Chelsea will seek to exert their dominance on the Premier League further on Sunday when they play host to Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
Man Utd will be led once again by caretaker manager Michael Carrick, who got off to a winning start in midweek as the Red Devils picked up a 2-0 victory over Villarreal in the Champions League.
Goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho, his first for the club, secured the victory for the Old Trafford men.
Carrick pledged that he would not overhaul Man Utd’s style, but in starting Sancho and Donny van de Beek in the midweek encounter, it was a clear indication that the days of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer are over.
Key centre-back Raphael Varane is missing because of a thigh problem, causing a major headache at centre-back, where Harry Maguire is banned.
Left-back Luke Shaw is a doubt with a head injury, so the defence could be decimated.
Fred is a doubt in midfield and Paul Pogba is ruled out, while in attack Edinson Cavani has only a slim chance of playing and Mason Greenwood is absent with Covid.
Chelsea post few such complaints, though they will certainly be without Ben Chilwell at left wing-back due to knee ligament damage. Marcos Alonso is an automatic replacement.
The Blues’ issues could come in midfield, where Mateo Kovacic is out and there are severe doubts over N’Golo Kante.
Kai Havertz is the other player who could be sidelined for Thomas Tuchel’s in-form side, though Chelsea have plenty of offensive options to replace him – including the fit-again Romelu Lukaku, who will be out to hurt his former club.
Lukaku is likely to be treated gingerly, with Timo Werner a possible replacement after he netting in the impressive 4-0 win over Juventus in midweek.
Possible Chelsea and Man Utd starting XIs
