Man Utd vs Chelsea LIVE: Team news and line ups confirmed, FA Cup semi-final latest

MAN UTD 0-0 CHELSEA

Manchester United XI: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Bailly, Maguire, Williams, Matic, Fred, Fernandes, James, Rashford

Chelsea XI: Caballero, James, Rudiger, Zouma, Azpilicueta, Alonso, Kovacic, Jorginho, Mount, Willian, Giroud

• Paul Pogba, Mason Greenwood and Anthony Martial on the bench for Manchester United

• Willy Caballero replaces Kepa Arrizabalaga, Mason Mount and Reece James are recalled

Stat box

– Manchester United have beaten Chelsea three times this season: twice in the Premier League and once in the Carabao Cup

– Chelsea are the most successful side in the FA Cup this century, reaching eight finals and winning six titles

– The Red Devils are playing in their 30th FA Cup semi-final – a joint record with Arsenal

– Olivier Giroud has scored 15 FA Cup goals in 28 appearances and provided eight assists

– Manchester United have progressed from 15 of their past 17 FA Cup semi-finals

Frank explains

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard says Christian Pulisic isn’t starting due to a small injury.

Ole explains

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been discussing his team selection.

The Red Devils manager believes fresh legs coming on late in the game could make all the difference.

“They’ve played a lot of football so it’s about freshening up the team and also giving them of course a chance to make a difference when they come on,” Solskjaer said.

“There’s a chance for everyone of course. They’ve been waiting patiently, doing well when they have a chance, both Fred and James. Fresh legs giving us some of that intensity we need on a very big and draining Wembley pitch.”

Any other business?

Yes. Not a great deal of relevance to today’s semi-final but d’ya see Watford sacked Nigel Pearson with two games remaining?

The same Nigel Pearson who took over when the Hornets were rock-bottom with nine points from 16 games – six points off safety.

The Nigel Pearson who boasts the best win rate (35%) and points-per-game ratio (1.25) of any Watford manager in Premier League history.

Yeah, that Nigel Pearson.

Huddersfield also sacked Danny Cowley but I feel less passionately about that I’m afraid.

Arsenal…

Not quite sure what happened last night in all honesty.

In fact, I have no idea what to make of Arsenal at all these days. It looked like they’d turned the corner but that late defeat to Tottenham made me think otherwise.

Now they’ve beaten Premier League champions Liverpool and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in back-to-back fixtures to secure a place in the FA Cup final.

So… are they good again? Either way, whoever goes through this evening will certainly have a contest on their hands come the final on August 1.

Could be a good day…

For Manchester United. As I’ve already said, Leicester are trailing Tottenham 3-0 in north London. I guess it’s more understandable given three of Brendan Rodgers’ normal back four are absent.

Anyway, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side will move into fourth position on goal difference should Spurs win 4-0. I’ll let you know if that happens.

Twitter reaction

Rob: Slate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for ‘overplaying’ his players, demand rotation and concentration on Champions League qualification and then complain that Daniel James is starting…

Kai: This game is tailor-made for Callum Hudson-Odoi today. But I’m so disappointed to see him on the bench. Better hope this doesn’t backfire on us.

Owen: Not a big fan of resting Anthony Martial given his current form. You don’t rest players for an FA Cup semi-final. That being said, I think that’s an XI more than capable of beating Chelsea (again). Come on the Reds!

History…

This will be the ninth meeting between Chelsea and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium (old and new), making it the most played club fixture at the ground in history.

Feel free to tell your friends, family or complete strangers that to sound smart and interesting.

Team news – Manchester United

OK… so FIVE changes for Manchester United. That, to me at least, indicates Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is more focused on securing a top-four finish.

Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Scott McTominay drop out of the starting XI who beat Crystal Palace. They are replaced by fit-again Brandon Williams and Nemanja Matic.

Elsewhere power trio Paul Pogba, Mason Greenwood and Anthony Martial are replaced by Fred, Daniel James and Eric Bailly.

Oh and a commiseration shout-out for cup competition goalkeeper Sergio Romero, who drops to the bench with David de Gea starting instead.

Team news – Chelsea

Frank Lampard makes three changes. Willy Caballero starts between the sticks ahead of Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Mason Mount and Reece James are recalled to the starting XI with Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christian Pulisic on the substitutes bench.

Starting XI

Right… well this is unexpected. Paul Pogba, Mason Greenwood and Anthony Martial drop to the bench. Christian Pulisic is also amongst the substitutes for Chelsea. What’s going on, lads?!

Manchester United XI: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Williams, Matic, Fred, Fernandes, James, Rashford.

Subs: Romero, Pogba, Mata, Martial, Pereira, Fosu-Mensah, Ighalo, Greenwood, McTominay.

Chelsea XI: Caballero, Rudiger, Alonso, Jorginho, Willian, Zouma, Kovacic, Giroud, Mount, James, Azpilicueta.

Subs: Kepa, Christensen, Abraham, Pedro, Loftus-Cheek, Hudson-Odoi, Pulisic, Tomori, Emerson.

We meet again…

And again, and again, and again…

This is the fourth-consecutive season that Manchester United and Chelsea have met in the FA Cup.

Manchester United won in the fifth round last season but the Blues collected victories in the quarter-final in 2016-17 and the final in 2017-18.

What’s on?

It’s been a bit of a staggered afternoon of football. Leeds, now champions of the Championship, beat Derby 3-1 presumably all nursing significant hangovers.

In the Premier League Southampton beat Bournemouth 2-0 at the Vitality Stadium. A result you think will see the Cherries relegated.

And in the battle for a top-four finish – Tottenham are battering Leicester. It’s 3-0 at the break with a brace from Harry Kane doing the damage.

Unless there’s some sort of miracle in the second half – that’s great news for both Manchester United and Chelsea.

Afternoon…

Hello everyone and welcome to our LIVE coverage of Manchester United vs Chelsea from Wembley.

Fine day for a FA Cup semi-final, don’t you think?

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Frank Lampard do battle for the honour and privilege of playing Arsenal in the grand final on August 1.

We’ll discuss just how the hell that happened in a little while.

Anyway, these bosses know a thing or two about the FA Cup. The Norwegian won it twice with the Red Devils and Lampard lifted it four times as one of Chelsea’s finest.

I suspect this could be a bit special. Standby for team news and line ups…