Chelsea vs Man United Preview, Picks, Predictions: Gusto and Martinez Injury Update, Team News, H2H

• Chelsea and Manchester United square off in the Premier League this Thursday
• Both clubs have been struggling in the English top flight this 2023-24 campaign
• Lisandro Martinez will miss the game after suffering a calf injury during training

The stage is set for a crucial showdown at Stamford Bridge this Thursday.

Chelsea will lock horns with Manchester United in a mouth-watering clash in London.

Read on as Sports Brief brings you a preview of this Premier League clash.

Chelsea vs. Manchester United Preview

Form Guide

Manchester United have dropped points in three of their last four league matches, absorbing two losses and one draw during that period.

They are coming off a disappointing 1-1 draw against Brentford over the weekend. Kristoffer Ajer scored an equaliser for the Bees deep into second-half stoppage time to deny the Red Devils from getting all three points.

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Chelsea also have struggled of late, winning just once in their last four league matches. The Blues are coming off a 2-2 draw last Saturday, with Dara O'Shea scoring an 81st-minute equaliser for Burnley in that Premier League clash.

The Blues are 13th in the league in points scored at home this season with 22. They will look to improve on that mark against the Red Devils, who are sixth in the league in points scored in away matches (23).

Recent Head-to-Head matchups

Manchester United are unbeaten in their last seven league meetings with Chelsea dating back to October 2020, including victories in each of their previous two matches, per Soccerway.

The Red Devils defeated the Blues 2-1 in their first meeting in the Premier League this season. Scott McTominay starred for United in that clash last December, scoring a brace against Chelsea.

Injury Update and Team News

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Malo Gusto is an injury doubt for Chelsea heading into Thursday's game against Manchester United. He limped off in the final minutes of their match against Burnley after picking up a hamstring issue.

The Frenchman, who has stepped up for the Blues in the absence of the injured Reece James, was replaced by Alfie Gilchrist in the closing minutes of that contest.

This development is bad news for manager Mauricio Pochettino, who already had Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka, and Robert Sanchez added to the injury list earlier last week.

Nicolas Jackson, Cole Palmer, Mykhailo Mudryk, Conor Gallagher, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, Thiago Silva, Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile, and Dorde Petrovic are expected to retain their starting places for the United game.

Chilwell, who has returned to training, may get the start in place of the injured Gusto.

Manchester United also have their injury concerns of their own heading into the clash at Stamford Bridge. Lisandro Martinez picked up yet another injury in training and will miss the game against Chelsea.

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He has been ruled out for at least a month due to a calf strain, per Sky Sports. Martinez has been a non-factor for United due to injuries, missing 30 of their 41 games this 2023-24 season.

Those numbers will rise even further with the Argentinian defender back on the sidelines.

Victor Lindelof has also been ruled out of Thursday's game because of a hamstring injury. Raphael Varane also is a major doubt for the game against Chelsea after being replaced in the match vs. Brentford.

Ten Hag likely would turn to Harry Maguire and Willy Kambwala for his central defensive pairing against the Blues.

Writer's Prediction

Chelsea and Manchester United cancel each other out in a 1-1 draw.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Man Utd recruits

Sports Brief recently reported on Sir Jim Ratcliffe's backroom team at Manchester United.

He appointed Omar Berrada to be the club's new chief executive.

The Red Devils also have offered director roles to Newcastle's Dan Ashworth and Southampton's Jason Wilcox.