Michael Carrick believes Manchester United's crucial fixture against Chelsea "has the feelings of a real, proper game".

The Red Devils are third in the Premier League, seven points ahead of sixth-placed Chelsea as both sides fight for the Champions League places.

Following their 2-1 win in September, United are looking to complete the Premier League double over Chelsea for just the second time after the 2019-20 campaign.

Chelsea have lost just one of their last 12 Premier League home games against United (W6 D5), and are looking to win three in a row against them at Stamford Bridge for the first time since April 2006.

Carrick is relishing their upcoming battle in London as United look to take a big step towards returning to the Champions League.

"It's an important game. We're in a good position in the league, and we want to keep building on that," Carrick said.

"It has the feelings of a real, proper game, so we'll be ready for that. We've prepared well and take the confidence from what we've built.

"It's a tough place to go, always has been. We've had some tough games down there. Most of the time, they've been good games in terms of what it brings."

United did suffer a blow during the week as Harry Maguire's suspension was extended by one game for improper conduct, though he was already going to miss the Chelsea game.

"There's not much we can react to. Massively disappointed, of course," added Carrick.

"We've had a few reasons to be disappointed over those sort of situations over the last few weeks, but we have got to move on.

"The decisions have been made – something that we're really disappointed with in many ways – but we've got to move on now, and that's what we'll do."

Lisandro Martinez's red card against Leeds United was also upheld, to which Carrick said: "We are disappointed. We didn't agree with it.

"It was pretty obvious how I felt about it after the game, and I still feel that way.

"It is what it is; we've been hit with some decisions, but we have to accept it and move on."