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Hello and welcome to Stamford Bridge for live coverage of Chelsea's Premier League clash with Manchester United this evening.
The Blues go into this weekend four points adrift of fifth-place Liverpool and simply cannot afford to lose any further ground on the champions. Liam Rosenior's side have been beaten in five of their last six matches in all competitions, including their last three in the Premier League.
That makes this match even more significant for Rosenior and his squad in their bid to qualify for next season's Champions League. It is set to be a strange atmosphere inside Stamford Bridge with the supporters planning a protest outside of the stadium against the club's ownership pre-match.
Rosenior will be hoping the actions off the pitch will not affect his players on the field. Kick-off at Stamford Bridge is at 8pm (UK time) this evening, and you can follow every kick right here with football.london.
18:48Jake Stokes
The starting lineups are in!
Liam Rosenior has made two changes to the side that lost 3-0 to Manchester City last weekend. Enzo Fernandez and Liam Delap replace Andrey Santos and Joao Pedro.
18:48Jake Stokes
Caicedo signs new contract
Moises Caicedo signed a new long-term contract with Chelsea earlier this week. The Blues midfielder said: "I am so happy to have extended my contract at Chelsea.
"I believe in this team, this club and I know we’re going in the right direction. We’ve only just begun together. There is still a lot more to achieve, and I’m very hungry to keep improving every day.
"I want to win more trophies with Chelsea and give everything for this club and for the fans. We have enjoyed some great times together already and my dream is to become a Chelsea legend, and I will work as hard as possible to make that happen."
18:48Jake Stokes
Palmer commits future to Chelsea
Speaking to the Guardian this week, Cole Palmer committed his future to Chelsea. The Blues midfielder said: "Obviously Manchester is my home. All my family are there, but I don’t miss it.
"Maybe I’ll miss it if I don’t go for three months or something. But then when I get home I think there’s nothing there for me anyway.
"I’ve got no plans to move from Chelsea. We’ve still got a lot to play for. We’ve got the FA Cup semi-final [against Leeds] and if we finish in a Champions League spot it puts us in a good position to sign players that we need.
"We spoke to the owners and they’re sure of the players that are gonna do it!"
18:48Bobby Vincent
Why are Chelsea fans protesting?
Chelsea supporters are planning a pre-match protest this evening in the build-up to the match against Manchester United.
Blues supporters will be joined by dozens of Strasbourg fans to voice their discontent with BlueCo, the consortium that own both clubs.
The organiser of the protest said:
The protest march alongside fans of RC Strasbourg is promoting a single, unified message: Blueco out. In the four seasons Blueco have been in charge of this once great club, we have seen an erosion of the mentality and values that made it successful at the elite level.
18:48Bobby Vincent
Last time out
It feels like a lifetime ago since these sides locked horns last. That was back in September, in a game that finished 2-1 to Manchester United.
Back then, Ruben Amorim and Enzo Maresca were in charge and they saw both of their teams lose a man to a red card.
Robert Sanchez was sent off early in the game before Bruno Fernandes handed the hosts the lead in a rainy Manchester. Casemiro then doubled United's advantage before being sent off himself just before half time.
Trevoh Chalobah grabbed one back for Chelsea but it turned out to only be a consolation goal for the visitors.
18:48KEY EVENT
Good evening
Hello and welcome to Stamford Bridge for live coverage of Chelsea's Premier League clash with Manchester United this evening.
The Blues, in desperate need a positive result, host the Red Devils tonight with the chance of moving just one point behind Liverpool (who are away to Everton tomorrow).
Stay tuned for live updates from SW6.
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