Manchester United hope to end their dismal eight-match winless streak as they visit Chelsea for a Premier League fixture at Stamford Bridge.
Interim manager Michael Carrick has been given extra time to turn the situation around despite the prolonged crisis, and now he will likely need to make significant personnel and tactical changes to shake up the team.
Chelsea have also lost their last two matches, and the Red Devils will look to exploit their opponent's vulnerabilities to secure a crucial victory. For this, Manchester United will need to restructure their squad significantly. Following a personal conversation with Carrick, captain Bruno Fernandes is expected to return to the starting XI, replacing Youri Tielemans in the number ten role, where the Belgian has recently struggled.
Another vital boost in midfield is the return of Kobbie Mainoo, who has recovered from injury. He is expected to replace Andrey Santos and form a partnership in the deep-lying midfield with Carlos Baleba.
Mateus Cunha should return to the attacking line, having scored the winning goal at Stamford Bridge last season. He is set to replace Mason Mount, who had a disappointing match against Bournemouth on the left flank.
These changes should help return United to a winning mindset. The anticipated starting XI for Manchester United (1-4-2-3-1) is as follows:
Lafont — Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw — Mainoo, Baleba — Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha — Šeško.
