Chelsea predicted XI vs Man Utd as Cole Palmer handed new role
Chelsea’s Pochettino reveals respect for under-fire Ten Hag
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino will hope that his young team will build on the momentum of a spirited victory over Brighton with only 10 men on Sunday. Conor Gallagher’s first-half red card left the Blues hanging on to a rare home victory but Pochettino’s side recorded a 3-2 victory.
Manchester United at Old Trafford is the next major challenge for Chelsea. Express Sport picks a Blues team to face the Red Devils.
Goalkeeper: Sanchez
Robert Sanchez will be buoyed by a victory over former club Brighton given the bitterness surrounding his exit. Questions remain over his ability as an elite Premier League goalkeeper, but for now he is Chelsea’s No 1.
Defenders: James, Silva, Badiashile, Colwill
Captain Reece James will likely come in as one of two changes. The right-back has returned from suspension following his red card card against Newcastle 10 days ago.
Benoit Badiashile has enjoyed a positive return to the Chelsea line-up and will surely continue. Levi Colwill will compete with Marc Cucurella for a start at left-back.
READ MORE: Chelsea boss Pochettino has blunt reply on Man Utd links as Ten Hag under-fire[QUOTES]
Midfielders: Fernandez, Caicedo, Palmer
Pochettino’s biggest dilemma comes at the tip of his three-man midfield. Gallagher’s suspension means that his usual trio of the England star, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo will be disrupted due to suspension for the second time in three matches.
Cole Palmer moved into a more central position after Gallagher’s dismissal and could do so again against United. The England U21 attacker is more natural as a right-winger but seemed comfortable in the centre at Stamford Bridge.
His ability to receive the ball on the half turn and drive at an anxious defence will see him fit seamlessly into midfield.
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Attackers: Sterling, Jackson, Mudryk
Palmer’s move inside could hand Mykhaylo Mudryk successive starts. Nearly a year on from his £88m switch for Shakhtar Donetsk, the winger’s Chelsea career is yet to take off. A match-winning performance against United could endear him to supporters.
So too could more goals from Nicolas Jackson. Aside from a hat-trick against nine-man Tottenham, the forward has been unconvincing in a Chelsea shirt and may face being replaced by an elite No 9 in January. Goals at Old Trafford could persuade the Stamford Bridge hierarchy to divert their attention elsewhere.
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