By OkayGoal
Manchester United predicted lineup vs Chelsea: Michael Carrick looks set to undo four of his Bournemouth selections at Stamford Bridge, with the captain restored, Bryan Mbeumo moved back to the right and two senior defenders recalled.
Manchester United head to west London for a 12.30pm kick-off on Saturday 31 October sitting 16th in the table. The 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth came straight after a 4-1 Champions League loss to Como, and the 1-1 draw at Leeds on 18 October, when Mbeumo’s opener was cancelled out by Dominic Calvert-Lewin, now feels a long time ago. Our Chelsea vs Manchester United preview has the bigger picture, and this side is worth reading next to how Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea are expected to line up.
Carrick faced the media on Thursday, and the armband was top of the agenda. Harry Maguire wore it against Bournemouth with Bruno Fernandes among the substitutes, but asked whether that would change, the United boss told reporters, as reported by Sky Sports: “There’s no decision to be made on that.” On his own position, he was just as blunt: “I don’t need assurances from anyone.”
The injury news was less cheerful. Benjamin Sesko’s shin problem has flared up again, and Carrick admitted: “We’re still not clear of exactly how long, but it’s going to be for a longer period of time.” Luke Shaw, Manuel Ugarte (knee) and Patrick Dorgu (hamstring) are also out, while Marcus Rashford is a major doubt with a hip issue after missing the Como and Bournemouth games.
Manchester United predicted lineup vs Chelsea
Manchester United predicted lineup vs Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Mazraoui, Maguire, Martinez, Dalot; Santos, Baleba; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Mount; Cunha
Senne Lammens: no debate in the Man United goal
Lammens started against Bournemouth and keeps the gloves. Three goals conceded at home is not a night any goalkeeper enjoys, but the problems in that game were in front of him, and he can expect a busy afternoon with Cole Palmer back from suspension for Chelsea.
Noussair Mazraoui: back at right-back in the Man United lineup vs Chelsea
Leny Yoro was used on the right of the back four against Bournemouth, and it did not work. Sports Mole expect Mazraoui to come straight back in. He is a more natural full-back, and he will need to be, because Morgan Rogers scored at Anfield in midweek and is likely to be the man running at him.
Harry Maguire: the one centre-back who survives
Maguire was captain for the day against Bournemouth and hands the armband back on Saturday, but he stays in the side. He is the only centre-back from last weekend expected to keep his place His job is to organise a back four with two new faces from last weekend.
Lisandro Martinez in the Manchester United predicted lineup vs Chelsea
Ayden Heaven started alongside Maguire last weekend, but Martinez looks set to return. The Argentine brings bite and a left foot that helps United play out from the back, and Carrick needs both at a ground where Chelsea will be desperate to respond after a bad week.
Diogo Dalot: left-back because there is nobody else
Shaw is not expected back until the Aston Villa game on 8 November at the earliest, and Dorgu is out for several weeks after a hamstring injury picked up with Denmark. That leaves Dalot, who filled in on the left against Bournemouth, to do the job again. It is not his natural side, but there is no other senior option.
Andrey Santos: the Manchester United lineup vs Chelsea needs his legs
Santos and Carlos Baleba started together against Bournemouth, and with Ugarte out and Kobbie Mainoo only just back on the grass, they are the pairing again. Santos has the energy to get around the pitch, and United will need it against a Chelsea midfield of Jordan Henderson, Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo.
Carlos Baleba: the summer signing keeps his place
Baleba joined from Brighton in the summer and started alongside Santos at the weekend. His main job on Saturday is simple enough: screen the back four and stop Palmer from finding space between the lines.
Bryan Mbeumo: back on the right in the Man United predicted lineup
Mbeumo led the line against Bournemouth, but he does his best work from the right. He also scored United’s goal at Elland Road earlier this month. Moving him back out wide is one of the easiest fixes Carrick can make, and it puts United’s most dangerous attacker up against a Chelsea left side that could be missing Jorrel Hato.
Bruno Fernandes returns to the Manchester United lineup vs Chelsea
Fernandes was an unused substitute against Bournemouth after criticising the tactics following the Como defeat. Carrick stood by that call on Thursday, saying: “It was a decision for the game. That’s it.” The pair have since cleared the air, and Fernandes is expected to replace Youri Tielemans, who has struggled to impress, in the No.10 role.
Mason Mount: one of the few positives
Mount was one of the rare bright spots against Bournemouth and keeps his place on the left of the three behind the striker. With Fernandes back in the middle, Mount can drift inside and give United an extra body around the box.
Matheus Cunha: the Man United No.9 vs Chelsea with Sesko out
With Sesko facing a long spell out, Cunha gets the nod through the middle and Amad Diallo is the man most at risk of dropping out. It is a stopgap rather than a solution, which is why United are already weighing a January move for the Leeds striker who scored against them this month.
Man United bench and doubts vs Chelsea
Mainoo is the one to watch. Carrick said on Thursday: “Good news, Kobbie done a little bit of training yesterday, so he’s back in and around the group.” That makes him a bench option rather than a likely starter, with Santos and Baleba expected to carry on in front of the defence.
Rashford needs a fitness assessment on his hip, and Carrick gave no fresh update on him on Thursday. Tielemans, Amad, Yoro and Heaven are the likeliest of last weekend’s starters to drop to the bench, which at least gives the head coach some options if United are chasing the game in the second half.
Can four changes save Carrick’s afternoon at Stamford Bridge?
This is the most experienced eleven Carrick can pick right now. Chelsea are without Maxence Lacroix at the back and have a 21-year-old in goal, so there is something for United to go at if Fernandes and Mbeumo click on the right side. The worry is at the other end. A back four with two changes from a 3-0 home defeat is exactly the sort of thing Palmer feeds on.
Manchester United predicted lineup vs Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Mazraoui, Maguire, Martinez, Dalot; Santos, Baleba; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Mount; Cunha