Chelsea vs Manchester United: Preview, team news, predictions & H2H

Chelsea host Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, October 31, 2026, with kickoff at 1:30 pm Nigerian time (12:30 GMT), and United have not won a match since a 4-0 Champions League victory over Sabah on September 10.

No Nigerian player is on either squad list, but African stars Cameroonian Bryan Mbeumo and Ivorian Amad Diallo are both expected to start in United’s attack.

Chelsea’s Emanuel Emegha holds Nigerian nationality but has chosen to represent the Netherlands, and he made his Chelsea debut at Anfield on Wednesday before missing in the penalty shootout that ended their League Cup run.

If United fail to win, it would be a ninth game without victory and their longest such run this century, with the previous eight-game run coming under Louis van Gaal in the 2015/16 season.

Match Radar: Chelsea vs Manchester United

⚽ Chelsea vs Manchester United
Competition	Premier League, Matchday 9
Kickoff	Saturday, October 31, 2026 at 1:30pm WAT (12:30 GMT)
Venue	Stamford Bridge, London
Where to Watch	SuperSport on DStv and GOtv; stream on DStv Stream
United are 16th and winless in their last eight matches in all competitions, while fifth-placed Chelsea have conceded in each of their last five home games.

Form and Context: Chelsea Leaky at Home, United Short of Goals

Chelsea are fifth with 13 points from eight games, having won four, drawn one and lost three, with 17 goals scored and 15 conceded.

They lost 0-2 at home to Tottenham Hotspur on October 24, a game in which Mike Penders put the ball into his own net in the 77th minute, and Cole Palmer was sent off three minutes later.

On Wednesday they drew 1-1 at Liverpool in the League Cup and lost 6-5 on penalties, with Morgan Rogers scoring their goal from the spot.

At Stamford Bridge in the league, they beat Brighton 4-3, drew 2-2 with Hull, beat Bournemouth 5-1 and then lost to Tottenham, scoring 11 goals and conceding eight.

Chelsea have conceded in each of their last five home matches in all competitions, and their only league clean sheet this season came in a 2-0 win at Everton on October 17.

United are 16th with seven points, having won once, drawn four times and lost three, with 10 goals scored and 13 conceded.

Their last three league and European results were a 0-3 home defeat by Bournemouth on October 25, a 1-4 loss at Como on October 21 and a 1-1 draw at Leeds on October 18.

Away from home in the Premier League, they have drawn three and lost one, scoring four goals and conceding six without a single clean sheet.

Mbeumo has scored four of United’s 10 league goals, while Rogers has four for Chelsea and Pedro Neto three, with João Pedro out injured as the club’s leading scorer on five.

Head-to-Head: Chelsea vs Manchester United

Of the last five meetings, all in the Premier League, United won two, Chelsea won two and one was drawn, with seven goals for each side.

The most recent was on April 18, 2026, when Matheus Cunha scored just before half-time to give United a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge.

It was United’s first league win at the ground since February 17, 2020, and it is the only one of those five games played within the last year.

Across 43 Premier League meetings, United lead narrowly, with 16 wins to Chelsea’s 13 and 14 draws.

Alonso has not faced United as Chelsea manager, and the Blues were under Liam Rosenior in April, so the record is background rather than a guide to Saturday.

Team News and Predicted XI: Chelsea vs Manchester United

Chelsea

Chelsea are without João Pedro with a thigh problem, Emiliano Martínez after jaw surgery, Reece James with a knee injury and Jamie Gittens with an ankle injury.

Maxence Lacroix is a doubt after going off with a hamstring problem against Liverpool, and Xabi Alonso said it’s too early to tell.

Moisés Caicedo and Malo Gusto both came off after 68 minutes at Anfield and are minor doubts, while Pep Chavarría is a major doubt after missing the last three games. Palmer is available again after serving his one-match ban in the League Cup tie.

Manchester United

For United, Benjamin Šeško, Patrick Dorgu, Luke Shaw and Manuel Ugarte are all out.

Kobbie Mainoo returned to training on Wednesday after missing four games, and Marcus Rashford is a major doubt with a hip injury.

Bruno Fernandes is expected to return to the starting line-up after clear-the-air talks with Michael Carrick, following his criticism of the pressing tactics after the Como defeat.

Chelsea	Manchester United
Out: João Pedro (thigh) Out: Emiliano Martínez (jaw surgery) Out: Reece James (knee) Out: Jamie Gittens (ankle) Doubt: Maxence Lacroix (hamstring) Doubt: Pep Chavarría (knock) Minor doubt: Moisés Caicedo Minor doubt: Malo Gusto	Out: Benjamin Šeško (shin) Out: Patrick Dorgu (hamstring) Out: Luke Shaw Out: Manuel Ugarte (cruciate ligament) Doubt: Kobbie Mainoo Doubt: Marcus Rashford (hip)

Star Player Comparison: Cole Palmer vs Bruno Fernandes

Cole Palmer Attacking midfielder · Chelsea	Stat	Bruno Fernandes Attacking midfielder · Man United
2	League goals	3
3	League assists	1
5	Goal involvements	4
Sent off v Tottenham	Last league outing	Unused sub v Bournemouth

The Managers: Xabi Alonso vs Michael Carrick

Xabi Alonso, 44, was appointed on May 17, 2026, on a four-year contract, took charge on July 1 and replaced Rosenior, who was sacked in April.

His league record is four wins, one draw and three defeats, and this is his first meeting with United as Chelsea manager.

Michael Carrick, 45, became United’s interim manager in January 2026 after Ruben Amorim was sacked, and he was made permanent in May on a two-year deal.

He won 12 and drew three of his 17 games in charge last season, but has just one league win from eight so far this term.

United’s hierarchy met on Monday, October 26 and decided to keep him for this game. Carrick also managed Rogers earlier in his career at Middlesbrough.

Tactical Preview: Chelsea vs Manchester United

Alonso’s usual league shape is a 3-4-2-1, although he used a back four at Anfield, and Lacroix’s injury leaves him with a key decision to make at the back.

Palmer and Geovany Quenda are expected to work in the pocket between United’s two holding midfielders and their back four, with Rogers ahead of them.

United’s best route is the space behind Chelsea’s wing-backs, where Diallo and Cunha can attack the channels beside the outside centre-backs.

That plan depends on United scoring, and they have managed only three goals in their last five league games.

Chelsea have had just three days since their trip to Liverpool, whereas United have had six days to prepare.

The Naija Slip: Chelsea vs Manchester United tips

Chelsea vs Manchester United Score Prediction

🔮 Chelsea 3 – 1 Manchester United

Chelsea have the sharper home attack, Palmer returns from suspension, and United have conceded in every away league game while scoring only three goals in their last five league matches. Likely scorers: Rogers, Palmer, Neto; Mbeumo for United.