Why Chelsea don't have a game this weekend

The 2022/23 Premier League season is turning into quite the thriller given there is so much left to play for in all areas of the table.

It is fairly commonplace for either the title race, the relegation battle or the top four tussle to be more or less sewn up by now. That is not at all the case this term and that is why every fanbase wants to see their team in action as frequently as possible.

Unfortunately for the Chelsea fans who do not feel like they've seen enough already this season, the Blues won't be playing at all this weekend in any competition. Here is why.

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Why aren't Chelsea playing this weekend?

The Premier League schedule can start to get changed fairly frequently at this stage of the season, disrupting the travel plans of some fans and leaving others wondering why they cannot watch their game on TV.

The primary reason they aren't in action this weekend, or why you keep seeing 'Manchester United vs Chelsea - Postponed', is because United are playing in the FA Cup on Sunday against Brighton.

That means they cannot also play Chelsea, so Frank Lampard's side have been left with no game to play. A replacement fixture would have been arranged had it became clear there was a clash, but Chelsea do not have any games in hand. They have played 31 Premier League games so far this season which is the maximum that can have been played so far.

It means that after this weekend, Chelsea will have a game in hand over most other sides in the Premier League, who will be on 32 matches played.

When do Chelsea play next?

Considering Chelsea were in action earlier in the week against Real Madrid in the Champions League, the postponement of the Manchester United game could be viewed as a good thing.

The Blues next play on Wednesday night at home against Brentford and will have had a week of rest between that match and the game against Real Madrid. They would have had to play United in that week.

When will Chelsea play against Man Utd?

No date has been set for the match between Chelsea and Man Utd at Old Trafford which could prove pivotal to the Blues' chances of securing any sort of European football for next season.

It is likely the Premier League are waiting to see if United make it through to the FA Cup final as that will also affect their schedule. United have only played 30 games in the Premier League so far so gaps are harder to find in their schedule, further adding to the mystery of when the game will be played.

United are currently 20 points further up the table than Chelsea and are favourites to secure a place in the Champions League next season. Chelsea are down in 11th place and will need a serious upturn in form under Frank Lampard if they are to even snatch a Europa Conference League place.

Since Lampard took charge, he has lost all four games he has taken charge of.

LISTEN NOW

On this edition of Son of Chelsea, part of the 90min podcast network, Daniel Childs reacts to the Blues' 2-1 loss to Brighton and contemplates whether they are in danger of relegation. If you can't see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast!