Manchester United v Chelsea: Combined XI ahead of Super Sunday Premier League clash
Ahead of Chelsea’s visit to Old Trafford on Sunday, we take a look at which players would make the cut in a combined XI.
Both teams come into the clash off the back of a draw in the Champions League and victory here is becoming increasingly important in the race for a top-four spot.
Manchester United are 5/4 with Sky Bet to finish as runners up in the Premier League, while Chelsea are 4/5 for a top-four finish, behind Tottenham (1/3), Liverpool (1/7) and United (1/8).
See how Jake Pearson's combined XI would line up below and tweet your thoughts to @SportingLife
Formation: 4-2-3-1
GK: David De Gea
Thibaut Courtois is second in the race for the Golden Glove this season, in first is the man that will be between the opposing goalposts on Sunday. David De Gea has improved markedly in the time he has spent at United.
He has eliminated the mistakes that clouded his early years at Old Trafford and developed into arguably the best shot stopper in the world. He single-handedly kept Sevilla at bay on Wednesday night and it will take something special to beat him on Sunday.
RB: Antonio Valencia
Since Louis van Gaal moved Antonio Valencia from right winger to right-back, the Ecuadorian has flourished into United’s most consistent performer. He is a leader and provides defensive solidity, as well as posing a calculated attacking threat.
By contrast, Victor Moses hasn’t managed to improve upon an inspiring season at right-wing-back and summer recruit Davide Zappacosta has struggled to adapt to the pace of the Premier League.
CB: Antonio Rudiger
The first thing that hits home about Antonio Rudiger is his imposing physicality and exceptional speed. But as well as being athletic and quick, the German is also incredibly good on the ball.
In the midweek tie against Barcelona Rudiger had a pass completion rate of 85.7%, the highest of any Chelsea player, and higher than one Lionel Messi.
Chris Smalling can consider himself fortunate his goalkeeper kept out Luis Muriel’s header for Sevilla after a calamitous piece of defending from the Englishman.
Manchester United have the best defensive record in the Premier League this season, but that is arguably despite Smalling rather than because of him. After Rudiger’s proficient display against arguably the most potent attack in Europe, he was a no-brainer here.
CB: Andreas Christensen
Despite playing the wayward pass that resulted in Messi’s equaliser on Tuesday night, on the whole Andreas Christensen has had a very impressive first season in English football.
Coming into the campaign, Gary Cahill was very much the heart of the Chelsea defence, but through Christensen’s competent performances over the past few months, he has found himself sidelined in favour of the Danish centre-half.
Victor Lindelof has been spotted showing off his ice-hockey skills this week and after his performance against Sevilla on Wednesday, some United supporters have been left wondering if he would be better off sticking to the ice.
LB: Cesar Azpilicueta (captain)
Arguably the best defender in the Premier League over the last five years, Cesar Azpilicueta, or Dave as he is fondly known by Blues fans, is surely the first name on Antonio Conte’s team sheet every week.
Since moving to Stamford Bridge in 2012, the Spaniard has reinvented himself from a right-back to a left-back and now to a centre-back on the left side of a back three.
Ashley Young has been impressive for United this season and has one of the most dangerous deliveries in the Premier League, but he cannot compete with the defensive solidity and eye for a forward pass that Azpilicueta provides.
DM: N’Golo Kante
N'Golo Kante has struggled at times this season, partly down to the difficulties Tiemoue Bakayoko has faced in adapting to the Premier League, but it is safe to say he remains one of the league’s top performers.
Assuming City confirm the formality that is the Premier League title, this will be Kante’s first season in English football without a winners' medal.
Paul Pogba is currently surrounded by speculation of a move away from Old Trafford after rumours emerged the Frenchman is unhappy with the way he is being utilised by Mourinho. Amidst this current spell of turbulence in the Pogba saga, and taking into account his recent performances, the Frenchman lining up in our combined XI will be last season’s PFA Player of the Year, Kante.
DM: Nemanja Matic
The perfect complement to Kante, as proven last season, is the Rolls Royce footballer that is Nemanja Matic.
Matic provides intelligent defensive cover allowing Kante to press the opposition without fear of being exposed. The bizarre decision to sell Matic to their direct rivals in the summer baffled everyone. Conte’s team have not been the same without the Serbian, and while this has not been his greatest season, his composure in pressure situations is fundamental in a game of this magnitude.
Cesc Fabregas narrowly misses out on a place in the starting line-up due to his defensive indiscipline. The Spaniard is arguably the best passer of the ball in the Premier League and perhaps a substitute appearance to inject some quality in the final third might be needed to open up a tight defence late on.
LW: Willian
Man of the match against Barcelona, Willian is another of Chelsea’s unsung heroes.
Not particularly favoured by Conte, his game time has been limited over the past two seasons, but when given his chance, he usually produces. He always looked the likely scorer on Tuesday and after twice hitting the woodwork, finally netted the opener with a sublime curling effort into the bottom corner of Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s goal.
Jesse Lingard has had his best season yet in terms of goals and performances, but the arrival of Alexis Sanchez seems to have unsettled a few of the United forward line and negatively impacted their performances.
CAM: Hazard
Much of this season for Chelsea has rested on the shoulders of Eden Hazard. He is the poster boy for the Blues and with good reason.
The Belgian playmaker has not only been their best player this season but also their top scorer with 15 goals. Belonging to that elite group of players that sit bunched together just below Messi and Ronaldo, Hazard is improving year on year and his valiant performance against Barcelona put to rest the murmurs that he does not perform on the big occasions.
RW: Alexis Sanchez
Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford have both been on the fringes this season but neither have done enough to nail down a starting place.
Alexis Sanchez’s surprise arrival on the red side of Manchester in January has seemingly unsettled a few players, but his quality remains for all to see. He brings more energy and dynamism than Juan Mata and more penetration in the final third than Pedro.
CF: Romelu Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku has been the recipient of much criticism this season, mainly due to his lack of big-game performances.
The Belgian number nine does seem to go missing on the biggest stages, but overall he has had a sufficiently productive first season at United. Ultimately, Lukaku is a goalscorer and perhaps that is what he needs to focus on.
Alvaro Morata is in a horrid spell of form at the minute and looks completely bereft of confidence. The only cure for this particular ailment is a goal, but that does not look to be forthcoming for the former Real Madrid and Juventus man.
Chelsea’s January recruit Olivier Giroud looked good on his debut, albeit against a dire West Brom team. However, Conte has recently been foregoing a traditional striker in favour of playing Hazard in a false nine position.
A strange situation in which two of the top teams in the country are both without an in-form striker. Of the three, Lukaku makes the cut due to his 12 Premier League goals this season.
Sky Bet: Manchester United 5/4 to finish as runners up in the Premier League, Chelsea 4/5 for a top-four finish, behind Tottenham (1/3), Liverpool (1/7) and United (1/8)
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