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Battle at the Bridge

Chelsea vs Manchester United to be decided by two key battles… Eden Hazard vs Ander Herrera and strikers Alvaro Morata vs Romelu Lukaku

AFTER the Halloween horror show against Roma comes a visit from a ghost of the past for Chelsea.

Jose Mourinho, the most successful manager in the Blues’ history, returns to Stamford Bridge on Sunday with his Manchester United side.

 Jose Mourinho will return to Stamford Bridge with Man United on Sunday
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Jose Mourinho will return to Stamford Bridge with Man United on SundayCredit: PA:Empics Sport

At the start of the season the two clubs’ ambitions were aligned.

Both wanted to win the Premier League title, both wanted to challenge in the Champions League and both would compete as best they could for the domestic trophies.

But two-and-a-half months into the season, it’s a little different.

Chelsea have been very inconsistent under the guidance of Antonio Conte and look unlikely to retain the title they won so impressively last season.

 Antonio Conte will need his squad to fire on Sunday... to help save his job
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Antonio Conte will need his squad to fire on Sunday... to help save his jobCredit: Reuters

They also face a fight to top their Champions League group following the 3-0 mauling at the hands of Roma.

Things have been more straightforward for Mourinho.


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In Europe his side have qualified from their group with two games to spare, but in England they’ve not kept up with the incredible pace set by Manchester City.

The Red Devils are, however, better equipped to challenge Pep Guardiola’s side for top spot in the Premier League, as our friends at Football Whispers explain.

Everything you need to know ahead of Chelsea vs Manchester United

The squad game

 Man United still have Zlatan Ibrahimovic to return to their squad
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Man United still have Zlatan Ibrahimovic to return to their squadCredit: PA:Press Association

It became very clear over the summer that Conte was not a happy man.

He often complained about the lack of signings made by Chelsea and admitted his squad was not as strong as he’d like it to be.

The Italian certainly had a point and the moment the Blues sustained a few injuries, things started to unravel.

The biggest loss has undoubtedly been N’Golo Kante.

The French midfielder has missed the last six games after suffering a hamstring injury while on international duty with France.

In the six games Chelsea have played without Kante, they’ve conceded 11 goals.

Cesc Fabregas and Tiemoue Bakayoko have been the central midfield partnership in those games but the two do not complement each other and the Blues have suffered as a result.

Conte would be forgiven for looking on enviously at the depth Mourinho has at his disposal.

 Ander Herrera will likely play a key role for Man United this weekend
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Ander Herrera will likely play a key role for Man United this weekendCredit: Rex Features

The Red Devils have had their fair share of injuries to key players this season – something the United manager would never discuss in the press...

But they have still been able to put produce impressive performances.

Against Tottenham last weekend, United were without Paul Pogba, Marouane Fellaini, Michael Carrick, Marcos Rojo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

And yet their side didn’t look weak and they duly recorded a 1-0 victory.

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Anthony Martial scored the winner for the Red Devils against Spurs while Marcus Rashford and Romelu Lukaku are the other striking options open to Mourinho in Zlatan’s absence.

Conte has summer signing Alvaro Morata and Michy Batshuayi as his two strikers, and nobody else.

So Man United have ensured Mourinho is better equipped to launch a title bid than Conte.

While, when everyone is fit, the two sides’ starting XIs are of similar quality, football is a squad game and Chelsea’s is weak.

Key battle: Eden Hazard vs Ander Herrera

 Eden Hazard will be pivotal to Chelsea's chances in Sunday's game
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Eden Hazard will be pivotal to Chelsea's chances in Sunday's gameCredit: Rex Features

The last time these two sides met, the Belgian had one of his quietest games in a Chelsea shirt thanks to Herrera.

In April, with the Blues on route to the Premier League title, they visited Old Trafford to take on Mourinho’s side, who were in a battle for fourth place.

The Portuguese had a plan of how to stop Conte’s side and it worked to perfection.

Herrera would follow Hazard wherever he’d go and, essentially, stop him from being involved in the game.

The Spaniard made four tackles and four interceptions during the 90 minutes and Hazard failed to complete a single take on.

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It will be intriguing to see if Mourinho deploys the same tactic at Stamford Bridge.

With former Chelsea player Nemanja Matic alongside him in midfield, Herrera could easily perform the same role.

And, if so, it’ll be intriguing to see if Hazard has learned any lessons from his Old Trafford experience.

Too often in that game, he remained infield and it played to Herrera’s strengths.

Staying out wide and, essentially sacrificing himself for the team, would’ve been the smarter option and one the brilliant Belgian may have to take at Stamford Bridge.

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Match winners: Alvaro Morata and Romelu Lukaku

 Man United will hope Romelu Lukaku can rediscover his early-season form
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Man United will hope Romelu Lukaku can rediscover his early-season formCredit: Rex Features

If Chelsea hadn’t made a mess of signing Lukaku in the summer, then he would be lining up for the Blues tomorrow and Morata would be wearing the red of United.

Instead it will be the opposite. The Red Devils paid Everton £75m to sign the powerful Belgian ahead of Chelsea, who ended up spending £60m on Morata.

Both players have made instant impacts at their new clubs.

Lukaku has 11 goals and three assists in 16 games, while Spain international Morata has netted seven times and registered three assists in 14 games.

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Neither have, however, scored in their last six games and both will be looking to end their respective runs and prove a point at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Lukaku is undoubtedly more of a match-winner than Morata.

The Man United striker can turn a game with his pace and power... the Chelsea striker is more nuanced but he needs service if he is to be at his best.

If the Blues are unable to provide it, then he is likely to struggle against what we expect will be a back three.

Likely line-ups

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Conte should be able to welcome back Kante but Victor Moses is ruled out.

The Italian may wish to make changes to his back three, though, after the were ripped apart by Roma in midweek.

Mourinho will be without the players mentioned above while Jesse Lingard is an injury doubt after coming off against Benfica in the Champions League.

After it had great success against Spurs, the Portuguese may keep the 3-4-1-2 system in place to threaten Chelsea’s shaky back-line.

Key Stats

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Man United have netted ten goals in the last ten minutes of Premier League games this season, 43 per cent of their total.

Lukaku has been involved in ten Premier League goals for Man United this season, a joint Premier League high with Sergio Aguero.

Morata has contributed to nine goals in his nine Premier League games (six goals, three assists).

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