Team News: Chelsea fans get what they want as dynamic winger handed start by Alonso

Chelsea face Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in the early kick off in the Premier League, and the teams are in!

It’s a huge game for Chelsea today as they look to shake off two bad results in a row and beat Manchester United in the early kick off in the Premier League.

Injuries are mounting for the Blues, and they this week lost defender Maxence Lacroix to a hamstring tear. That further limits Xabi Alonso’s options, and in the end this is the team he picks.

Alonso shakes up team and formation as injuries bite

Mike Penders continues in goal, and it’s a continuation of the back three / back four hybrid ahead of him. If you see it as a four, Josh Acheampong is at right back, Marco Palestra at left back, with Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana central.

Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia are the central midfield pair today, with Jordan Henderson dropping out of the squad. Ahead of them, Cole Palmer starts in the pocket, with Estevao on one wing and Pedro Neto on the other. Morgan Rogers looks to be leading the line.

In other news…

Estevao starts today, and so it makes sense that Alonso was defending his treatment of the player in the press conference on Friday.

Xabi Alonso told the media today that he had spoken to Palmer after his red card a week ago – but was clear it wasn’t a telling off.

Maxence Lacroix won’t feature in tomorrow’s game, or any others for around a month after Alonso confirmed his hamstring injury.