Manchester United: Team news and predicted XI ahead of Chelsea clash | OneFootball

Manchester United will be hoping to make it back-to-back victories under the reign of interim manager Michael Carrick when they take on Chelsea in their Premier League clash this afternoon.

The Red Devils look set to appoint Ralf Rangnick as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s successor following successful talks with the German, and they’ll be eager to put on a good show at Stamford Bridge.

However, Carrick could be without a handful of important first team stars for the trip to west London.

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Long-term absentees Paul Pogba and Raphael Varane could be joined by Edinson Cavani, Fred and Luke Shaw on the sidelines due to a variety of injury issues, forcing the ex-Red Devils midfielder to change up his starting XI today.

The likes of Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood will be pushing for recalls, though, and Carrick will need his team to be on top form to keep the current league leaders at bay.

With that in mind, here’s how Football FanCast expects the 40-year-old to line up against Thomas Tuchel’s Blues, with three changes from the side which started against Villarreal last time out…

David de Gea will keep his place between the sticks after making an impressive return to form this season, and he’ll be desperate to keep his second clean sheet in a row.

Ahead of the Spanish shot-stopper will be a back four made up of Alex Telles, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Aaron Wan-Bissaka due to the enforced absences of Shaw and Varane.

In midfield, Fred’s ankle issue may seen the experienced Nemanja Matic make a rare start against his former club alongside Scott McTominay as United look to contain an in-form Chelsea side.

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Ahead of the defensive duo will be a front four including Rashford, Fernandes, Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo. The former two gave United a much greater impetus against Villarreal following their half-time introductions and both should start today.

Sancho scored his first goal for the club in midweek, and the former Borussia Dortmund star will be looking to cement his place in the starting XI as the £31.5m-rated Anthony Martial is dropped to the bench following a disappointing performance in Spain last Tuesday.