Manchester United caretaker manager Michael Carrick has named his starting eleven to face Chelsea this evening.
The clash at Stamford Bridge could prove to be the former midfielder’s only Premier League game in charge of the Red Devils.
This is due to German coach Ralf Rangnick being expected to be announced as the club’s interim manager until the end of the season (Sky Sports).
But after the 2-0 win at Villarreal in midweek, this is how Carrick has lined his side up against Thomas Tuchel’s side. He has made four changes to the side that beat the Europa League holders.
Starting XI: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Bailly, Telles, McTominay, Fred, Matic, Fernandes, Sancho, Rashford.
Substitutes: Henderson, Dalot, Jones, Mata, van de Beek,, Lingard, Martial, Greenwood, Ronaldo.
You can see how Carrick’s line-up compares to our predicted one for the game here.
The big news is that Cristiano Ronaldo is left on the bench. Bruno Fernandes comes into the side with Donny van de Beek back on the bench. Our number 18 will captain the side in Maguire’s absence.
Eric Bailly comes into the side alongside Victor Lindelof, in place of our suspended club captain Harry Maguire. Nemanja Matic is given a recall alongside Scott McTominay and Fred, who has been passed fit.
It will be interesting to see how United set up without a natural out and out striker being picked to start the game.
Phil Jones is back on the bench due to Carrick being without Maguire and the injured Raphael Varane.
After a bright cameo in the El Madrigal, Marcus Rashford has been given the nod over Anthony Martial.
Jadon Sancho will be looking to kick on after scoring his first Manchester United goal against the Yellow Submarine, which helped the Reds secure top spot in Group F and with it our place in the Champions League last-16.
United’s number 25 will once again be hoping to link up with Ronaldo, if and when he comes off the bench, who opened the scoring against Unai Emery’s side on his return to Spain.
Carrick will be hoping that the 36-year-old ends his unwanted record against the Blues and scores his first Premier League goal against the league leaders.
But that will have to be from the bench as the five-time Ballon d’Or winner is a surprise exclusion from the starting line-up.
A win for United would see us move up to sixth in the Premier League table and close the gap on our opponents to nine points.
However, a defeat would leave us in 10th place and 15 points off the pace, after just 13 games.
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