Ed Sheeran, Adele Battle For U.K. Singles Chart Crown

Ed Sheeran looks set to snatch the U.K. chart crown from Adele.

In a battle of pop’s heavyweights, Sheeran’s “Shivers” leads the chart race at the earliest stage. But not by much.

“Shivers,” lifted from Sheeran’s chart-leading album = (Equals), lifts to No. 1 on the First Look chart, which ranks U.K. singles based on sales and streaming activity over the weekend.

Adele’s “Easy On Me,” the U.K.’s best-seller of the past three weeks, is close behind at No. 2, with just 500 chart sales separating them.

Based on OCC data from the first 48 hours in the chart cycle, Brighton rapper ArrDee has the hottest start with Flowers “(Say My Name)” at No. 6.

The track, which puts a drill spin on Sweet Female Attitude’s “Flowers” and Destiny’s Child’s “Say My Name,” is set to become the artist’s third U.K. Top 10 single.

Also aiming for a Top 20 debut is Travis Scott’s new release “Escape Plan” while Summer Walker and SZA’s joint “No Love,” from Walker’s Still Over It LP, is new at No. 20. If it keeps its momentum, it’ll give Walker her highest charting U.K. single to date, and SZA’s fifth Top 20.

The Official U.K. Singles Chart is published late Friday, local time.