Neither side is currently where they would like to be. The unusual 8.15pm Thursday kick-off at Stamford Bridge will bring to a close matchweek 31 – the penultimate full set of midweek fixtures this season – and neither is in the top four.

However, unbeaten in nine games over 90 minutes in all competitions, the Blues are poised five points behind seventh-placed West Ham United with up to three games in hand over the Hammers and all clubs in between.

There was no disguising the lost opportunity against 10-man Burnley for Mauricio Pochettino’s side, who slipped to 12th after recent results. Football offers quick routes to redemption, though, and the prospect of exorcising our longest-ever winless league run against the Red Devils is just that.

The results of Erik ten Hag’s sixth-placed side have often eclipsed their performances – across west London at Brentford on Saturday they were denied what would’ve been a fourth stoppage-time winner by an even later equaliser.

To banish those demons, Chelsea must end our worst current track record against any league opponent. We have not taken all three points from United in a dozen meetings home or away, losing five.

However, only one of United’s previous nine league outings in the capital has ended in victory (including that draw at Brentford), and they’ve lost four of the last six.

Chelsea team news

Chelsea will be aiming to claim a first home league win against Manchester United for seven years tonight.

Taking on board the message from leading light Cole Palmer about the need to sharpen up in both boxes would help. Pochettino has also demanded more hunger, energy and individual responsibility out of possession.

While netting 14 times in the past five matches across all competitions the Blues, often through defensive lapses, have conceded two goals on each occasion and drawn twice.

Becoming a unit that is harder to play against would go a long way to solving the Londoners’ issues – no side has handed more shooting opportunities to opponents through defensive actions (22 shots).

The Blues have broken the deadlock in nine of our 14 league games at the Bridge, eight of those openers coming in the first half, and have so far outscored United in the top-flight by 49 goals to 40.

In selection news, Ben Chilwell misses out again through illness, but it is hoped Carney Chukwuemeka, Trevoh Chalobah, Malo Gusto and Robert Sanchez will all be fit to feature. Chukwuemeka’s line-breaking qualities could be crucial against a United side that leaves gaps between midfield and defence.

Meanwhile, Palmer netted in our 2-1 loss at Old Trafford and has the chance to become the first Blues player to score against the Mancunians home and away in a league campaign since Juan Mata in 2012/13.

Goal contributions in all competitions 2023/24

Opposition scout - Man United

Goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, left-backs Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, centre-backs Victor Lindelof and Lisandro Martinez, and forward Anthony Martial will not be in Ten Hag’s plans tonight, while winger Amad Diallo is available after suspension.

Jonny Evans, Raphael Varane and Harry Maguire, who saw out the disappointing conclusion at Brentford, have returned to training but Diogo Dalot is likely to remain at right-back, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka staying on the left.

Cobham graduate Mason Mount has returned from injury and opened his goals account for the Red Devils against the Bees, but seems unlikely to start. Mount used to initiate pressing at Chelsea and critics have noted United’s struggles when not in possession, moving to recover the ball as individuals rather than in concert.

Only Sheffield United, Luton Town and West Ham have allowed more shots on goal in the league than Ten Hag’s team (495). Yet a number of their players have had successful seasons, not least dynamic teenager Kobbie Mainoo and fellow central midfielder Scott McTominay, who has contributed key goals throughout the campaign.

That has been vital for Ten Hag, as Casemiro has not been the influence he was last season and the team has still depended much on Bruno Fernandes’ playmaking. Chelsea will be wary of livewire Alejandro Garnacho’s mischief on the flank and Rasmus Hojlund’s old school physical presence in the box – they thrive when given space.

Yet few United forwards offer the complete support service to their defensive colleagues and full-backs can be left stranded upfield. The Blues will hope to hurt the visitors with rapid breakaways to exploit the gaps.

The history

From a record crowd of 67,000 for a 1-1 promotion clash on Good Friday 1906, through Matt Busby imitating the ‘guard of honour’ for champions Chelsea in 1955, or those Sixties images of George Best evading Ron Harris’ sideswipes, to the nip-and-tuck title chases of 2004-2013, Chelsea versus Manchester United has been one of football's biggest draws.

In recent years the Mancunians have had the better of those meetings and are unbeaten in seven visits to the Bridge across all competitions.

Last season a cagey affair exploded into life in the dying moments. In the 87 minute, McTominay grappled Armando Broja at a corner and Jorginho sent David De Gea the wrong way from the spot. Graham Potter’s team could not hold out though, and when Casemiro latched onto a speculative Luke Shaw cross, Kepa Arrizabalaga could only palm onto a post, the ball then crossing the line.

The Blues’ most recent Premier League win over Man Utd at Stamford Bridge was back in November 2017, Alvaro Morata scoring the only goal under Antonio Conte.

Chelsea have lost only two of the 31 Premier League games against United when we’ve opened the scoring (16 wins, 13 draws).

Shooting boots

Against Burnley, Palmer became the first Chelsea player to score in a fifth successive league match at the Bridge since the one and only Eden Hazard in December 2014. He is now also the youngest-ever Blue to contribute towards 20-plus Premier League goals in a debut season.

At the weekend, both tonight’s teams were involved in matches with an unusually high number of attempts on goal.

However, while Chelsea recorded 33 efforts against the Clarets (12 on target, two goals) – our highest tally for 10 years – across west London, United were on the receiving end of 31 attempts by Brentford.

Most shots by a team in a Premier League match in 2023/24

34 - Liverpool 0-0 Manchester United
34 - Liverpool 4-2 Newcastle United
33 - Chelsea 2-2 Burnley
32 - Bournemouth 2-2 Sheffield United
31 - Brentford 1-1 Manchester United
31 - Manchester City 1-1 Chelsea

Mad match memories

Erik ten Hag’s third experience of the touchline at Stamford Bridge is unlikely to be as eye-popping as his first. A little over four years ago, the current Man United boss was involved in one of the most bizarre, thrilling games ever staged on the Fulham Road.

With 20 minutes to in the Champions League group stage visit of his Ajax team, a two-minute loss of heads saw Daley Blind and Joel Veltman sent off with the Amsterdam side leading 4-2.

Two of the Netherlanders’ tally had been own goals, but Frank Lampard’s youngsters responded in scintillating fashion and might even have won 5-4. As it turned out, Cesar Azpilicueta’s arrowed finish was ruled out by VAR for a handball earlier in the move – something that would not apply now.