Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho returns to Chelsea this weekend for the first time since he was sacked by the West London club last year.

The Portuguese oversaw a woeful start to their Premier League title defence, and was relieved of his duties in December 2015 with the Blues sat 16th in the table and just a point above the bottom three.

Nevertheless, the 53-year-old took over from Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford in the summer, and his United side have made an average start to the Portuguese’s tenure.

The Red Devils sit seventh in the Premier League, five points adrift of leaders Manchester City, having won four of their first eight league games, whereas Antonio Conte’s Chelsea find themselves two points and two places better off than Mourinho’s men.

A 0-0 draw at Liverpool on Monday night suggests that Mourinho might be beginning to stamp his authority on the United team, and it will be interesting to see how he tactically sets his side up at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

The build-up to the game is well underway, and here we have selected a combined Chelsea and Manchester United eleven from the current squads…

GK – David de Gea

David de Gea has proved once again this season why he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

The Spanish international made two stunning saves to deny Liverpool’s Emre Can and Philippe Coutinho on Monday night, which in turn saw him clinch a third Premier League clean sheet of the campaign.

He’s a far cry away from the de Gea we all saw in the early stages of his United career, and he pips Chelsea shot-stopper Thibaut Courtois to start in this eleven.

RB – Antonio Valencia

Branislav Ivanovic has been poor for Chelsea this season and, with his contract up at the end of the season, it looks like his spell in West London is coming to an end.

United themselves have had issues at full-back, although Antonio Valencia’s form in that position is worthy of high praise.

He has not really been known for his defensive capabilities, which is hardly surprising given he moved to United as a winger, but he has shown at times this season just how much the defensive side of his game has improved.

A goal-saving tackle on Roberto Firmino on Monday was evidence of this, and he gets a place ahead of Ivanovic in this team.

CB – John Terry

Even at the age of 35, John Terry is still the best centre-back at Chelsea, 19 years on from his debut for the Blues.

The former England captain still commands the back four in the same way he has done over the years and, although he is not as quick as he used to be, he more than makes up for it with his positional awareness and general reading of the game.

He’ll be a big miss for Chelsea on Sunday, having already been ruled out with injury.

CB – Eric Bailly

Having already been likened to Nemanja Vidic and tipped to go on and become one of the world’s best defenders, Eric Bailly has been an excellent signing for United this season.

The 22-year-old joined the club from Villarreal as a relative unknown, but has slotted into the United defence seamlessly, and is now seen as Mourinho’s first choice centre-half.

Although he wasn’t at his best against Fenerbahce on Thursday, the Ivorian international has formed a solid partnership with Chris Smalling, and deserves his place alongside Terry in this eleven.

LB – Cesar Azpilicueta

One Chelsea defender who has remained solid throughout the opening months of the season, Cesar Azpilicueta, continues to show what a capable defender he is.

Playing at left-back, as part of a back three, or as a wing-back doesn’t seem to faze the 27-year-old, who is just as good offensively as he is defensively.

United have had a few issues at left-back this season, with Luke Shaw coming in for criticism, but Azpilicueta would probably get in ahead of him anyway.

CDM – N’Golo Kante

N’Golo Kante has picked up at Chelsea exactly where he left off at Leicester City.

The French international has been excellent at times for the Blues this season and, although there has been the odd average display, he has made a centre midfield slot his own.

He showed Leicester what they were missing in Chelsea’s 3-0 win over the champions last weekend, and would be invaluable in this starting eleven as well.

CDM – Ander Herrera

Based on recent form and performances, Ander Herrera would slot in alongside Kante in marshalling the middle of the park.

The Spaniard has nailed down a place in Mourinho’s side in recent weeks thanks to impressive displays, with a man-of-the-match one at Liverpool particularly excellent.

He helped and led a United midfield that gave one of the best attacking units in the Premier League very little time and space on Monday, and he’s a player who is growing in confidence every week.

He is also beginning to look like a leader in the middle – he is very vocal and authoritative and, alongside Kante, could form a strong unit in this combined team.

RM – Willian

Chelsea’s Player of the Year last season, Willian’s 11 goals in 49 appearances last time out was the only bright spark in a poor season at Stamford Bridge.

Outshone by Eden Hazard, Oscar, and Cesc Fabregas in recent times, the 28-year-old really stepped up last season, and has become an important member of the Chelsea team this season as well.

An incredible work-rate and willingness to help out defensively would benefit any side, so the Brazilian international warrants a place in this team.

CAM – Paul Pogba

Although Paul Pogba is stilling finding his feet in his second spell at Manchester United, there have been signs that he is beginning to capture some form.

The France international wasn’t great at Anfield on Monday night, although at times did look like he was striking up a decent understanding with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but was much improved against Fenerbahce on Thursday.

He coolly scored the opener from the spot and then fired home a superb second from outside the box, and he played with a confidence that suggests he is not far away from producing his best form.

He would flourish in the advanced role in this team.

LM – Eden Hazard

It may have taken until April 23 for Eden Hazard to net his first Premier League goal of the 2015/16 season, yet he has already proved this time around that last year’s campaign was just a mere blip.

The Belgium international has found the net three times already this season, that’s just one fewer than last campaign’s total, but he’s playing with the freedom and confidence we all saw when he won the PFA Players’ Player of the Year for the 2014/15 season.

The 25-year-old would get into most sides in the Premier League, and definitely deserves a place in this combined eleven.

CF – Diego Costa

Deciding between United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Chelsea’s Diego Costa is far from easy, but the latter’s recent goal-scoring form and proven track-record in English football gets him the nod.

The Spanish international has scored seven goals in his first eight Premier League matches, and is well on his way to matching and possibly surpassing the 20 he netted back in the Blues’ title-winning campaign of 2014/15.

He’s a nightmare to defend against with his physicality, aggression, and clinical finishing giving him all the traits of a world-class striker.