Chelsea host Manchester United this evening in a crucial clash that could determine which European competition they play in next season.
The Champions League race is electric this year with five teams having a realistic chance at securing a spot in Europe’s top tournament for 2025/26. A place in the top five will be enough for Chelsea who currently sit fifth but are level on points with Aston Villa and just one ahead of Nottingham Forest.
To keep their destiny in their own hands they must defeat Ruben Amorim’s struggling Red Devils and collect three points which would propel them above Manchester City into fourth.
For their part, United’s route to the Champions League can only come through the Europa League where they are preparing to face Tottenham in the final next week. Amorim will be without key defenders for tonight’s match as they work to be fit for that final and he is expected to field a weaker side against the Blues.
Follow all the latest updates from Stamford Bridge with our live blog below:
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Chelsea vs Man Utd LIVE
- Chelsea host Manchester United in the Premier League with kick off at 8.15pm, live on Sky Sports
- Blues targeting top four spot and place in next season's Champions League
- Man Utd without Diogo Dalot, Matthijs de Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee as injury list grows
- Chelsea XI: Sanchez; James, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; George
- Man United XI: Onana; Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Mazroaui, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu; Amad, Mount; Hojlund
Chelsea FC - Manchester United FC
The stage is set
19:40
,
Will Castle
It’s a glorious evening in SW6 - perfect conditions ahead of a later-than-usual 8:15pm kick-off.
Just over half an hour until we underway.
Ruben Amorim delivers warning to Man United players ahead of Europa League final
19:30
,
Will Castle
Ruben Amorim has told his Manchester United team they could play their way in or out of the side for the Europa League final when they face Chelsea tonight.
“Yes, that is clear,” Amorim said. “I know already the starting 11 I am thinking for Chelsea and then I will see. Even the way we play there against Chelsea, I will see it and it is going to important for the next one.”
The players have arrived
19:20
,
Will Castle
'Man United field stronger side than expected'
19:10
,
Richard Jolly at Stamford Bridge
Enzo Maresca seems to have given Pedro Neto the job of standing in for suspended striker Nicolas Jackson and scoring the goals to take Chelsea into the Champions League. Romeo Lavia may be a surprise omission but it means Reece James returns to the team and Moises Caicedo to the midfield.
The Manchester United side may be stronger than expected and could offer some clues into their Europa League starting XI. Luke Shaw, Mason Mount and Amad Diallo, all largely substitutes since their returns from injury, start, giving them a chance to earn places against Tottenham in Bilbao.
Mount, of course, is a Champions League winner with Chelsea and a reminder of better days at Stamford Bridge. But Chelsea are still 11 places above United in the table.
Line-ups CONFIRMED!
19:02
,
Will Castle
Chelsea XI: Sanchez; James, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, George; Neto.
Man United XI: Onana; Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Mazroaui, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu; Amad, Mount; Hojlund.
Your Chelsea side tonight! #CFC | #CHEMUN pic.twitter.com/4EWeuxieKJ
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 16, 2025
Presenting your Friday night Reds #MUFC || #CHEMUN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 16, 2025
A winless run
18:57
,
Mike Jones
Manchester United are winless in their last seven Premier League games (two draws, five defeats) since winning 3-0 at Leicester in March.
They last had a longer run without a league victory between December 1989 and February 1990 (11).
Fortress Stamford Bridge
18:51
,
Mike Jones
Chelsea are unbeaten in all nine of their Premier League home games so far in 2025 (seven wins, two draws).
The Blues have earned the joint-most points (23) and conceded the fewest goals (7) at home of any Premier League side this calendar year.
Enzo Maresca assessing Chelsea options to replace suspended Nicolas Jackson
18:45
,
Mike Jones
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca said he is assessing his attacking options with striker Nicolas Jackson’s suspension for Friday’s visit of Manchester United having once again shown up his lack of alternatives.
Jackson will not play again this season in the Premier League after being dismissed for elbowing Newcastle’s Sven Botman last Sunday, leaving the team without a recognised number nine for the remainder of the run-in.
Chelsea have spent well over £1billion during the last three seasons but the failure to bring in an established goalscorer continues to rankle among fans.
Success on the road
18:39
,
Mike Jones
Manchester United have won their final away league game in four of the last five seasons.
However, they’re winless in seven when their final match on the road is at a London side (three draws, four defeats).
Ending the season in style
18:33
,
Mike Jones
Chelsea haven’t lost their final home league game in any of the last 22 seasons (15 wins, seven draws D7).
The last time they did was a 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa in 2001/02.
A draw on the cards?
18:27
,
Mike Jones
Chelsea vs Manchester United is the most drawn fixture in Premier League history (27).
The reverse fixture at Old Trafford this season finished 1-1, with both meetings between the sides finishing level in seven previous campaigns.
Those were: 1998/99, 2000/01, 2006/07, 2015/16, 2018/19, 2020/21 and 2021/22.
Marcus Rashford won’t accept pay cut to leave Man United as transfer stance revealed
18:20
,
Mike Jones
Marcus Rashford is available for £40m from Manchester United this summer, but Aston Villa do not have first option on the forward.
Villa are open to making the move permanent after a successful loan spell since January, but there are no clauses to stop other clubs stealing in to strike a deal.
Any suitor would nevertheless need to match Rashford’s £315,000-a-week wages, as sources close to the player state he would not be willing to countenance a pay cut, and is only willing to go to a club in the Champions League.
A rare Friday fixture
18:13
,
Mike Jones
This is just the second ever Premier League meeting between Chelsea and Manchester United on a Friday.
The last time the teams faced each other on this day of a the week was a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge in August 2002.
No wins at Stamford Bridge in five years
18:07
,
Mike Jones
Manchester United have won just one of their last 11 Premier League away games against Chelsea (five draws, five defeats).
That was a 2-0 victory in February 2020 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Chelsea's record versus Man Utd
18:00
,
Mike Jones
Chelsea have won just one of their last 14 Premier League games against Manchester United.
They’ve drawn eight and lost five in that run.
Their lone win was a 4-3 victory in this exact fixture last season.
Man United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe ‘loses quarter of total wealth’
17:52
,
Jamie Braidwood
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s wealth has fallen by £6.473bn - a quarter of his total fortune - according to this year’s Sunday Times Rich List.
The Manchester United co-owner and founder of Ineos has seen his wealth fall from £23.519bn 12 months ago to £17.046bn, according to the latest list.
The billionaire’s Ineos group bought a 27.7 per cent stake in United for £1.25bn in February last year and they have overseen a wave of cost-cutting measures in an attempt to improve the club’s dire finances.
Man Utd early team news
17:45
,
Mike Jones
For United, Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt and Diogo Dalot remain out, while Ayden Heaven and Toby Collyer will be assessed ahead of the match.
Leny Yoro is a doubt after picking up a knock against West Ham, though it’s unlikely he’ll be risked even if fit.
Ruben Amorim will likely make wholesale changes to the side that lost at the weekend, with several of United’s younger players expected to feature at Stamford Bridge.
Predicted Man Utd XI: Bayindir; Mazraoui, Lindelof, Fredricson; Dorgu, Casemiro, Amass; Fernandes, Eriksen; Obi.
Chelsea early team news
17:39
,
Mike Jones
For the hosts, Nicolas Jackson will miss the rest of the season after being red carded against Newcastle, while Jadon Sancho is ineligible to face his parent club.
Christopher Nkunku and Marc Guiu will likely be unavailable due to injury, leaving Enzo Maresca a potential selection dilemma in his forward line, though the rest of the squad is fit for the run-in.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Lavia, Caicedo; Neto, Fernandez, Madueke; Palmer.
How can I watch it?
17:27
,
Mike Jones
The game will be televised live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event, with coverage starting at 7pm. Subscribers can also watch online via Sky Go.
If you’re not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass to watch without a subscription.
When is Chelsea vs Manchester United?
17:21
,
Mike Jones
The match is due to kick off at 8.15pm on Friday, 16 May at Stamford Bridge in London.
Chelsea vs Man Utd
17:15
,
Mike Jones
Chelsea face Manchester United in the Premier League this evening, with the hosts looking to take a vital step closer to Champions League qualification.
Enzo Maresca’s side start the weekend occupying the final qualification place, though they are fifth on goal difference alone, level on 63 points with Aston Villa below them.
And with a final-day test away at fellow Champions League hopefuls Nottingham Forest still to come, it could be vital to grab three points this evening against a struggling United side.
Thankfully for home fans, Ruben Amorim will likely rest plenty of players ahead of the Europa League final next week, though Chelsea will be firm favourites whatever happens with the Red Devils having slipped to 16th in the league.
Good evening!
09:57
,
Mike Jones
Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of tonight’s Premier League action between Chelsea and Manchester United.
The Blues are hoping to keep up their challenge for the Champions League spots and need three points to remain ahead of Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest.
Man Utd meanwhile are focusing on next week’s Europa League final and Ruben Amorim has a few injuries concerns to juggle tonight.
We’ll have all the team news, line-ups and more throughout the night so stick with us as we build up to kick off at 8.15pm.
