The latest Premier League weekend kicks off with a blockbuster showdown as Chelsea host Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
asserted
Chelsea → kick → Bridge
Michael Carrick will be desperate for a positive result to ease the enormous pressure on his job, having surprisingly been offered a stay of execution despite heavy defeats by Como and Bournemouth over the past 10 days that continued a wretched start to the season and appeared to leave his position untenable.
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that → ease → position
Carrick will be given the chance to rescue the situation, but needs results fast and will have the added stress of co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe being in attendance today.
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Ratcliffe → give → attendance
The scrutiny on Chelsea counterpart Xabi Alonso is nowhere near as severe, though he too will be eager to bounce back quickly after the Blues’ winning momentum was halted by a rare home defeat by rivals Tottenham and Carabao Cup penalty heartbreak at Liverpool.
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momentum → bounce → Liverpool
Bruno Fernandes is expected to make a swift return to the Man Utd starting lineup this afternoon and will retain the captaincy after clear-the-air talks with Carrick, while the hosts are boosted by Cole Palmer’s comeback but remain without the likes of Joao Pedro.
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hosts → expect → Pedro
It is a shock to see Michael Carrick take charge of Manchester United this weekend, such has been the extent of the pressure on his position following those dire heavy defeats by Como and Bournemouth that continued an absolutely shambolic start to the season.
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that → see → season
It is reported that he will get the chance to turn things around, though surely another listless defeat in west London today could cause a watching Sir Jim Ratcliffe to intervene.
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Ratcliffe → report → London
Chelsea looked to have regathered their stalled momentum under Xabi Alonso with back-to-back convincing wins after the extended international break, but have endured a difficult week of their own with Carabao Cup heartbreak following a very rare home league defeat by Tottenham.
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Chelsea → look → Tottenham
We anticipate a cagey and tense draw here that ultimately does little for either manager.
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that → anticipate → manager
Kobbie Mainoo is set to return to the Manchester United squad at Stamford Bridge after resuming training at Carrington this week following a muscle issue.
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Mainoo → set → issue
However, the club have been rocked by the news that striker Benjamin Sesko is unlikely to play again until at least January as he continues to deal with a lingering shin injury.
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he → rock → injury
Luke Shaw and Patrick Dorgu remain sidelined with long-term absentee Manuel Ugarte, while Marcus Rashford is still doubtful with a hip problem.
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Rashford → remain → problem
Bruno Fernandes retains the captaincy and is expected to return to United’s starting lineup after holding clear-the-air talks with Michael Carrick this week.
Chelsea team news
Chelsea are boosted today by the return of boyhood Manchester United fan Cole Palmer, who served a one-match suspension following his late sending off against Tottenham during the defeat by Liverpool.
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who → retain → Liverpool
Pep Chavarria is also back in contention, while Moises Caicedo and Malo Gusto are both fine after struggling at Anfield.
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Caicedo → struggle → Anfield
Emi Martinez is pushing to return early following surgery on a fractured jaw, though won’t be involved this afternoon.
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Martinez → push → jaw
Maxence Lacroix picked up a hamstring injury in midweek and reports suggest there are fears that he may not play again until the New Year.
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he → pick → Year
Star striker Joao Pedro remains a key absentee for Chelsea due to a thigh problem, sidelined along with captain Reece James, Jorrel Hato and Jamie Gittens.
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Pedro → remain → James
How to watch Chelsea vs Manchester United
TV channel: Chelsea vs Manchester United is being broadcast live in the UK on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting at 11:30am GMT.
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coverage → watch → GMT
TNT Sports subscribers can also stream the match live online via the HBO Max app and website.
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subscribers → stream → app
Chelsea vs Manchester United live
Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s live coverage of Chelsea vs Manchester United as a high-profile showdown in west London kicks off another huge weekend of Premier League action.
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showdown → welcome → action
It may be Halloween but the under-fire Michael Carrick will be desperate to put an end to the scary stuff as he seeks
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he → put → stuff
a positive result that could well save his job, with United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe set to be in attendance
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Ratcliffe → save → attendance
The situation is obviously nothing anywhere near as dire for Chelsea counterpart Xabi Alonso, but he too will be eager to see a bounce back this afternoon after midweek Carabao Cup penalty heartbreak at Liverpool that followed hot on the heels of only a second home league defeat by fierce rivals Tottenham in 36 years.
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that → see → years
Kick-off is at 12:30pm GMT, so stay tuned for all your match build-up, breaking team news and live game updates, including expert insight and analysis from Standard Sport’s Chelsea correspondent Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge.
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off → stay → Bridge
The Aporia
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