Chelsea vs Manchester United LIVE!

Chelsea staged a last-gasp comeback to beat sixth-placed Manchester United 4-3 with their top scorer Cole Palmer claiming a hat-trick to turn a madcap match on its head after the Reds seemed to have staged their own unlikely turnaround. Palmer struck twice deep into time added to save the Blues who were on the verge of a 3-2 home defeat.

Chelsea had raced into a 2-0 lead inside 20 minutes with a strike by captain Conor Gallagher and a Palmer penalty. Goals by Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes before halftime and another by Garnacho in the 67th minute turned the tide towards the visitors.

But Palmer stroked home his second spot kick and then blasted a deflected shot into the net in the dying seconds to send Stamford Bridge into raptures with the win taking Chelsea up to 10th spot. Read the game back below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea vs Man United latest news

Thursday 4 April 2024 22:34 , Alex Young

You can read Nizaar Kinsella’s Chelsea player ratings here.

Thursday 4 April 2024 22:25 , Alex Young

That is the latest winning goal in Premier League history.

Full-time!

Thursday 4 April 2024 22:21 , Alex Young

102min: A true Premier League classic. I can’t believe what we have witnesses.

Thursday 4 April 2024 22:19 , Alex Young

No Manchester United player went to close Palmer down!

GOAL!

Thursday 4 April 2024 22:18 , Alex Young

101min: PALMER WINS IT! INCREDIBLE! INCREDIBLE!

GOAL!

Thursday 4 April 2024 22:16 , Alex Young

98min: Palmer fires home to steal a point at the death!

PENALTY!

Thursday 4 April 2024 22:13 , Alex Young

97min: A lifeline for Chelsea!

Thursday 4 April 2024 22:13 , Alex Young

96min: United doing superbly at running down the clock in the rain.

Thursday 4 April 2024 22:10 , Alex Young

94min: Garnacho is named man of the match by TNT Sports.

Thursday 4 April 2024 22:08 , Alex Young

91min: Eight minutes added on.

Thursday 4 April 2024 22:05 , Alex Young

88min: Chelsea are pushing for a late equaliser but Chukwuemeka, inside the area, takes a touch rather than shooting first time.

Thursday 4 April 2024 22:02 , Alex Young

85min: Huge, huge boos for Mount. Deafening.

Garnacho replaced.

Thursday 4 April 2024 22:01 , Alex Young

84min: Mount is coming on.

Thursday 4 April 2024 22:00 , Alex Young

81min: Chelsea playing into United’s hands, with the visitors happy to sit back and soak in these weak attacks.

Thursday 4 April 2024 21:53 , Alex Young

76min: Double change for Chelsea. Gilchrist and Chalobah on for Gusto and Disasi.

Thursday 4 April 2024 21:51 , Alex Young

75min: Disasi heads the corner over.

McTominay replaces Casemiro for United.

Thursday 4 April 2024 21:51 , Alex Young

74min: Blistering effort from Palmer from an acute angle, which Onana can only punch out for a corner.

Thursday 4 April 2024 21:49 , Alex Young

70min: Sterling on for Mudryk and Chukwuemeka on for Caicedo.

GOAL!

Thursday 4 April 2024 21:44 , Alex Young

67min: Garnacho runs onto a remarkable Antony pass to nod United in front of the first time!

Sensational, stunning pass from Antony.

Thursday 4 April 2024 21:42 , Alex Young

66min: Rashford replaces Hojlund, as Kambwala replaces Evans - who only came on at half-time.

Thursday 4 April 2024 21:41 , Alex Young

64min: Oh my word, Antony just went the long way round Cucurella, showing incredible strength and fitness, to play a pass almost across the goal line... by Hojlund was not there for a tap in!

Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

Thursday 4 April 2024 21:39 , Alex Young

United's defensive injury crisis worsens as Willy Kambwala is coming on for an injured Wan-Bissaka.

Rashford is also coming on. It won't be long before Mount follows.

All I can say is this is good news for Liverpool in the title race.

Thursday 4 April 2024 21:37 , Alex Young

61min: A pause in play as Wan-Bissaka gets looked over.

Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

Thursday 4 April 2024 21:37 , Alex Young

This is not a Premier League football match by any stretch of the imagination.

It's a sport resembling something between a school ground kickabout and a basketball game.

Thursday 4 April 2024 21:34 , Alex Young

57min: Chelsea living very dangerously. Three times they have made mistakes to let United in, but each time just about survive.

Thursday 4 April 2024 21:33 , Alex Young

55min: Evans has been a rock since coming on, making at least three blocks by my count.

Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

Thursday 4 April 2024 21:31 , Alex Young

This is still the same spectacle as it was in the first half. A match full of errors, an inability to defend but some quality in the final third.

It's still end-to-end and Enzo Fernandez and Bruno Fernandes have both had chances to shoot.

Thursday 4 April 2024 21:26 , Alex Young

50min: The second half has started in the same fashion of the first. Frantic.

Thursday 4 April 2024 21:25 , Alex Young

48min: A couple of United penalty shouts in the opening stages of the second half, both for handball, but the referee isn’t interested.

Second half!

Thursday 4 April 2024 21:21 , Alex Young

46min: Back underway.

Thursday 4 April 2024 21:18 , Alex Young

Evans will be coming on at half-time for Varane.

Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

Thursday 4 April 2024 21:09 , Alex Young

Gallagher almost makes it 2-0 with a great hit against the post after a terrible Varane mistake.

It feels like this match is one for the neutrals rather than fans of either Chelsea or Manchester United as it goes to half-time.

Both teams have quality but don't look like teams, they are error prone and porous at the back.

Half-time!

Thursday 4 April 2024 21:05 , Alex Young

51min: Relentless!

POST!

Thursday 4 April 2024 21:05 , Alex Young

50min: Gallagher denied by the near post, his fierce drive clangs off the woodwork after being played in by Palmer.

Thursday 4 April 2024 21:04 , Alex Young

48min: Fernandes tries to find Garnacho over the halfway line but neither player on the correct wavelength.

Thursday 4 April 2024 21:01 , Alex Young

46min: Five minutes added on.

Thursday 4 April 2024 21:00 , Alex Young

43min: Dalot fouls Gusto as the pace of the game continues to be unrelenting.

It looks like Evans may be needed for Varane soon.

Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

Thursday 4 April 2024 20:57 , Alex Young

Well, Chelsea have completely collapsed but at least every one of their match is permanently in the balance and fun to watch...

Bruno Fernandes with a far post header after a good Diogo Dalot cross. Chelsea have conceded twice for six matches in a row now.

GOAL!

Thursday 4 April 2024 20:55 , Alex Young

39min: All square!

Fernandes heads home at the back post after being found by a superb Dalot cross.

What a game!

Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

Thursday 4 April 2024 20:53 , Alex Young

Just when you thought it might go Chelsea's way, they do something stupid.

Caicedo’s heavy touch gave Antony a chance to play in Alejandro Garnacho and he puts United back in it.

Every Chelsea game is a good game because they can do that to help the other team.

GOAL!

Thursday 4 April 2024 20:50 , Alex Young

35min: A gift for Garnacho!

Caicedo plays a blind pass and Garnacho runs onto it and beats Petrovic.

Thursday 4 April 2024 20:48 , Alex Young

34min: The free kick is initially cleared before Mainoo stings Petrovic’s palms from the edge of the area.

Thursday 4 April 2024 20:48 , Alex Young

33min: Gusto gets booked for wiping out Garnacho. The United winger will be licking his lips at that.

Thursday 4 April 2024 20:47 , Alex Young

32min: Ten Hag looks furious on the touchline, and you can’t blame him. Chelsea are better than his team in every department.

Thursday 4 April 2024 20:46 , Alex Young

31min: Fernandes’ delivery is headed clear easily.

Thursday 4 April 2024 20:45 , Alex Young

30min: Dalot’s shot from distance deflects behind for a corner. United need a spark.

Thursday 4 April 2024 20:43 , Alex Young

27min: Antony does very well to tackle Gallagher and break over the halfway line, but then cuts back, sends a weak pass towards Casemiro and loses possession.

Thursday 4 April 2024 20:41 , Alex Young

25min: Oh, Disasi! Gallagher’s looping free kick delivery to the back post is met by a completely free Disasi, who heads over from six yards!

Sitter.

Thursday 4 April 2024 20:38 , Alex Young

22min: There are chants of "Mason [Mount], what's the score" from some in the Matthew Harding End.

Chelsea is not a club that celebrates their former stars when they leave, giving similar treatment to Jose Mourinho.

Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

Thursday 4 April 2024 20:37 , Alex Young

Wow, that's a controversial penalty decision but Antony's foul on Cucurella is given. Was there enough contact? Chelsea won't care as Cole Palmer scores from the spot yet again.

GOAL!

Thursday 4 April 2024 20:35 , Alex Young

20min: Palmer, of course, makes no mistake.

PENALTY TO CHELSEA!

Thursday 4 April 2024 20:34 , Alex Young

19min: Antony on Cucurella... but it is so soft.

Thursday 4 April 2024 20:33 , Alex Young

17min: Talking of Garnacho, the young Argentine is picked up by Mainoo at the back post with a high, hanging cross, and the attempted volley is miles wide.

Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

Thursday 4 April 2024 20:32 , Alex Young

Alejandro Garnacho is undoubtedly amazing going forward, but there are some signs that he is struggling to track Malo Gusto when he goes forward.

That's really a familiar trend for United.

Thursday 4 April 2024 20:29 , Alex Young

13min: Fernandes takes a tumble on the edge of the area but the referee isn’t interested as Chelsea break across the halfway line.

United need something from their captain tonight.

Thursday 4 April 2024 20:27 , Alex Young

11min: United seeing plenty of the ball since going behind. Trying to dictate the play.

Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

Thursday 4 April 2024 20:24 , Alex Young

What a start from Chelsea. Conor Gallagher, who spent the build-up to the match facing social media abuse, has got the opening goal.

He turned in a deflected Malo Gusto cross and the atmosphere has been ignited inside Stamford Bridge.

Thursday 4 April 2024 20:23 , Alex Young

7min: It’s been a confident start for Chelsea. Cucurella mops up from Antony easily as United look to respond.

GOAL!

Thursday 4 April 2024 20:21 , Alex Young

5min: The perfect start for Chelsea!

Gusto does superbly down the right, cuts back on the byline and Gallagher drills home.

Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

Thursday 4 April 2024 20:19 , Alex Young

The £5000 a ticket dugout club is looking pretty full for this one, so it must be a big game.

Thursday 4 April 2024 20:18 , Alex Young

3min: It’s been a fast start from both so far, very much on the front foot.

Great atmosphere, too.

Thursday 4 April 2024 20:17 , Alex Young

2min: First move of the night sees Antony have a shot blocked inside the area after a smart break down the right flank.

Kick-off!

Thursday 4 April 2024 20:15 , Alex Young

1min: Here we go!

Thursday 4 April 2024 20:13 , Alex Young

Here come the teams!

Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

Thursday 4 April 2024 20:13 , Alex Young

An unchanged Chelsea side is interesting given how poor the 2-2 draw with 10-man Burnley was on Saturday. But there are few alternatives when you look at the bench.

Raheem Sterling may feel unlucky to miss out having set up Cole Palmer's second goal.

Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

Thursday 4 April 2024 20:10 , Alex Young

The Chelsea fans outside the stadium here tonight have been chanting anti-Mason Mount songs. The academy graduate may get the Jose Mourinho treatment tonight.

Thursday 4 April 2024 20:06 , Alex Young

Final preparations done at the Bridge. Both sets of players are back in the dressing room.

Erik ten Hag on the team news

Thursday 4 April 2024 19:56 , Alex Young

"We have two big games in three days, we need everyone. We need the bench and lately we have had a strong bench. Recently players from the bench have impacted, Mason Mount.

"It is a huge impact and it is a good impact to have Rashford on the bench.

"[Mount is] not ready for a start, we will bring him on carefully. We want to avoid another injury so we have to build-up his game minutes."

He added: "If we want to qualify for the Champions League this is a huge opportunity."

Mauricio Pochettino on the team news

Thursday 4 April 2024 19:53 , Alex Young

"I think to restart the starting 11 is good to keep the consistency. I think the main thing is to be aggressive and consistent then during the game it is important to get the right balance."

“It was in doubt [that Gusto would start], but in the last few days he has improved a lot and it is good to have the same starting 11 to give them [players] confidence and to see if we have the capacity to improve on our performance.

"We know it is a must-win game if we want to reduce the gap I think it is important to win and get the three points."

Thursday 4 April 2024 19:45 , Alex Young

Here’s our Chelsea reporter, checking in.

Thursday 4 April 2024 19:35 , Alex Young

Chelsea are unchanged for the XI which drew 2-2 with 10-man Burnley. Sterling again left on the bench.Manchester United make three changes as Antony starts over Rashford. Maguire and Casemiro also come in, Mount is on the bench.

Ten Hag says Rashford has been rested.

Team news in full

Thursday 4 April 2024 19:24 , Alex Young

Chelsea XI: Petrovic, Gusto, Disasi, Badiashile, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez, Palmer, Gallagher, Mudryk, Jackson

Subs: Thiago Silva, Sterling, Madueke, Bettinelli, Chalobah, Chukwuemeka, Casadei, Gilchrist, Tauriainen

Manchester United XI: Onana, Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Wan-Bissaka, Casemiro, Mainoo, Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Garnacho, Hojlund

Subs: Amrabat, Mount, Rashford, Eriksen, Diallo, Heaton, Evans, McTominay, Kambwala

Manchester United XI

Thursday 4 April 2024 19:16 , Alex Young

Rashford has been dropped.

Chelsea XI

Thursday 4 April 2024 19:15 , Alex Young

Here’s how the hosts look.

Thursday 4 April 2024 19:08 , Alex Young

It sounds like Malo Gusto starts for Chelsea, shaking off a knock.

Thursday 4 April 2024 19:00 , Alex Young

Team news is imminent. Does Thiago Silva make a rare start?

Thursday 4 April 2024 18:53 , Alex Young

Little has changed for Chelsea and Manchester United since their last meeting in December, writes Nizaar Kinsella.

Back then, United boss Erik ten Hag was under pressure and the Chelsea project built around young players was not delivering positive results.

It is much the same story for both clubs ahead of a big game on Thursday night.

On Saturday, Chelsea twice surrendered the lead to draw 2-2 with 10-man Burnley and United produced a truly dreadful performance in their 1-1 draw at Brentford.

So, the spotlight is back on Mauricio Pochettino and Ten Hag, with both teams in the mire.

A lack of goals has been an issue for Chelsea for long parts of this season, but now they have concerns at the back. Injuries mean they keep changing their backline, with Reece James, Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana sidelined and now Ben Chilwell out both ill and injured.

Pochettino on Wednesday criticised his players for wanting to play “exhibition football” and again said they lack the desire to “compete”. He is struggling to get his talented players to do the basics and insists he needs time to build a winning mentality in one of the youngest squads in the Premier League.

Read more: Chelsea and Man United face crunch clash on long road to recovery

Thursday 4 April 2024 18:43 , Alex Young

Just over 90 minutes until kick-off.

Thursday 4 April 2024 18:37 , Alex Young

Mason Mount looked heartbroken the last time he was at Stamford Bridge, writes Nizaar Kinsella.

On Thursday night, he will return for the first time as a Manchester United player on what promises to be another emotional occasion for the man who spent 18 years in Chelsea blue.

The sight of a teary-eyed Mount arm-in-arm with Chelsea physio Billy McCulloch after the final home game of last season showed how much of a wrench it was leaving his boyhood club.

His £55million move to United has not gone to plan, but on Thursday he will be looking to make another big impact after his 96th-minute goal off the bench against Brentford last weekend.

That felt like a huge moment for a player who is still counting the cost of his final season at Chelsea.

Read more: Mount torn ahead of Chelsea return as he bids to win over Man Utd fans

Odds

Thursday 4 April 2024 18:26 , Alex Young

I’m surprised to see Chelsea odds-on to win tonight, even if they are at home.

• Chelsea: 8/11

• Draw: 23/10

• Man Utd: 12/5

Odds via Betfair.

Score prediction

Thursday 4 April 2024 18:20 , Alex Young

Neither of these teams can be relied upon to show up and yet both can be said to enjoy the big occasion.

An oddly intriguing encounter, so we’re sitting on the fence.

A 1-1 draw.

Thursday 4 April 2024 18:12 , Alex Young

Predicted Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Badiashile, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Palmer, Gallagher, Sterling; Jackson

Predicted Man Utd XI (4-2-3-1): Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Maguire, Dalot; McTominay, Mainoo; Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund

Manchester United team news

Thursday 4 April 2024 18:07 , Alex Young

Mason Mount may have to wait for a Manchester United start despite facing his former club tonight.

The midfielder is seeking a first start since October, just days after scoring what looked to be an undeserved late winner against Brentford, before Kristoffer Ajer then gave the Bees a last-gasp equaliser.

United confirmed on Tuesday that Victor Lindelof was now facing at least four weeks out with a hamstring injury suffered against Brentford.

Argentine defender Martinez will also miss out against Chelsea after he suffered yet another setback with a calf strain in training, having made his first appearance for nearly two months off the bench on Saturday night.

Raphael Varane is back in training after being replaced by Harry Maguire at half-time against Brentford as a precaution. Academy graduate Willy Kambwala is on standby with Jonny Evans also rejoining training on Wednesday.

Ten Hag is still without the likes of Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Anthony Martial, in addition to Martinez and Lindelof.

Chelsea team news

Thursday 4 April 2024 17:57 , Alex Young

Chelsea look set to welcome back a trio of players with Carney Chukwuemeka, Robert Sanchez and Trevoh Chalobah all back after missing the disappointing 2-2 draw with 10-man Burnley on Saturday.

Malo Gusto, meanwhile, should also be fit to feature having avoided injury after being taken off in the 87th minute of that match at Stamford Bridge.

Ben Chilwell is sidelined through illness after missing out at the weekend due to a knock to his knee, which he sustained while away on international duty with England.

Pochettino will likely opt to continue with a stable Chelsea starting XI against United, with Djordje Petrovic as goalkeeper. The back four will likely be made up of Gusto, Axel Disasi, Benoit Badiashile and Marc Cucurella.

Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez and Conor Gallagher will continue in midfield. The main decision facing Pochettino will be whether to start Mykhailo Mudryk over Raheem Sterling again in a forward line featuring Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer.

Where to watch Chelsea vs Manchester United

Thursday 4 April 2024 17:49 , Alex Young

TV channel: In the UK, tonight’s game will be televised live on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate HD with coverage beginning at 7:30pm BST ahead of kick-off at 8:15pm.

Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Discovery+ app and website.

Welcome

Thursday 4 April 2024 17:44 , Alex Young

Good evening and welcome to the Standard’s LIVE coverage of the Premier League clash between Chelsea and Manchester United.

Two English football giants in need of inspiration, and a morale-boosting victory tonight could be considered crucial for either team - and either manager.

Kick-off at Stamford Bridge is at 8.15pm. Stick with us.