Manchester United XI vs Chelsea: Rasmus Højlund returns as three changes expected

Rasmus Højlund is expected to return to the starting XI as Manchester United welcome Chelsea to Old Trafford in the Premier League.

Manchester United are set to host Chelsea at Old Trafford on Sunday as they return to Premier League action.

In their last league match, the Reds suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to West Ham, with a disputed penalty decision leading to Erik ten Hag’s departure from the club.

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Ruud van Nistelrooy has stepped in as interim manager, and Rúben Amorim is expected to take over after the November international break.

Recently, United stormed to a 5-2 victory over Leicester City in the Carabao Cup, advancing to the quarter-finals, where they’ll meet Tottenham Hotspur in London.

Three changes expected

Van Nistelrooy is expected to make three changes from the side he picked against Leicester, with the first being the return of André Onana in goal.

Altay Bayındır was selected mid-week for his second appearance of the season, but as Premier League action returns, so will Onana. The Cameroon international has played every league fixture since he signed for the club in 2023.

In defence, one more change is due, with Noussair Mazraoui replacing Victor Lindelöf. Lindelöf played at centre, which forced Lsiandro Martínez to left-back, but the Argentina international is set to resume his more natural position alongside Matthijs de Ligt.

Mazraoui will likely assume the right-back role, with Diogo Dalot moving back to an auxiliary left-back position he has occupied for most of this season.

In midfield, Christian Eriksen, Mason Mount, and Kobbie Mainoo have injuries, so the club only has three senior players fit. Van Nistelrooy will have little choice but to field the same trio who started against Leicester.

Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte played well as the two deeper midfielders, while Bruno Fernandes grabbed two goals playing ahead of them in a very advanced role.

In attack, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho are expected to continue their roles on the left and right wings, respectively, but Joshua Zirkzee will likely be dropped.

Zirkzee received criticism for his display as a striker against Leicester, and first-choice forward Rasmus Højlund will likely replace the Dutch international in the position against Chelsea.

Man United expected XI

Onana, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martínez, Dalot, Ugarte, Casemiro, Fernandes, Garnacho, Højlund, Rashford.

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