Confirmed! Full Chelsea squad available for Man United clash
Chelsea will be hoping to maintain their unbeaten start to life under head coach Thomas Tuchel when they welcome Manchester United to Stamford Bridge for an eagerly anticipated Premier League showdown this afternoon, kick-off 4:30pm.
The Blues, who have failed to win any of their last six league meetings with the Red Devils, extended their unbeaten run under Tuchel to eight matches on Tuesday evening with a fully merited 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid in the first-leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in Bucharest.
Olivier Giroud netted the only goal of the game – a second half stunner – to seal a crucial away goal for the Blues ahead of the second-leg at Stamford Bridge next month.
Although the Blues’ victory over Atletico was by far and away Tuchel’s most impressive result in charge so far, today’s visit of United is set to be another stern test for his side, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team currently six points better off than the Blues.
With Tuchel having highlighted the threat that the likes of Fernandes, Martial and Rashford will pose this afternoon, he would have liked to have been able to call upon experienced centre-back Thiago Silva.
However, the Brazilian remains sidelined with a thigh problem, which has meant that he has missed the Blues’ last five games in all competitions.
Fortunately, the former AC Milan star is the only injury concern Tuchel has to contend with.
However, the likes of N’Golo Kante and Kai Havertz will be pushing for starting berths after starting on the bench in midweek.
Full Chelsea squad available to face Manchester United:
Goalkeepers: Edouard Mendy, Kepa Arrizabalaga & Willy Caballero.
Defenders: Reece James, Cesar Azpilicueta, Antonio Rudiger, Kurt Zouma, Andreas Christensen, Ben Chilwell, Marcos Alonso & Emerson Palmieri.
Midfielders: Hakim Ziyech, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Jorginho, N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Billy Gilmour, Mason Mount, Kai Havertz & Faustino Anjorin.
Strikers: Tammy Abraham, Timo Werner & Olivier Giroud.