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Here is all you need to know as Manchester United and Chelsea renew their rivalry on Wednesday night seeking for some respite after a tough start to the season
Manchester United and Chelsea renew rivalries in the Premier League on Wednesday night as both look to rally momentum for a push at the top four.
It's been a tough season for both teams as they lurch from one below-par performance to another.
While Mauricio Pochettino continues to juggle a £1 billion squad beset with injuries, Erik ten Hag's fractious tenure is in real danger of being cut short.
A win for either team would hardly solve any problems but would provide a welcome respite in a tough December schedule.
Team news
The clash may come too soon for Mason Mount. The former Blues academy star, sold to the Red Devils in the summer, is back in training after suffering a calf injury just over a week ago.
Ten Hag has admitted he is unsure when Mount will be fit to return for United, after the midfielder was expected to miss as much as a month of action when initially ruled out.
Mount is the only of United's injured troop nearing full fitness, with Casemiro joining Lisandro Martinez, Jonny Evans, Christian Eriksen, Amad Diallo and Tyrell Malacia in missing the visit of Chelsea.
Ten Hag said ahead of the game that the squad available to him is "more or less" the same as the recent defeat to Newcastle. That ended the Dutchman's mini-revival which constituted five wins in his side's last six Premier League games.
Meanwhile, two new faces were added to Chelsea's injury list ahead of the trip to Manchester United, with Christopher Nkunku and Romeo Lavia set to remain unavailable.
Mauricio Pochettino has also confirmed the absence of Noni Madueke and Lesley Ugochukwu ahead of the Premier League game at Old Trafford.
Madueke and Ugochukwu join Wesley Fofana, Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka, Trevoh Chalobah and Malo Gusto, who are out injured.
Conor Gallagher is suspended after getting sent off for two yellow cards in the 3-2 win over Brighton on Sunday.
Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo will start in midfield but a replacement for Gallagher is needed, with Cole Palmer likely to step up in his place.
Reece James returns after his red card at Newcastle to captain the team. Axel Disasi, Thiago Silva and Levi Colwill could complete the defence.
Raheem Sterling, Palmer and Mykhailo Mudryk are set to line up as the three attacking players behind striker Nicolas Jackson.
When and where to watch
The match will kick off at 11.15pm on Wednesday at Old Trafford and will be live on SuperSport TV.
Predicted line-ups
Man United predicted XI: Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Shaw, Reguilon; Amrabat, Mainoo; Rashford, Fernandes, Garnacho; Hojlund
Chelsea predicted XI: Sanchez; James, Disasi, Silva, Colwill; Fernandez, Caicedo; Sterling, Palmer, Mudryk; Jackson
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