Manchester United once again travel to West London on Thursday, April 4. They will face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in an 8.15 pm GMT kick-off, four days after a disappointing draw with Brentford. Here is the Manchester United Predicted Lineup for the clash:
The boss provided a positive update on @RaphaelVarane, @HarryMaguire93 and Jonny Evans ahead of Thursday night.#MUFC || #PL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 3, 2024
Manchester United have lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation throughout the season, with André Onana in goal.
At right-back, Diogo Dalot has made the berth his own with a string of impressive performances, with the experienced Raphael Varane at centre-back flanked by either Victor Lindelof or Jonny Evans. Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been at left-back since returning from injury, deputising for the injured Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.
In midfield, Kobbie Mainoo has been a mainstay, playing alongside Scott McTominay after Casemiro was ruled out with injury in mid-March.
Alejandro Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes, and Marcus Rashford have been ever-presents in the winger/attacking midfield positions, with Rasmus Hojlund in front of them since his return from injury in the FA Cup win over Liverpool.
With seven wins in the previous ten games in all competitions, Manchester United are in good form on paper, but results on paper barely scrape the surface of what has been a chaotic, injury-plagued, and largely off-the-boil season for the Red Devils.
Saturday night’s draw at Brentford served as a microcosm for all of the team’s woes: A half-hearted press leaving too much space in midfield, the inability to provide Rasmus Hojlund with goalscoring opportunities, as well as being unable to maintain any semblance of control and keep sustained possession.
Even in the seven wins over the past couple of months, Erik ten Hag’s side have looked ponderous and laboured in the vast majority of them. An important mitigating circumstance is the sheer depth of the club’s injury crisis, with the injuries to Lindelof and Lisandro Martinez their 54th and 55th different layoffs of the season.
Luke Shaw (thigh) is still out a long time and unlikely to return until May, whilst fellow left-back Tyrell Malacia (knee) is hopeful of a return before the end of the month. Lisandro Martinez (calf) and Victor Lindelof (thigh) are set to be out for a month, whilst Anthony Martial is still a couple of weeks away from featuring following groin surgery.
Amad Diallo, Jonny Evans, Harry Maguire, and Altay Bayindir are all set to return to the squad.
GK: André Onana
RB: Diogo Dalot
CB: Raphael Varane
CB: Harry Maguire
LB: Aaron Wan-Bissaka
CM: Kobbie Mainoo
CM: Scott McTominay
RW: Alejandro Garnacho
CAM: Bruno Fernandes
LW: Marcus Rashford
ST: Rasmus Hojlund
Chelsea: 19/20
Draw: 16/5
Manchester United: 23/10
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