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Tuesday, November 3
Oct 24, 2020 at 5.30pm UK
Man UtdManchester United
0-0
ChelseaChelsea

Shaw (39'), Fred (46'), Rashford (76')
FT

Havertz (45+1')
/esi/1339/6_G_1_120422/index.html?art_id=419376&game_id=120422&sport_id=1&ESI

Combined XI: Manchester United vs. Chelsea

:Headline: Combined XI: Manchester United vs. Chelsea: ID:419376: from db_amp
Ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash between Manchester United and Chelsea, Sports Mole picks a combined XI from both squads.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Frank Lampard will lock horns once again on Saturday evening as Manchester United welcome Chelsea to Old Trafford in the Premier League.

United were thumped 6-1 by Tottenham Hotspur in their last league game at Old Trafford but have since picked up two impressive results, beating Newcastle United 4-1 last weekend before recording a 2-1 victory away to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

The Red Devils are currently 15th in the table with six points to show from their four matches, while Chelsea occupy eighth, having picked up eight points from their first five fixtures of the 2020-21 campaign.

The Blues were held to a 3-3 draw by Southampton in their last Premier League match on October 17, while they played out a goalless draw with Sevilla in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

United have not actually lost to Chelsea in the Premier League since November 2017, with the 20-time English champions winning both league outings last term, including a 4-0 success at Old Trafford.

Some of the Premier League's biggest talents will be on display on Saturday and with that in mind, Sports Mole picks a combined XI from both squads, using only players available for the game.


There is no question that the return of Dean Henderson to United over the summer has had an impact on David de Gea's form, with the Spain international showing signs of his best against Newcastle and PSG in the team's last two matches. Edouard Mendy's early performances for Chelsea has been impressive, but it was not a particularly difficult decision to select De Gea between the sticks in this particular XI.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka must improve his output in the final third and work on the ball if he is to become one of the leading right-backs in European football, but there are few better defensively than the former Crystal Palace youngster. The 22-year-old was in sensational form against PSG on Tuesday night and is included as the right-back in this particular XI ahead of Chelsea's Reece James, who is undoubtedly a huge talent.

Ben Chilwell gets the nod on the left, with the England international showing plenty of positive signs in the very early stages of his Chelsea career. Alex Telles had a promising debut against PSG as a left-sided wing-back, but it is difficult to include the Brazil international at this moment in time, while Luke Shaw's performances as a left-back have been disappointing. As a result, Chilwell is handed the position, while he is joined in defence by teammate Thiago Silva, who steadied his team's back four after returning for the goalless draw with Sevilla.

Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof have both had their problems this term, though, while Kurt Zouma and Andreas Christensen are yet to seriously convince. Axel Tuanzebe therefore gets the spot alongside Silva, largely due to his five-star performance against PSG on Tuesday. The fit-again central defender was in sensational form against the French champions and could be a huge player for the Red Devils this season and in the coming years if he can steer clear of injuries.

A two-man midfield, meanwhile, includes Chelsea's N'Golo Kante and United's Fred. It is perhaps not a surprise that Kante is included, with the Frenchman appearing to have overcome the injury issues that harmed him last term. When fit, the World Cup winner is one of the best holding midfielders in world football, and it was difficult to justify leaving him out of this side for the likes of Scott McTominay, Nemanja Matic and Jorginho.

The obvious choice alongside Kante would have been Paul Pogba, but the Frenchman's form has been incredibly disappointing this season, and he could again be on the bench against Lampard's side. Fred, on the other hand, has been outstanding in United's last two wins over Newcastle and PSG, and the Brazil international deserves a spot in this XI as he is a player in brilliant form ahead of the contest at Old Trafford.

Further forward, Bruno Fernandes is an absolute certainty; the Portugal international has scored four times and provided three assists in six appearances for United this season, and he starred while wearing the captain's armband against PSG in Paris. Fernandes is joined in the XI by teammate Marcus Rashford, meanwhile, with the Englishman making it four club goals for the season with a late winner in Tuesday's European clash.

Mason Greenwood's involvement is in doubt due to recent disciplinary issues, while Anthony Martial will serve the second of a three-match domestic suspension, meaning that Edinson Cavani could start through the middle for the Red Devils on Saturday. It is difficult to include Cavani in this XI, though, as he is yet to make his debut, having been forced to quarantine after arriving on transfer deadline day.

Timo Werner is therefore handed the spot through the middle, with the Germany international scoring his first Premier League goals for the club against Southampton last weekend. The 24-year-old will be determined to fire against United on Saturday and his pace could be a real problem for Maguire.

The final position in the XI goes to Chelsea's Kai Havertz, with the 21-year-old showing plenty of positive signs since arriving at Stamford Bridge from Bayer Leverkusen over the summer. Havertz has already scored four times and contributed two assists in seven appearances for his new club, including one goal and two assists in the Premier League.

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last updated article - 2020-10-22 20:22:30:
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