Manchester United Predicted XI vs Chelsea: Ighalo likely to make debut from the bench

Manchester United return from their winter break to face a big Premier League match at Chelsea on Monday night. 

The two sides faced each other on the opening day of the season when the Red Devils ran out 4-0 winners.

But now 25 games down, it’s the fourth-placed Blues who lead the ninth-placed Reds in the table with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side sitting six points adrift of the London side.

With the news that Manchester City could possibly be banned from the Champions League the next two seasons, as it stands, fifth place would qualify for next year’s competition.

A win for United would take them to within a point of that fifth place, where Sheffield United currently sit.

But which players will Solskjaer task with the challenge of getting three points from Stamford Bridge? Here we predict the United boss’ XI…

Goalkeeper: Despite having a dip in form, there’s no doubt that De Gea is the club’s undisputed number 1 and he will again continue between the sticks on Monday night.

Defenders: The quad of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw have helped United keep clean sheets in the past two matches at Manchester City (League Cup) and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Despite Brandon Williams, who played in a back five at City but was left out against Wolves, impressing against Chelsea in the League Cup earlier this season, we expect Shaw to keep his place after recently returning from injury.

Midfielders: After showing glimpses of his quality on debut against Wolves, Bruno Fernandes will be hoping that two weeks integrating into the squad will see him flourish against Chelsea. We expect the Portuguese to be given the ‘string pulling’ responsibility in front of Fred and ex-Blue Nemanja Matic.

Forwards: New signing Odion Ighalo is available but after not being able to link up with the squad during their Marbella winter break, the Nigerian will have to settle at making his debut from the bench. This, along with Marcus Rashford’s injury, means Solskjaer has little option but to again start with Daniel James, Mason Greenwood and Anthony Martial.

Predicted XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Lindelof, Shaw; Fred, Matic, Fernandes; James, Greenwood, Martial.