The 2025/26 Premier League season continues this weekend with Gameweek 33. Saturday will feature five matches, with the action on the day starting with the game between Brentford and Fulham at the Gtech Community Stadium before continuing with Chelsea vs Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s 2025/26 campaign has gone pear-shaped, with the only solace being the West London club’s potential FA Cup triumph after progressing to the semi-finals earlier this week. However, the 7-0 win over Port Vale was the Blues’ only win in their last six matches in all competitions, with the run including three successive defeats in the Premier League.
Liam Rosenior’s men have dropped to sixth in the Premier League standings, four points behind Liverpool in the final UEFA Champions League qualification spot. While Chelsea will face Liverpool in a few weeks, the game against Manchester United is the quintessential six-pointer for Rosenior’s charges amid mounting pressure on the English tactician.
Speaking of Manchester United, the Red Devils have started slipping up after an exceptional start to life under Michael Carrick. They have won only one of their last three games and suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Leeds United earlier this week. While refereeing decisions have cost Manchester United dearly and drawn Carrick’s ire, they must raise their performance levels to secure a spot in the top five.
The reverse fixture saw Manchester United eke out a 2-1 win over Chelsea, with Casemiro scoring what proved to be the match-winning strike before being sent off at the stroke of half-time. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Liam Rosenior has received a positive update on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Chelsea head coach may be bereft of the services of as many as half a dozen first-team players vs Manchester United on Saturday.
Enzo Fernandez is available after serving a two-game internal suspension. Meanwhile, Reece James (hamstring) and Trevoh Chalobah (ankle) face late fitness tests to determine their availability. However, Filip Jorgensen (groin), Levi Colwill (knee), and Jamie Gittens (thigh) remain on the sidelines, while Mykhailo Mudryk continues his ban after failing a doping test over a year ago.
Robert Sanchez is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Chelsea lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Manchester United on Saturday. The backline will feature Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Jorrel Hato, and Marc Cucurella.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Moises Caicedo and Andrey Santos in the double pivot, with the returning Enzo Fernandez reprising the no. 10 role. Finally, Joao Pedro will lead the line for Chelsea against Manchester United, with Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto being the two wide attackers.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Hato, Cucurella; Caicedo, Santos; Palmer, Enzo Fernandez, Neto; Joao Pedro
Unlike his counterpart in the Chelsea dugout, Michael Carrick has new issues to worry about ahead of the trip to Stamford Bridge. The Manchester United head coach may be without as many as half a dozen first-team players on Saturday.
Lisandro Martinez is the latest absentee after being sent off in the Premier League game against Leeds United earlier this week. Additionally, Leny Yoro is unavailable after reportedly picking up an unspecified injury, which has forced him to miss the trip to London. With Harry Maguire still serving a suspension, the visitors have a central defensive crisis, as Matthijs de Ligt (lower back) remains in the treatment room alongside Patrick Dorgu.
Senne Lammens is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Chelsea on Saturday. The backline will feature Diogo Dalot, Tyler Fredricson, Ayden Heaven, and Luke Shaw.
As for the midfield unit, Manuel Ugarte will line up alongside Casemiro in the double pivot, as it is unclear if Kobbie Mainoo is fit and available to take on Chelsea. Bruno Fernandes will reprise the no. 10 role, with Amad Diallo and Matheus Cunha reprising the no. 10 role. Finally, Bryan Mbeumo should spearhead the Manchester United attack against Chelsea on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Dalot, Fredricson, Heaven, Shaw; Casemiro, Ugarte; Amad, Bruno Fernandes, Cunha; Mbeumo
While Bryan Mbeumo, Enzo Fernandez, and Cole Palmer were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Bruno Fernandes as the Player to Watch for Saturday’s Premier League clash between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
The Manchester United captain has assisted Casemiro six times in the Premier League this term, the joint-most by a Manchester United player to a single teammate in a campaign in the competition, equalling Fernandes to Marcus Rashford in 2022/23. The Portuguese international is also closing in on breaking Thierry Henry’s long-held assists record, and he will be the go-to player for Michael Carrick in the final third.
Chelsea vs Manchester United has ended in a draw more often than any other fixture in Premier League history (27). Just seven of those 27 stalemates have been 0-0, thus making it the tie with the most score draws in the competition (20). Saturday’s clash has all the makings of another game where neither side will pick up three points.
Chelsea cannot do anything right apart from beating opponents in the FA Cup, and Liam Rosenior’s charges look devoid of form and confidence. However, while Manchester United will aim to take advantage of the home side’s defensive deficiencies, they will name a makeshift central defensive unit.
That will bring Chelsea into the game, and Joao Pedro should take advantage of the away side’s soft underbelly. Ultimately, there may not be much to separate the two sides, and The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-2 draw between Chelsea and Manchester United.
