{"items":[{"title":"Chelsea vs Manchester United: Combined XI","body":"
Chelsea play the first of two huge cup games on Monday night when Manchester United travel to Stamford Bridge for a repeat of last season\u2019s final, in which Eden Hazard\u2019s penalty handed the Blues a 1-0 win.<\/p>\n
Maurizio Sarri\u2019s side go into the clash on the back of their Europa League triumph against Malmo in Sweden, whilst United were beaten in Europe by Paris Saint-Germain last time out \u2013 the club\u2019s first defeat under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.<\/p>\n
Earlier this season, Ross Barkley acted as Chelsea\u2019s saviour off the bench as he scored a stoppage-time equaliser to deny United their first win at the Bridge since 2012.<\/p>\n
Martial won\u2019t be available this week through injury, and neither will Lingard; both were forced off at half-time in midweek, whereas the hosts are at pretty much full strength and will be considered favourites.<\/p>\n
Here, I go through my Chelsea-United combined XI based on players who will most likely feature on Monday.<\/p>\n","author":"Alex Turk","image":[{"url":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1052615302-1200x800.jpg","author":"Catherine Ivill\/Getty Images Sport","title":"Chelsea FC v Manchester United - Premier League"}],"dates":{"published":"2019-02-17T15:00:01+00:00","updated":"2019-02-17T15:00:03+00:00"},"id":"10-56381","link":[{"rel":"self","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/readchelsea.com\/2019\/02\/17\/chelsea-vs-manchester-united-combined-xi-2\/"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"application\/json","href":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/msn-feed\/?id=10-56381"}],"keywords":[],"slideshows":[{"images":[{"title":"Chelsea vs Manchester United: Combined XI","body":"
Chelsea play the first of two huge cup games on Monday night when Manchester United travel to Stamford Bridge for a repeat of last season’s final, in which Eden Hazard’s penalty handed the Blues a 1-0 win.
Maurizio Sarri’s side go into the clash on the back of their Europa League triumph against Malmo in Sweden, whilst United were beaten in Europe by Paris Saint-Germain last time out – the club’s first defeat under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Earlier this season, Ross Barkley acted as Chelsea’s saviour off the bench as he scored a stoppage-time equaliser to deny United their first win at the Bridge since 2012.
Martial won’t be available this week through injury, and neither will Lingard; both were forced off at half-time in midweek, whereas the hosts are at pretty much full strength and will be considered favourites.
Here, I go through my Chelsea-United combined XI based on players who will most likely feature on Monday.<\/p>\n","author":"Catherine Ivill\/Getty Images Sport","url":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1052615302.jpg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1052615302-160x160.jpg"},{"title":"GK: David de Gea (Manchester United)","body":"
De Gea has looked like his brilliant self again in the second half of the campaign so far, whilst Kepa is yet to justify his \u00a371.6 million price-tag.\u00a0<\/p>\n","author":"Michael Steele\/Getty Images Sport","url":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1129206776.jpg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1129206776-160x160.jpg"},{"title":"RB: Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea)","body":"
Young has fully deserved his contract extension at United but Azpilicueta’s impressive performances at right-back show how happy he is to be back in his natural position under Sarri.<\/p>\n","author":"Julian Finney\/Getty Images Sport","url":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1091540888.jpg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1091540888-160x160.jpg"},{"title":"CB: Victor Lindelof (Manchester United)","body":"
Lindelof has grown into United’s best centre-back over the last year and his pace, calmness and leadership qualities make him the perfect centre-half. Still plenty of room to develop, too.<\/p>\n","author":"Catherine Ivill\/Getty Images Sport","url":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1127173270.jpg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1127173270-160x160.jpg"},{"title":"CB: David Luiz (Chelsea)","body":"
After a nightmare final season under Conte, Luiz has been one of the Premier League’s best ball-playing centre-backs alongside Rudiger.\u00a0<\/p>\n","author":"Marc Atkins\/Getty Images Sport","url":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1088005552.jpg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1088005552-160x160.jpg"},{"title":"LB: Marcos Alonso (Chelsea)","body":"
Alonso is currently suffering from an awful patch of form, but although Shaw has been the more consistent full-back, there’s no denying the Spaniard has been one of the league’s best full-backs over the past two seasons.\u00a0<\/p>\n","author":"Catherine Ivill\/Getty Images Sport","url":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1085763958.jpg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1085763958-160x160.jpg"},{"title":"CM: N'Golo Kante (Chelsea)","body":"
Sarri’s bizarre decision to use Kante as an advanced midfielder has made praise rare, but the little Frenchman is the one of the world’s best holding midfielders on his day.\u00a0<\/p>\n","author":"Laurence Griffiths\/Getty Images Sport","url":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1097119822.jpg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1097119822-160x160.jpg"},{"title":"CM: Ander Herrera (Manchester United)","body":"
Herrera is one of the underrated stars in the Premier League and has been one of a few stand-out players at United since Solskjaer took charge.\u00a0<\/p>\n","author":"Catherine Ivill\/Getty Images Sport","url":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1093382034.jpg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1093382034-160x160.jpg"},{"title":"CM: Paul Pogba (Manchester United)","body":"
Between the two clubs, there are lots of advanced midfielders to choose from – Barkley and Kovacic to name a couple – but Pogba has simply been a joy to watch in the second half of the season. Solskjaer’s guidance is producing the quality expected from an \u00a389m signing.\u00a0<\/p>\n","author":"Catherine Ivill\/Getty Images Sport","url":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1096470788.jpg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1096470788-160x160.jpg"},{"title":"RW: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)","body":"
The January Premier League Player of the Month has developed massively this season and is now arguably the first-choice striker at United. He’ll be pushed out onto the wing on Monday night to accommodate\u00a0Lukaku, though.<\/p>\n","author":"Michael Regan\/Getty Images Sport","url":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1093361492.jpg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1093361492-160x160.jpg"},{"title":"LW: Eden Hazard (Chelsea)","body":"
Simply one of the best players in the Premier League this season. Hazard would be in here over Martial and Lingard even if the duo were fit.<\/p>\n","author":"Michael Regan\/Getty Images Sport","url":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1097104756.jpg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1097104756-160x160.jpg"},{"title":"ST: Gonzalo Higuain (Chelsea)","body":"
Lukaku is enduring a miserable spell at United whilst Alexis hasn’t even got started since signing from Arsenal last January. Higuain already looks a step up from Morata and will lead the line on Monday.\u00a0<\/p>\n","author":"Catherine Ivill\/Getty Images Sport","url":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1093649242.jpg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/readeverything.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2019\/02\/1093649242-160x160.jpg"}]}]}]}