Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has dropped star defender David Luiz!
Chelsea winger Eden Hazard (Photo: AFP)
Defending champions Chelsea host Manchester United in the highlight Premier League tie of the weekend on Sunday night and the lineups have been revealed.
Chelsea team: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Cahill (c); Zappacosta, Bakayoko, Kante, Fabregas, Alonso; Hazard, Morata. #CHEMUN pic.twitter.com/JJz4lg7whi
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) November 5, 2017
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Chelsea trot out in a 3-5-2 formation with Thibaut Courtois starting behind a three-man defence of Cesar Azpilicueta, Gary Cahill and Andreas Christensen.
It seems David Luiz has been dropped in favour of young Christensen and there is a surprise in the wing-back slot as well as Davide Zappacosta starts on the right with Marcos Alonso occupying a similar role on the opposite flank.
Tiemoue Bakayoko starts with the returning N’Golo Kante and Cesc Fabregas in midfield while star winger Eden Hazard and club record-signing Alvaro Morata play at the tip of their formation.
Here it is – today’s #MUFC team for #CHEMUN! pic.twitter.com/6DAYhctFT4
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 5, 2017
United manager Jose Mourinho has opted to start with the same XI that beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 at Old Trafford last week.
David de Gea retains his place between the sticks while central defenders Chris Smalling, Eric Bailly and Phil Jones starting in front of him.
Marouane Fellaini makes the match day squad but the Belgian isn’t fit enough to start and Nemanja Matic and Ander Herrera partner each other in central midfield while Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia are the preferred wing-backs for the night.
Top scorer Romelu Lukaku leads the line for United and has the likes of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Marcus Rashford for company.
Chelsea: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Cahill (c), Zappacosta, Bakayoko, Kante, Fabregas, Alonso, Hazard and Morata.
Manchester United: De Gea, Bailly, Jones, Smalling, Valencia (c), Herrera, Matic, Young, Mkhitaryan, Lukaku and Rashford.
Match starts at 1630 GMT/2200 IST
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