Always a huge match-up in the top flight, tonight's 8pm kick-off is the 199th involving Chelsea and United in all competitions.

The Red Devils’ setback on Monday at home to the Blues’ FA Cup semi-final opponents, Leeds United, ended a six-match winning streak, but leaves them seven points clear of Liam Rosenior’s side in the Premier League table.

That’s because, despite edging the first half against their ‘noisy neighbours’ Manchester City, Chelsea were eventually beaten last Sunday. A run of five defeats in six across all competitions needs to be remedied as soon as possible to resurrect our UEFA Champions League ambitions.

The Blues’ league win rate against United at the Bridge (33.73 per cent) is our lowest against any current top-flight club. However, we are unbeaten in our last five Premier League outings against the Mancunians on a Saturday, and are unbeaten in evening kick-offs at home on that day since October 1995.

The reverse fixture in September started disastrously with Robert Sanchez’s early dismissal and two first-half goals for the hosts. Casemiro’s sending-off levelled numbers, but despite having the lion’s share of possession, we could only halve the deficit through a fine headed goal from Trevoh Chalobah.

The Londoners have won six, drawn five and lost just one of the past 12 home league clashes with the Red Devils, and have won the last two of their Premier League visits to west London.

No Room for Racism weekend

All Premier League fixtures taking place this weekend are dedicated to No Room For Racism.

The Premier League and its clubs are appalled that players continue to face discriminatory abuse and will continue to do everything in our power to stop it, wherever it happens.

Chelsea is a club that actively celebrates our diversity – and we ask our supporters to share our vision of a club and a game free from discrimination and open to all.

During or after the game, discriminatory and anti-social behaviour can be reported directly to the club via the page which can be accessed by clicking here.

The Premier League has a team of experts dedicated to monitoring and investigating online racist abuse. Abusers could face custodial sentences, football banning orders, criminal records, fines, community orders or police -mandated educational programmes.

Since 2021, the Premier League has investigated more than 4,000 cases, with legal action brought against abusers across three continents.

Anyone who witnesses racist abuse is urged to report it. Online abuse can be reported directly to the site or platform where it was posted or via the Premier League’s online reporting form.

Chelsea team news

Rosenior confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Enzo Fernandez is available for selection against Manchester United, after the midfielder was left out of the squad for our last two matches.

'Enzo has been with the group and has been training very, very well, so it’s business as usual in terms of selection for the game,' said our head coach in his pre-match press conference, before updating on the recoveries of three of our defenders.

'Trevoh [Chalobah] trained today. Not quite fully, it was modified training. We'll make a decision on him, but he's very, very close. Reece [James] is a little bit further away.'

There was also a positive update on Levi Colwill, who was set to feature for our Under-21s in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Cobham yesterday (Friday) evening.

'I'm hoping we'll see Levi before the end of the season, as he is an outstanding player and a leader in the dressing room,' said our head coach.

'Levi will play some minutes with the Under-21s, which is fantastic for him. When you have a long-term injury, to the extent of Levi’s injury, you need a long rehab period. I want to make sure he is 100 per cent right in terms of his match fitness before we consider him for our first team.'

The history

An 8pm kick-off is not the most regular Saturday night entertainment London’s bright lights have to offer, but we have hosted Manchester United twice on that evening over the past 11 years.

Exactly 11 years ago, Jose Mourinho’s second coming looked highly likely to scoop the title again, with third-placed visitors United eight points behind and having played one game more.

The Red Devils were in hot form ahead of the 7.45pm kick-off and recorded 70 per cent possession in the game, but the Blues’ legendary resilience shut them out.

Eden Hazard slotted home the winner from Oscar’s flick after a thrilling move and, by the end of the weekend, the celebrating Blues were on the brink of the title – 10 points clear of Arsenal and 11 above the Mancunians.

The Saturday evening meeting at the Bridge in October 2022 was a cagy affair, and looked to be a stalemate until the last few minutes, when Scott McTominay felled Armando Broja and Jorginho converted the resulting spot-kick.

Frustratingly, Graham Potter’s men could not hold out for what would have been the first landmark win of his tenure, as Casemiro stole in for a stoppage-time header.

Another late show between the two teams that is worthy of a mention came on a Thursday night two years ago.

Conor Gallagher and Cole Palmer laid down the path to success for the hosts with early strikes, but future Blue Alejandro Garnacho scored twice and Bruno Fernandes once as the visitors rallied.

The Mancunians led 3-2 until the dying moments, then Wythenshaw wonder Cole Palmer found a 90th-minute equaliser. Seconds later, he bagged the winner against his hometown club with a penalty to blow the roof off the Chelsea stadium.

Know this...

Chelsea are targeting a third successive victory over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge for the first time in 20 years.

The reverse fixture at Old Trafford was one of three Premier League matches this season in which the United goalkeeper recorded zero saves.

However, this is the most drawn fixture in Premier League history – 27 games finishing level since 1992/93.

The Blues have scored three or more goals in the first half of a game five times this season on all fronts, the most by any Premier League side.

Chelsea have scored the most six-yard area goals in the top flight (18), but only Liverpool, Bournemouth (both 16) and West Ham United (17) have conceded more Premier League goals from set-plays than the Blues (15).

The Londoners have failed to find the net in our past two league games at Stamford Bridge.

United have lost two of their last four matches, the same tally of defeats as in the previous 22.

Bruno Fernandes has recorded 17 top-flight assists this season, one behind Chelsea’s joint club record-holders for a single campaign, Frank Lampard and Cesc Fabregas, on 18.