How to watch United v Chelsea

The Reds are on the verge of clinching a top-four spot following the weekend’s results and now have two opportunities in front of our own fans – Fulham lie in wait on the season’s final day – to get the job done.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the Chelsea fixture, which was originally meant to have been played in April…

HOW CAN YOU FOLLOW THE GAME?

Thursday’s match is scheduled to kick off at 20:00 BST and will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra HDR. Our Match Day Live show will commence at 18:55 BST on MUTV and will include exclusive build-up and post-match reaction.

Further must-see content will also be available on ManUtd.com and in the United App, with radio commentary available throughout the 90 minutes.

WHEN CAN YOU SEE HIGHLIGHTS?

Two-minute highlights of the game will be available two hours from the final whistle, with 90 in 20 and Full 90 versions published soon after.

WHAT’S THE TEAM NEWS?

With the exception of those Reds who have been ruled out for the season – Lisandro Martinez, Marcel Sabitzer and Donny van de Beek – the only availability concern appears to be around Marcus Rashford. Our leading scorer missed the Wolves win through injury and was set to return at Bournemouth before reporting ill on the eve of the game. Erik ten Hag could provide an update on his no.10 when he appears before the media at midday on Wednesday for his pre-match press conference.

Scott McTominay returned to action as a substitute on Saturday, while goalkeeper Tom Heaton has also been training recently following his absence.

Chelsea may have to cope without a number of first-team players, with Benoit Badiashile the latest addition to the injury list. The centre-back tweaked his groin in training last week and could be out of action for up to four months, according to reports.

N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic and Mason Mount are also doubts, while the Blues have issues at full-back with Ben Chilwell, Reece James and Marc Cucurella spending time on the sidelines recently. Youngster Lewis Hall has started Chelsea’s most recent two league outings at left wing-back. Kalidou Koulibaly managed nine minutes against Manchester City after six weeks out with a hamstring injury.

FORM GUIDE

The Reds have recovered from our early May blip and the victory over Wolves at home was followed up by Saturday’s hard-fought win on the south coast. Casemiro’s early acrobatic effort was enough to see off the challenge of already-safe Bournemouth and, coupled with Liverpool’s home draw with Aston Villa, increased our points advantage to the Merseysiders from one to three. Jurgen Klopp’s men have just one fixture left to play, as they visit relegated Southampton on Sunday.

Frank Lampard’s men, meanwhile, will be keen for their campaign of struggle to end. The Blues were beaten 1-0 by newly crowned champions Manchester City on Sunday - their 15th league defeat of the season - and have won only once in Lampard’s nine games as interim boss. Thursday’s visitors have also struggled for goals in the absence of a reliable central striker. A run of seven goals in three games prior to the City trip boosted their figures but only Everton, Wolves and Southampton have scored fewer than the 36 they've mustered this season.

LAST TIME OUT

Casemiro salvaged a point for United in this season’s reverse fixture, played in October. A good team performance by the Reds looked as though it would go unrewarded as Jorginho – now of Arsenal – slotted home a late penalty awarded for a foul by Scott McTominay on Armando Broja. But the Brazilian brilliantly met Luke Shaw’s 94th-minute cross and the ball just squeezed past Kepa Arrizabalaga and over the line to spark pandemonium in the away end at Stamford Bridge.

That result kept the Blues a point above us just 11 games into the Premier League season but it’s been all change since, with United seeking to confirm our top-four place and Chelsea already certain to finish in the bottom half for the first time since 1996.

KEY STATS

United are unbeaten in our last 10 Premier League games against Chelsea (W3 D7) – we've never gone 11 without defeat against the Blues in our league history.

Each of the last five Premier League meetings between United and Chelsea have been draws – we’ve never drawn six consecutive league games against an opponent.

We’ve kept a clean sheet in each of our last six Premier League home games, last going longer without conceding at Old Trafford in the league in March 2010 (seven games).

All stats courtesy of our friends at Opta.

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Stuart Attwell
Assistants: Ian Hussin, Richard West
Fourth official: Anthony Taylor
VAR: Michael Salisbury
Assistant VAR: Steve Meredith