Manchester United host Chelsea at Old Trafford on Saturday, September 20, 2025, in a high-stakes Premier League clash. Both clubs enter the fixture with questions to answer—United seeking stability after a string of poor results and Chelsea determined to finally break a 12-year winless streak at the Theatre of Dreams.
Manchester United vs Chelsea: Preview
For Chelsea, this fixture comes at a pivotal moment. Last weekend, the Blues let victory slip away at Brentford, conceding a heartbreaking 94th-minute equalizer after goals from Cole Palmer and Moisés Caicedo had turned the game around. Days later, their return to the Champions League ended in disappointment, as Bayern Munich dismantled them 3-1 in Bavaria. Despite remaining unbeaten domestically, Enzo Maresca’s side has drawn two of its four league games and now faces its toughest Premier League test yet.
Manchester United, meanwhile, find themselves under enormous pressure. Last Sunday’s Manchester derby ended in humiliation, with rivals City cruising to a 3-0 win. That defeat left Rúben Amorim’s side with just one league victory this season—a narrow 3-2 success over Burnley thanks to Bruno Fernandes’ stoppage-time penalty. Compounded by an early EFL Cup exit at Grimsby, the Red Devils desperately need a statement performance to appease fans and steady their season.
Head-to-head record
Matches Played: 197
Manchester United Wins: 83
Draws: 57
Chelsea Wins: 57
Notably, Chelsea are winless in their last 12 visits to Old Trafford, dating back to May 2013, though seven of those ended in draws.
Manchester United team news and predicted lineup
United have had the benefit of a full week’s preparation, thanks to their absence from European competition. Deadline day signing Senne Lammens could make his debut in goal, while Altay Bayındır’s spot is under scrutiny after the derby defeat.
Injury concerns remain: Diogo Dalot, Mason Mount, and Matheus Cunha are sidelined, though Lisandro Martínez may return to the bench after recovering from a long-term ACL injury.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Lammens; Yoro, de Ligt, Shaw; Mazraoui, Ugarte, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mbeumo, Amad, Sesko.
Player to watch: Bryan Mbeumo—the forward has three goals in his last four matches against Chelsea and will look to extend that streak at Old Trafford.
Chelsea team news and predicted lineup
Maresca faces a balancing act after the energy-draining trip to Munich. Levi Colwill, Benoît Badiashile, Roméo Lavia, Dário Essugo, and Liam Delap are all unavailable due to injuries. The manager may once again experiment with Reece James in midfield, a tactic that paid dividends in the Club World Cup Final but poses fitness questions given his recent workload.
Expect rotation, with several starters from the Brentford draw—Jorrel Hato, Wesley Fofana, Facundo Buonanotte, and Jamie Gittens—potentially featuring again.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Sanchez; Gusto, Adarabioyo, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernández, Palmer; Estevao, Neto, Joao Pedro.
Player to watch: Alejandro Garnacho—the Argentine will face his former club at Old Trafford after two substitute appearances for Chelsea. With 26 goals in 144 games during his United spell, he could be a storyline player on his return.
Match prediction
Given United’s turbulent form and Chelsea’s hunger to end their Old Trafford hoodoo, this encounter leans towards the visitors. Chelsea’s depth and attacking options could prove decisive against an unsettled United side.
Prediction: Manchester United 1-3 Chelsea.
How to watch Manchester United vs Chelsea
Date & Kick-off Time: Saturday, 20 September 2025
UK: 17:30 (BST)
USA: 12:30 (EDT)
Canada: 9:30 (PDT)
TV Channels:
UK: Sky Sports Main Event, Premier League & Ultra HD
USA: fuboTV, NBC, Telemundo, Deportes En Vivo
Canada: Fubo Sports Network Canada
Live Streaming:
UK: SkyGo & NOW TV
USA: fuboTV, nbcsports.com, USA Network, Telemundo
Canada: fuboTV Canada