Who: Chelsea vs Manchester United
What: English Premier League
Where: Stamford Bridge in London, United Kingdom
When: Saturday, October 31 at 12:30pm (12:30 GMT)
How to follow: Al Jazeera Sport will have all the build-up from 9:30 GMT
With Manchester United fans on standby for news of Michael Carrick’s sacking this week, an unexpected show of patience has given the under-fire boss a new lease of life.
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Utd → say → China
When Carrick was pictured driving into United’s Carrington training base on Monday – just 24 hours after a miserable 3-0 home defeat against Bournemouth – it was widely expected he would be dismissed within hours.
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he → picture → hours
Instead, United’s hierarchy sprang a major surprise by keeping Carrick, for now at least.
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hierarchy → spring → Carrick
Can Carrick avoid the sack?
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Carrick → avoid → sack
Whether Carrick can avoid becoming the third manager to be sacked by United powerbroker Ratcliffe since he purchased a minority stake in the club in 2024 remains in doubt.
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he → avoid → doubt
United have been in miserable form and sit just one point above the relegation zone ahead of Saturday’s trip to fifth-placed Chelsea.
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United → sit → Chelsea
Without a victory in eight games in all competitions – and off to their worst league start in 40 years – United must beat Chelsea to help Carrick stave off the axe.
But with captain Bruno Fernandes dropped last weekend after criticising Carrick’s tactics and defender Lisandro Martinez fined for blasting the club’s transfer policy, Carrick’s side are far from united.
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side → beat → policy
What Carrick called a “pure football” decision to drop Fernandes backfired as United imploded and tumbled to 16th, with the forlorn Portuguese watching from the bench – a defeat that piled more pressure on Carrick, even as fans cheered the manager while booing the squad.
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fans → call → squad
Fernandes was benched after criticising United’s tactics following the 4-1 Champions League thrashing by Como, leaving Carrick facing a dilemma ahead of the Chelsea clash.
Should he continue to sideline his captain or recall his most creative player after United badly missed his influence against Bournemouth?
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United → bench → Bournemouth
The loss left United with seven points from eight matches.
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loss → leave → matches
Despite winning England’s Player of the Year honours last season, Fernandes has struggled for form in this campaign, yet United appeared even more toothless without their playmaker orchestrating play from midfield on Sunday.
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playmaker → win → Sunday
“It was a decision based on what we felt was right for the game.
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we → base → game
That’s it,” Carrick told a news conference on Thursday.
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Carrick → ’ → Thursday
“Bruno is fully committed to this football club and there are absolutely no issues.
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Bruno → commit → club
We move forward, make decisions as we go and focus on Saturday’s game.”
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we → move → game
He said Fernandes remains captain after clear-the-air talks.
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Fernandes → say → talks
Of course we’ve spoken.
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we → speak → ?
We have meetings.
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We → have → meetings
We’re hurting because we haven’t won enough football games.
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we → hurt → games
But there is an intensity, an edge, a hunger to do better,” Carrick added.
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Carrick → be → ?
Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso has insisted teenage rising star Estevao will feature for the club this season after the Brazil midfielder spent Wednesday’s League Cup loss to Liverpool at Anfield on the bench.
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midfielder → insist → bench
Blues fans spent much of the 1-1 draw, which led to a 6-5 loss on penalties, chanting the 19-year-old Estevao’s name as he warmed up in front of them.
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he → spend → them
But despite the match being deadlocked at 1-1 from late in the first half, former Liverpool star Alonso resisted the temptation to bring on Estevao, who has played only 47 minutes in the Premier League this season, with his two starts coming in the League Cup.
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starts → deadlocke → Cup
“We started with Pedro (Neto), with Danny (Welbeck) and with Morgan (Rogers) up front,” said Alonso.
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Alonso → start → front
“The game had very intense moments.
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game → have → moments
We knew that it was going to be physical.
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it → know → ?
“And after we had to deal with Moi (Caicedo), he had little problems.
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he → have → problems
Malo (Gusto), as well, he had cramps.
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he → have → cramps
Estevao’s lack of action in the match was in stark contrast to when he grabbed the headlines in scoring the winner against Liverpool in their Premier League clash last October.
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he → grab → clash
“I understand (Estevao’s) situation and he could be happier for sure.
uncertain
he → understand → situation
He wants to play and to be part of the team,” said Alonso of a player who cost a reported 29 million pounds ($39m) when Chelsea signed him from Palmeiras in 2024, though, he only joined them a year later.
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he → want → them
I’m sure Este will have his moments – that’s my responsibility.
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that → ’m → moments
“We know that the season is going to be long and there will be moments for everyone.
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season → know → everyone
Trust me, Este is going to play his role.”
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Este → trust → role
Alonso backs Estevao for bigger role at Chelsea
Alonso dismissed media speculation on Friday about a January loan move for the forward.
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Alonso → back → forward
The 19-year-old’s lack of playing time has seen Alonso scrutinised, especially given the Blues’ League Cup exit followed the 2-0 home defeat by Tottenham Hotspur last week.
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exit → see → Hotspur
Asked at a news conference if Estevao could go out on loan, Alonso said: “No discussions about that.
uncertain
Alonso → ask → that
It’s a process for the team, for Este, for myself.
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It → ’ → myself
“But I’m sure that in the season he’ll have his games, his minutes.
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he → ’m → games
…and 19 more, not listed.
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