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Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard, Nemanja Matic, Pedro… check out our incredible Chelsea vs Manchester United combined XI

CHELSEA host Manchester United in the pick of the weekend's action on Sunday afternoon.

Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho prepare to go head-to-head once more, with more sub-plots to get your heads around than an episode of Game Of Thrones.

 Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte are set to go head-to-head on Sunday
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Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte are set to go head-to-head on SundayCredit: Rex Features

First of all, there's the return of the Special One to West London, as well as the race for the league title and Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic strutting their stuff back at the Bridge.

United have won just twice in 22 games at Stamford Bridge this century, but have certainly had the better of the 2017-18 season so far.

Ahead of the big game on Sunday afternoon, check out how a Chelsea-Man United combined XI, in a glorious 3-4-3 formation, could look...

Spoiler alert, there's a strong "welcome back" flavour...

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GOALKEEPER

 David De Gea gets the nod between the sticks in our Chelsea-United combined XI
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David De Gea gets the nod between the sticks in our Chelsea-United combined XICredit: AP:Associated Press

David De Gea

HOW can you really choose between two of the best 'keepers on the planet; De Gea and Thibaut Courtois.

Fortunately, whichever you plump for would represent an imperious figure between the sticks.


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Here we've opted for United star De Gea who has year-after-year put in a string of sublime performances.

Whether the club are doing well, or less so, the Spanish No1 is the most-dependable figure in Mourinho's squad.

DEFENCE

 Cesar Azpilicueta and David Luiz are joined by Eric Bailly in our back three
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Cesar Azpilicueta and David Luiz are joined by Eric Bailly in our back threeCredit: Rex Features

Cesar Azpilicueta, Eric Bailly, David Luiz

IT'S hard to argue that defence is the strong suit for either club, but together they could muster a pretty solid centre-back trio.

Azpilicueta, seemingly the world's most versatile defender, is the first name on the defensive team-sheet here.

He's joined by United star Bailly and his Chelsea team-mate Luiz to create a dynamic back three.

A good mix of attack and defence, you'd only worry about the occasional blunder...

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MIDFIELD

 Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas are reunited for one day in our midfield
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Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas are reunited for one day in our midfieldCredit: PA:Press Association

Antonio Valencia, Nemanja Matic, Cesc Fabregas, Ashley Young

CHELSEA made 3-4-3 with wing-backs on either flank the hip formation last season.

Yet the wide-men in our midfield are going to arguably United's best players this season - Valencia and Young.

Neither player is a particularly "big name" these days and would hardly command a £50million transfer fee.

But who cares? The pair have been sensational in United's back four this term - and with more freedom to push forward, they could really play to their strengths here.

Ex-Blues ace Matic and current Chelsea star Fabregas join forces once more in the centre of the park in a well-rounded looking quartet.

FORWARDS

 Belgium team-mates Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard make the front three
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Belgium team-mates Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard make the front threeCredit: AP:Associated Press

Pedro, Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard

LUKAKU is back at the Bridge and straight into our XI.

OK, so he's been in poor form through the past few fixtures, but this is just the game to reestablish his early season form.

The Belgian would start centrally with Pedro and Hazard flanking him in attack.

Hazard is an obvious choice in any starting XI on the planet, but Pedro gets in thanks to his recent form.

The Spaniard pips the likes of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial... this time.

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