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Attendance: 74,526
Manchester United logo
Premier League | Gameweek 36
Apr 28, 2019 at 4.30pm UK
 
Chelsea logo

1-1

Mata (11')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Alonso (43')

How Manchester United could line up against Chelsea

Sports Mole looks at how Manchester United could line up for Sunday's Premier League showdown with top-four rivals Chelsea at Old Trafford.

Manchester United welcome Chelsea to Old Trafford on Sunday knowing that they are running out of lives in a top-four race that no-one seems to want to win.

Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Arsenal have all dropped points during the run-in, but it is United's slump which has been the most dramatic with seven defeats from their last nine games across all competitions - their worst run of form since 1962.

Wednesday's derby loss to Manchester City left them still three points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea, and anything other than a victory this weekend over the team they are trying to catch would leave them facing the prospect of Europa League football next season.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could set his side up as he looks to stop the rot.



Possible MNU XI vs. CHE

Out: Antonio Valencia (muscle)
Doubtful: Phil Jones (knock), Ander Herrera (hamstring), Eric Bailly (head), Scott McTominay (knock)

> Click here to see Manchester United's latest injury and suspension news ahead of this match

Solskjaer has confirmed that David de Gea's status as number one is not under threat despite an error-strewn campaign by his usual standards, including mistakes for both goals in Wednesday's derby.

United played with five at the back for the visit of Man City, but they are unlikely to be as defensive against Chelsea and could revert to a 4-3-1-2 formation - although Solskjaer does seem to still be looking for his preferred system.

Nemanja Matic was among the players dropped against City following the horror-show at Everton last weekend, but he will hope to regain his place with Fred's recent performances having also drawn criticism.

United could be boosted by the return of Ander Herrera after six games out with a hamstring injury, while Romelu Lukaku is also pushing for a recall alongside Marcus Rashford as Solskjaer tries to boost his side's attacking threat.

The Red Devils have failed to score a single goal from open play in their last five matches, with their only strikes in that time coming from the penalty spot courtesy of surprise PFA Team of the Year inclusion Paul Pogba.

Phil Jones, Eric Bailly and Scott McTominay remain doubtful, with the latter having failed a fitness test ahead of the derby and undergoing another one prior to Sunday's match.

> Click here to see how Chelsea could line up for this match

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Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba in action during his side's Premier League clash with Fulham on February 9, 2019
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CManchester CityMan City38287396346291
2Arsenal38285591296289
3Liverpool382410486414582
4Aston Villa382081076611568
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs382061274611366
6Chelsea381891177631463
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle381861485622360
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd38186145758-160
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham381410146074-1452
10Crystal Palace381310155758-149
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton381212145562-748
12Bournemouth38139165467-1348
13Fulham38138175561-647
14Wolverhampton WanderersWolves38137185065-1546
15Everton38139164051-1140
16Brentford38109195665-939
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3899204967-1832
RLuton TownLuton3868245285-3326
RBurnley3859244178-3724
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd38372835104-6916


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