It’s a big day in our season tomorrow as we welcome Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea to Old Trafford.
Despite our lowly league position, top four has to be our ambition, and this is a top four six-pointer. Win and we move within one result (i.e. 3 points) of Chelsea. Lose and the gap stretches to nine.
Jadon Sancho won’t be fit enough to come back to haunt us, but Chelsea still have plenty of firepower, including man-of-the-moment Cole Palmer. Can we keep the Mancunian and boyhood Red quiet?
After the win and great performance at Leicester, not to mention confirmation of Amorim’s appointment, there is a renewed sense of optimism at Old Trafford. A performance and result like the Spurs game would mostly dash that, but one more similar to the Leicester game would have us on cloud nine – at least until Thursday!
Manchester United Team News
United played well against Leicester, and it’s unlikely that Ruud will change much after beating Premier League opposition comfortably. Casemiro was a clear MOTM on and fellow midfielders Bruno and Ugarte were excellent, so the midfield picks itself. Noussair Mazraoui could start at left back with Martinez moving infield to centre back, and Hojlund could start over the relatively ineffective Joshua Zirkzee.
It could be one of the final few games in which United line up in the 4-3-3 system favoured by Erik Ten Hag. Ruben Anorim is almost certain to fundamentally change our structure to his favoured 3-4-3, which includes three centre halves and two attacking full backs.
There isn’t too much that we don’t already know about our players’ fitness and availability. Earlier today Ruud van Nistelrooy that Cristian Eriksen is touch-and-go, but looking to make the squad at the last minute.
Kobbie Mainoo, Harry Maguire and Antony are still out, and ong-term absentees Mason Mount, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Leny Yoro remain sidelined. All four are said to be nearing full fitness, but Luke Shaw did recently suffer a recovery setback.
Manchester United Possible Lineup
Chelsea Preview
The billion+ spent on Chelsea’s squad looks like it’s finally coming to fruition; they sit in fifth and are just one point off the top 4.
They have no injuries, apart from ex-Red Jadon Sancho, who is looking to rebuild his career after a spell devoid of either quality or effort at United.
The men to watch are Cole Palmer and Nicholas Jackson; who have seven and six goals in nine Premier League games respectively. Madueke has goals in him too, including an excellent hattrick in a 6-2 thrashing of Wolves earlier this season. United will need to cut out the defensive lapses that let Leicester score twice in mid-week.
Form Guide
Manchester United Premier League form: WDLDWL
Manchester United form (all competitions): DDWDLW
Chelsea League form: WWWDLW
West Ham form (all competitions): WDLWWL
Prediction
There have been signs of improvement in recent games; such as Leicester, Brentford and the first half of the West Ham game.
But the team is still very much a work in progress, and Chlesea are a much better team than those three, with some great players.
With the Old Trafford crowd behind us and the ‘new manager bounce’, there’s a good chance we can get a result, so we’re going for a score draw.
Predicted score: Manchester United 2-2 Chelsea
