There's no doubting that Saturday's encounter remains important for both sides, with the Blues in real danger of dropping out of the European places altogether if results go against them.
The race for Europe is on
At present, they sit sixth in the table on 48 points and, were they to finish there, would qualify for the Europa League.
They do, however, have five clubs within three points of them, and so every game now is 'a final' - to coin a well-worn football cliche.
For United, they're up in third and on course to be back in the Champions League next season, but they too need the points.
Currently on 55, they can pull 10 points clear of their hosts and virtually cement that UCL spot with a victory at Stamford Bridge.
Home advantage could be crucial
That could be hard to come by for Michael Carrick's side, given that Chelsea have lost only one of their last 12 league matches against United in West London (W6, D5).
Liam Rosenior's Blues will also be looking to earn a third win in a row at the Bridge for the first time since 2006.
The motivation that the visitors will have to stop that particular rot is that, thanks to victory at Old Trafford earlier in the season, they have the opportunity to do the double over Chelsea for the first time since 2019/20, and only the second time in the Premier League era.
If the points are shared, whilst that's unlikely to suit either side, it wouldn't be a surprise.
That's because this particular fixture has ended in a draw on no less than 27 occasions, which is more often than any other clash in EPL history. Seven of those were goalless draws, with the 20 score draws also the most ever in the competition.
No goals in the last three EPL games for the Blues
Chelsea go into the match having lost six of their last nine games in all competitions, and they've not scored in their last three in the Premier League.
They've not gone four league games without scoring since March 1998 - though that run did include a defeat at Stamford Bridge to the Red Devils.
Only once this century have they lost four games in a row, which came under Frank Lampard's stewardship back in 2023.
United have had the slightest of wobbles, being beaten at home by a brilliant performance from Leeds, one of two league defeats in their last four matches.
Their two previous losses came in the space of 22 games, and were they to head back to Manchester without a point, they would have lost back-to-back Premier League games for the first time this season.
Currently, only United and Arsenal have avoided consecutive league defeats in 2025/26.
Makeshift United defence?
The visitors have only kept one clean sheet in their last 21 away games in the league. With Matthijs de Ligt still out for this game, Lisandro Martinez suspended after his red card against Leeds, and Harry Maguire given an extra game ban for misconduct, a makeshift centre-back pairing could well hamper United.
Kobbie Mainoo is only rated as 25% fit, and this game also comes too quickly for Patrick Dorgu.
United are certain to rely heavily on Bruno Fernandes' creativity. The Portuguese remains their go-to buy for chance creation and assists, with Casemiro the beneficiary of his accuracy on six separate occasions this season; the most assists to one teammate in a single campaign (equalling Fernandes' tally to Marcus Rashford in 2022/23).
For Chelsea, Reece James, Levi Colwill, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Trevoh Chalobah and Filip Jorgensen are all out, but the hosts will welcome back Enzo Fernandez after he was dropped by Rosenior for comments made to the press.
The Argentinian's return couldn't have come at a better time as he's had the most shots on target in the Chelsea squad this season (27), has created the most chances (51), has the most defensive line-breaking passes in the Premier League (41), and has completed the most passes in the final third for the Blues (459).
In terms of goals, the Blues have looked to Joao Pedro to fire them to victory, and his 14 scored this season is the best return of any Chelsea player, whilst Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo have both bagged nine for United, and Casemiro has eight, suggesting the visitors' goal threat could be the more potent on the day.
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