By OkayGoal
Chelsea predicted lineup vs Manchester United: Cole Palmer is back from suspension and looks set to lead the line as a false nine, while Maxence Lacroix’s hamstring forces Xabi Alonso into a new centre-back pairing at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea host Michael Carrick’s side at 12.30pm on Saturday 31 October, and the Blues need a response. A 2-0 home defeat to Tottenham was followed by a Carabao Cup exit at Anfield on Wednesday, where a 1-1 draw ended in a 6-5 shootout loss. Our full Chelsea vs Manchester United preview covers both camps. This piece is all about the eleven Alonso is likely to send out.
Alonso made only four changes for the Liverpool tie. Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia and Danny Welbeck came in for Jorrel Hato, Levi Colwill, Geovany Quenda and the suspended Palmer, with Chelsea set up in a 4-4-1-1 and Jordan Henderson at No.10 behind Welbeck. Palmer’s red card for two bookings against Spurs carried a one-match ban, he served it at Anfield, and he is free to play on Saturday.
Estevao did not get on at all on Wednesday, not even for one of his usual late cameos. Joao Pedro (thigh), Reece James (knee), Emiliano Martinez (jaw) and Jamie Gittens (ankle) are all still out, so Alonso’s options at both ends of the pitch are thin.
Chelsea predicted lineup vs Manchester United
Chelsea predicted lineup vs Manchester United (4-3-3): Penders; Acheampong, Fofana, Colwill, Hato; Henderson, Lavia, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Rogers
Mike Penders: the only real option in goal
With Martinez recovering from jaw surgery after his collision with Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, the 21-year-old keeps the gloves. Penders took plenty of criticism after punching a corner into his own net against Tottenham, but he answered it at Anfield with three important saves in normal time and a stop from Ryan Gravenberch in the shootout.
Josh Acheampong at right-back in the Chelsea lineup vs Man United
Acheampong started against Spurs and again at Anfield, and with James not expected back in 2026 after knee surgery, the right-back spot is his. Gusto is the other option, but he went off with cramp on Wednesday and played on the left in that game.
Wesley Fofana: a chance to make amends
Fofana had a night to forget on Merseyside. He gave away the handball penalty that Cody Gakpo scored and then sent the decisive kick over the bar, as covered in our report on Chelsea’s shootout defeat at Liverpool. He is still the obvious man to step in for Lacroix, and a clean first half on Saturday would go a long way to putting Wednesday behind him.
Levi Colwill partners Fofana in the Chelsea predicted lineup
Colwill started on the bench at Anfield and came on for Lacroix just before half-time. He started against Tottenham, and he was the first defender Alonso turned to when Lacroix pulled up, which says plenty about where he sits in the pecking order.
Jorrel Hato: left-back if he is fit
Hato started against Spurs but did not travel to Anfield, and he is listed as a doubt. Sports Mole expect him back in the back four. If he isn’t ready, Gusto is the fallback after playing there on Wednesday, while Pep Chavarria is stepping up his training after missing the last three games.
Jordan Henderson in the Chelsea midfield vs Man United
Henderson played as a No.10 at Anfield, but with Palmer back he drops into a midfield three. He scored twice and set up another in the 5-1 win over Bournemouth earlier this month, so he is far from a passenger in this side.
Romeo Lavia: the one cup starter who stays in
Lavia came in for Quenda at Liverpool and is the player from the cup side most likely to keep his place. A midfield of Henderson, Lavia and Caicedo gives Alonso three bodies in front of a back four that has lost Lacroix. That matters for a team that has shipped 15 league goals, a total only Crystal Palace (19) and Ipswich Town (16) have topped.
Moises Caicedo: a knock, but he should start vs Manchester United
Caicedo was taken off in the 68th minute at Anfield with what was reported as a “little problem”. The early signs are that it will not affect his availability, and Chelsea need him: it was Gravenberch’s foul on Caicedo that gave Morgan Rogers the penalty for the opener.
Pedro Neto: a starter in the Chelsea predicted lineup vs Manchester United
Neto started against Tottenham and at Anfield and keeps his place in the front three. With Joao Pedro out for a few weeks and Gittens injured, there is nobody pushing him hard for the shirt right now.
Cole Palmer: the false nine in the Chelsea lineup vs Man United
This is the big call. Joao Pedro is not expected back before the November international break, Welbeck failed to impress at Anfield and Emmanuel Emegha, who missed in the shootout, is not yet up to speed. Chelsea created only two big chances without Palmer on Wednesday.
Putting him through the middle gets the ball to Chelsea’s best player in the most dangerous area of the pitch, and it saves Alonso from leaning on a striker who is not ready. The longer-term fix is a new No.9, and the club have already sent scouts to watch a 20-year-old Monaco striker.
Morgan Rogers: scored at Anfield, starts again
Rogers put away the opening penalty at Liverpool and completes the front three. He has been used centrally at times this season, which lets Alonso swap him and Palmer around during the game if United’s centre-backs get comfortable.
Chelsea bench and doubts vs Manchester United
Lacroix is almost certain to miss out. The £52m summer signing from Crystal Palace had played in all eight Premier League games before pulling up at Anfield, and Alonso was not ready to put a timescale on it. Speaking after the game, the Chelsea boss said: “Too early to tell. Probably he felt something on the hamstrings.” His next update should come at the pre-match press conference.
Gusto, Welbeck, Quenda, Estevao, Valentin Barco, Marco Palestra and Emegha are the likeliest options from the bench. Alonso has backed Estevao to get his chance, and a game where the Blues need a spark late on could be the moment.
United arrive 16th, 11 places and six points behind Chelsea, though United did beat Chelsea twice in the league last season. For Alonso, the priority is a back four that stops leaking goals, and this is the most solid version of his side he can put out.
Chelsea predicted lineup vs Manchester United (4-3-3): Penders; Acheampong, Fofana, Colwill, Hato; Henderson, Lavia, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Rogers