the second half.
MANCHESTER UNITED SCORE! Casemiro plays a lovely ball over the top of the Chelsea defence to Sancho. The England star took it down well, got his head up and played it across the goal mouth to Martial. All the Frenchman had to do was tap it in at the back post.
48mins: The quality has really dropped. The standard of passing is appalling. Every pass that has been made in the last two minutes has been behind the player wanting the ball. I think there will be some choice words at half-time.
45mins: Six minutes of additional time has been added following the lengthy stoppage for Antony early in the first half. Could it be enough time for Chelsea to get on the scoresheet? Only time will tell…
45mins: CHANCE FOR CHELSEA! WOW, I can’t believe they didn’t score that. The ball was played to Gallagher – who was running into the box. He took a touch and fired it at goal. However, it floated just past the back post!
44mins: Chelsea are certainly on top as the first half draws to a close. United are being sloppy in possession. They’re also giving Chelsea far too much time on the ball. Erik ten Hag looks less than impressed on the sideline.
42mins: Chance for Chelsea! Mudryk (for once this evening) played a lovely little ball across the goal to Hall. He takes it down and hits it on the half volley. However, Wan-Bissaka did well to get across and block it. Chelsea are building some momentum.
40mins: Mudryk is having an absolute shocker. His confidence appears to be shattered. Chelsea just played several passes around the edge of the box before unlocking Mudryk. However, Mudryk’s first touch was ridiculous heavy… he practically booted the ball off the backline.
38mins: Despite being good in attack… Erik ten Hag will be disappointed with United’s defending during the first half. They are giving Chelsea far too much space. If Chelsea were better up front, they would be scoring plenty of goals.
38mins: Manchester United are looking the more dangerous side this evening. The connections in and around the box are there… but it’s just the final bit of quality that is lacking. Meanwhile, Chelsea are squandering opportunities left, right and centre.
35mins: Chance for United! Rashford carries the ball down the right-hand-side, picks out Sancho. He executes a lovely bit of skill to bypass his defender. However, Chelsea swarm to the ball. He does well to create himself some space to shoot. Although, Chelsea manage to block it regardless.
32mins: Fernandes has gone down in the penalty area! He is appealing for a penalty but the ref is waving for play to continue.It looks as though the Manchester United star was clipped on the ankle but there wasn’t enough in it for VAR to overrule the on-pitch decision.
CHANCE FOR CHELSEA! The Blues play the ball out wide to Hall. He drives forwards before sending the ball into the box for Havertz to head home. However, he heads it WIDE!
29mins: Atony is being carried down the tunnel while Marcus Rashford has made his way onto the pitch. It’s not how Erik ten Hag would have wanted Rashford to make his return… but sometimes you can’t control these things!
27mins: Antony has just tried to stand up to walk off but couldn’t put any weight through his ankle. He’s been put onto a stretcher and can be seen crying with his head in his hands. That’s horrible, no body wants to see that. Lets hope he has a speedy recovery.
26mins: Antony is in a lot of pain. He’s still screaming and he’s hitting the ground. It looks like a player that knows he’s done some serious damage. The stretcher is on and Marcus Rashford is warming up.
25mins: The ball makes it was to Antony on the corner of the box. However, chalobah slides in to clear it… and accidently takes Antony down. The Manchester United star hit the ground screaming. The medics are on and things don’t look good.
22mins: Chelsea earn themselves their first corner of the game. It’s fired in towards the back post before being flicked on to the penalty spot. United do well to clear it and Martial launches the counter attack.
20mins: Azpilicueta is back on his feet and play is set to continue. It looks as though he will be fine to come back on… thankfully for Frank Lampard.
19mins: Azpilicueta is down injured after getting in the way of Martial’s attempted shot. However, he appears to be okay… doesn’t seem to be too serious. He will be back on his feet in a second.
18mins: Lovely ball played from left-back to right-flank. Antony did well to take it down and break forwards before slipping it across to Martial. However, the Frenchman’s first touch has left him down AGAIN! A wasted opportunity… that should have been a goal.
17mins: Clumsy tackle from Casemiro. He needs to be careful as he will miss the cup final against Manchester City if he picks up another red card (following his two red cards this season).
16mins: Fernandes threads a lovely through ball to Martial. However, the Frenchman couldn’t quite get hold of it… which appears to be a running theme for him this evening.
15mins: Chelsea are playing some lovely right-to-left passes across the pitch. Hall is getting the delivery he is asking for. He’s doing well to ship the ball on but Chelsea aren’t giving it back to him. They need to unlock him down that left flank.
13mins: Gallagher picks up the ball on the edge of the box, beats his player and goes to shoot before slipping. A big ‘waaaay’ is heard from the crowd while Gallagher puts his head in his hands.
12mins: It’s an incredibly open game. Very end-to-end. There have been plenty of chances but the final bit of class is missing for both Chelsea and Manchester United. Whichever team can fix that… will win this game.
10mins: Chance for Chelsea! The ball is played out to Havertz on the right-hand-side. He drives forwards and breaks into the box. He looks to square it to Gallagher but fires it past him instead of floating it into the space. That’s just not good enough, wasted opportunity.
8mins: VAR check has been complete and Manchester United have been awarded the goal. They’ve made the right decision there!
VAR are checking the goal for a possible offside. They are drawing up the lines but it looks as though he is onside to me. I would be very surprised if they overturned this one but I’ve been wrong before!
MANCHESTER UNITED TAKE THE LEAD! It’s Casemiro who finds the back of the net to give the home side the advantage. It came after United won a free-kick on the right-hand-side of the pitch. The ball was whipped into the box and Casemiro rose above his defender to head it home.
4mins: Manchester United head straight down the other end, with Martial coming close to finding the back of the net! However, his first touch isn’t quite good enough – meaning he can’t get a shot away.
4mins: CHANCE FOR CHELSEA! How on earth has he missed that!? Hall makes a brilliant run forwards from the left-hand-side. He floats the ball into the middle of the box, practically putting it on a plate for Mudryk. However, he swings and misses at the ball!
2mins: United have their first chance of the game and it comes from some lovely link-up play down the left-hand-side after Chalobah turned the ball over. Sancho looked to played a 1-2 but didn’t receive the ball back. Had he done… Chelsea could have been in trouble.
2mins: Manchester United regain possession immediately after Chelsea got play underway. They are connecting well in and around the middle – forcing Chelsea to spring out of position to make last-ditch tackles.
And… just like that, we are underway at Old Trafford. It is Chelsea who have kicked off proceedings this evening. I think we could be in for a good night of football so make sure you stay tuned.
We are moments away from the action. The players are making their way out onto the pitch. Manchester United look focused and ready to secure their European future.
Neville said: ‘I think the manager done a very good job when you think of problems at start of season. The issues he has had to deal with have been substantial. There have been big losses to recover from, mountain of games.
‘He has done very well and proven he can handle magnitude of United. Now it’s about getting new owners in and showing they can progress on and off pitch in next few years. However, they are way off for 10 years from Man City, they have been nowhere near them.’
Neville said: ‘They look a long way away, the evidence there for all. However, Chelsea are nearer than their position suggests. Poch will make massive inroads into that once he has refined squad.
‘Ten Hag has achieved maximum he can with this squad, now he needs investment to make the quality better. He can’t get higher with this group getting champions league is probably their level, certainly not challenging for the title.’
We are just 10 minutes away from the action. Make sure you stay tuned for all the latest updates from this evening’s fixture at Old Trafford. Erik ten Hag has promised a ‘proactive and dynamic’ style from United.
Ten Hag said: ‘You don’t get a point you have to deserve a point, approach is always to win the game, we prepare to win in our style proactive and dynamic’
Lampard told Sky Sports: ‘He [Sterling] had a small feeling in his hamstring at Manchester City at half time but carried on so it’s not a major issue but he hasn’t trained since that game so he is out and we are hoping he is involved at the weekend.
‘Thiago has played a lot of games. There is no doubt he could play two games in three days and finish the season but at the same time I think it’s good for him to sit out and be ready for the weekend.
‘My role here, when I came in with the league position and the targets not being what Chelsea were used to…it’s a position for me to give players an opportunity to see what they can offer and test them to see what they have.
‘That starts on the training pitch to show they deserve to play but also in this position to give some of them some game time so I’ll be interested to see their individual performances.
‘If they don’t feel like they are going to be part of getting Chelsea back…you have to have a pride to play for Chelsea no matter what is on the game. This moment is difficult but you have to have pride to play against a really good team in a great arena to play football. Some days I wish I could still do that so it is a blessing for players and I want to see that as a collective.’
Speaking ahead of the game, Ten Hag said: ‘Not always the case this season [being strong], a lot of injuries, we couldn’t always change but we did often but now have a really good bench.
‘We have Rashford, Garnacho, Fred, Mctominay. They are all good options that a club like Man United needs if we want to battle for the highest.’
Speaking ahead of the game, Redknapp said: ‘Manchester United still have important games to tick off and then an FA Cup final which is what you dream of as a kid.
‘It’s been a really successful season in so many aspects, some big shocks but a lot of positivity. You can feel it with the fans for a the first time in a long time they are behind the manager and have something to look forward to.’
Let's go, keepers 🧤#MUFC || #MUNCHE
Lampard said: ‘I think it is a difficult situation. From working with Mason and others here before they have gone on to be important players for the club, they feel a connection with the club.
‘Some have moved on and done well, but with Mason particularly as an individual I don’t know what solution will be. In terms of Mason and the club, I don’t know where Mason is.
‘I know he is held in high regard. The are club are trying to make him stay. Also with Mason I would never want to stand here and say what a player should do, they see what is going on with their own eyes.
‘In the modern day, players move on. It’s a shame we are in a situation where it looks like it may be happening now.’
He said: ‘I think the squad size is something club will address. The new manager will understand what I am saying there. For some players, it might be time to leave. They might want to leave.
‘After that the manager will come in with his tactical ideas and idea of how he wants to play. Having been here a long time during a period of success there are a lot of basics, standards and day to day ethics that have dropped down a level.
‘One of the first things I have seen visibly drop is those basics. I am not here telling new manager what to do, in my short period that basic level before tactics needs to step up again.’
With Manchester United looking to qualify for the Champions League tonight, the Red Devils will be desperate to get the job done.
The club will certainly be boosted by the potential return of Rashford (even if he’s starting on the bench). Should he be given the nod, the forward has the ability to cause Chelsea a lot of problems.
For Chelsea, the side will be looking to get as many points as they can in their last two games.
The issue has been scoring goals. Lampard’s men showed glimpses of picking up good results in their last few games. Havertz will be looking to find some luck against Ten Hag’s side.
‘It is a similar situation to approaching playing Manchester City, albeit they had won the league the night before,’ Lampard said at his pre-match press conference.
‘They [Man United] are a high-level team so it is the same point from where I approached going into the City game, and how the players approach it more importantly.
‘People think we have not got much on the game and the players have to show them there is, in terms of their personal and collective approach to it. We will have to go there with a good mentality as they are fighting for something we have fought for for many years, and now we are not in that position, so players need to show.’
‘Well, I think we are in a good direction, but also I think we also can learn from the season and we have to evaluate it after the season and make the right conclusions for the future,’ Ten Hag said at his pre-match press conference.
‘And that’s what we will definitely do after the season.’
We’ve arrived at Old Trafford. 📌
Show us where you're supporting from by replying with a photo, tagging @trivago and using #WhereverYouGo!#MunChe pic.twitter.com/NaJCRNOVw2
Meanwhile, Chelsea have made three changes to the side that lost to Manchester City in the Premier League last Sunday. Thiago Silva, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Raheem Sterling have all been dropped from the starting XI, while Carney Chukwuemeka, Mykhailo Mudryk, and Noni Madueke come in.
Marcus Rashford returns to the Manchester United squad this evening. However, he will start the game on the bench after recovering from his injury. Rashford’s return to the squad will threaten Sancho and Martial ahead of the FA Cup final. They will be looking to prove their worth this evening.
Chelsea starting XI: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Chalobah, W Fofana, Hall; Enzo, Gallagher, Chukwuemeka; Madueke, Havertz, Mudryk.
Substitutes: Mendy, Gilchrist, Koulibaly, Silva, Loftus-Chee, Joao Felix, Pulisic, Ziyech, D. Fofana.
The Blues. 🔵@ParimatchGlobal | #MunChe pic.twitter.com/VdBnBKyBe3
Manchester United’s starting XI: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Lindelof, Shaw, Casemiro, Eriksen, Antony, Fernandes, Sancho, Martial.
Substitutes: Butland, Dalot, Maguire, Malacia, Fred, Rashford, Garnacho, McTominay, Weghorst.
🚨 TEAM NEWS 🚨
The Reds name an unchanged XI for #MUNCHE 👊#MUFC || #PL
Luke Shaw has revealed that he expects Manchester United to make ‘big signings’ during the upcoming summer transfer window.
Premier League clubs will be able to bring in new reinforcements and sell-on players deemed surplus to requirements when the transfer window opens on Wednesday, June 14.
United have previously been criticised by their own supporters for being slow negotiators, with their pursuit of Frenkie de Jong last summer dragging on before failing to materialise.
READ MORE BELOW…
Erik ten Hag’s programme notes read: ‘I hope you are all prepared and ready to use your voices this evening because, as we welcome Frank Lampard and Chelsea to Old Trafford, we must all be fired-up for what is another crucial game.’
West Ham’s hope of sparking a bidding war for captain Declan Rice is becoming a reality after Manchester United joined the race to land the England international.
Hammers skipper Rice is set to leave this summer with the London Stadium club open to listening to offers for the midfielder.
It is thought a fee of around £100million would be enough to tempt West Ham into selling.
READ MORE BELOW…
Champions League qualification was Ten Hag’s primary aim when he took over last summer, and the Dutchman is in no doubt about the importance of getting over the line.
‘It’s clear,’ he added. ‘First, we have to win the game tomorrow and get the job done. We want to compete with the best and be in the Champions League. In the Premier League, you have to be one of the first four, that’s not easy.
‘Many are competing for it, many think they should be in and we are one of them.
‘Then it’s about judgement from others if it’s a good, bad or normal performance. We are in a project, we want to go back and win trophies.
‘We’ve won one trophy but we want more trophies and to compete with the best. We are still in a journey but we think we are in the right direction but it can always be better. Because good is not good enough.’
Marcus Rashford is expected to return to the Manchester United squad for this evening’s clash with Chelsea as Erik ten Hag’s side look to seal Champions League qualification.
Rashford has missed the last two games against Aston Villa and Bournemouth through injury and illness, but Ten Hag hopes his 29-goal top scorer will be available again after resuming training.
Asked if Rashford will be fit for the Old Trafford clash, the United boss said: ‘It looks like it. Yesterday, he returned to training.
‘Rashford looks quite fit but we have to see today what is the outcome of the training, how did we recover and then we will make our choices.’
United need one point from their remaining games at home to Chelsea and Fulham on Sunday to be sure of clinching fourth place ahead of Liverpool.
Hello and welcome to Mail Sport’s live blog for the Premier League clash between Manchester United and Chelsea. We are in for a good one this evening! Marcus Rashford is set to return to the United squad as Red Devils look to secure Champions League qualification. While Chelsea are eager to get points on the board!
I’ve never wanted Man Utd to win a point in my ent…
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