Photo: Andy Wilkins
Both United and Chelsea come into this off successful pre-season campaigns and meet for the first opening day fixture at Old Trafford since 1958 when Sir Bobby Charlton managed a hat-trick in a 5-2 win to the hosts.
Both teams also faced Transfer Deadline Day departures as Romelu Lukaku left United for Serie A side Inter Milan to join former-Chelsea boss Antonio Conte whilst David Luiz left Chelsea for London neighbours Arsenal.
Harry Maguire is ready to make his Manchester United debut after his transfer from Leicester City with Paul Pogba looking set to feature after having to deal with a back injury. Alexis Sanchez isn’t expect to to feature following his involvement in the Copa America with Chile.
N’Golo Kante could miss the game for Chelsea given he ended up with a knee injury that ultimately finished his pre-season whilst Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Antonio Rudiger and Callum Hudson-Odoi continue to be sidelined.
“Of course Rom has a good record and stats, he’s one of the top number nines around when you want to play with that kind of striker, a target man.
I’m very confident that we’ll get goals from (Anthony) Martial, Daniel James and (Marcus) Rashford and Jesse Lingard. I believe Mason Greenwood is going to be playing and involved a lot and, when he is, he’s going to score goals.”
“We have to remain competitive while we are in this position. With the ban it has been easy to write off this squad, and I don’t write off this squad at all.
I think that what is important is that you have a target within the group. What matters is how we approach things. We will see how we go.”
Manchester United Wins: 78
Draws: 51
Chelsea Wins: 54
Manchester United – De Gea, Wan Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Pogba, McTominay, James, Lingard, Martial & Rashford
Chelsea – Arrizabalaga, Emerson, Zouma, Christensen, Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Kante, Pulisic, Mount, Pedro & Abraham
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