Chelsea vs. Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Friday is less clash of the titans anymore, but now it’s a tale of two trajectories.
For the Blues, it’s all about locking down that final Champions League spot. One they’ve flirted with all season under Enzo Maresca. A blip at Newcastle last weekend ended their five-match winning run, but Chelsea are still humming at home, having not lost at the Bridge since Boxing Day. With a refreshed midfield and the form of Cole Palmer and Christopher Nkunku clicking into gear, Maresca’s men will feel this is theirs to lose.
Then there’s Manchester United. Limping, leaking, and lately lost. Seven league games without a win, a bottom-half finish looming, and a Europa League final acting as their only real parachute. Ruben Amorim’s side were booed off at Old Trafford after being outclassed by West Ham, and they’ve looked flat on the road for weeks. With just one away win since mid-March and a defense that’s crumbled 17 times already this campaign, United arrive in London more fragile than feared.
The Sporting News looks at the key details ahead of this game, including how to watch the match, kickoff times and the latest lineup news.
Chelsea vs. Man United stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this Premier League match in the U.S.:
- TV channel: NBC
- Live stream: Peacock
This game is available for live TV broadcast on NBC in the United States. Streaming options are available on Peacock.
What time does Chelsea vs. Man United kick off?
This Premier League clash takes place at Stamford Bridge in London, England, and kicks off on Friday, May 16 at 8:15 p.m. local time.
Here’s how that time translates across the U.S.:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| Eastern Time | Fri, May 16 | 3:15 p.m. |
| Central Time | Fri, May 16 | 2:15 p.m. |
| Mountain Time | Fri, May 16 | 1:15 p.m. |
| Pacific Time | Fri, May 16 | 12:15 p.m. |
Chelsea vs. Man United predicted lineups, team news
Chelsea head into Friday night’s showdown without a recognised striker, as Nicolas Jackson serves a suspension following his red card at Newcastle. That leaves Enzo Maresca light up front, with Christopher Nkunku and Marc Guiu both sidelined due to injury.
It’s a similar story at the back, where Wesley Fofana and Omari Kellyman remain unavailable, ruling them out for the rest of the season. With Jadon Sancho ineligible to face his parent club, Chelsea’s attacking options look especially thin.
Chelsea predicted XI (4-5-1, right to left): Sanchez (GK) — James, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella — Caicedo, Fernandez, Madueke, Palmer, George — Neto.
Injured: Nkunku, Guiu, Fofana, Kellyman
Suspended: Jackson
Unavailable: Sancho (Ineligible to play)
Manchester United, meanwhile, continue to battle a brutal injury list that’s defined much of their season. Joshua Zirkzee, Lisandro Martinez, and Diogo Dalot are all long-term absentees, while teenage centre-back Leny Yoro could join them after picking up a foot injury in the loss to West Ham.
With United’s defence already stretched thin and a Europa League final on the horizon, Ruben Amorim may be forced to shuffle his deck yet again as his side limps toward the finish line.
Man United predicted XI (3-4-3, right to left): Bayindir (GK) — Fredricson, Lindelof, Shaw — Kamason, Eriksen, Ugarte, Amass — Mainoo, Garnacho, Obi.
Injured: Zirkzee, Martinez, Dalot, Yoro (doubt)
Suspended: None
Premier League fixture schedule this week
All times ET
Friday, May 16
- Aston Villa vs. Tottenham Hotspur (2:30 p.m.)
- Chelsea vs. Manchester United (3:15 p.m.)
Sunday May 18
- Everton vs. Southampton (7:00 a.m.)
- West Ham United vs. Nottingham Forest (9:15 a.m.)
- Brentford vs. Fulham (10:00 a.m.)
- Leicester City vs. Ipswich Town (10:00 a.m.)
- Arsenal vs. Newcastle United (11:30 a.m.)
Monday May 19
- Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Liverpool (3:00 p.m.)
Tuesday May 20
- Crystal Palace vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers (3:00 p.m.)
- Manchester City vs. AFC Bournemouth (3:00 p.m.)
