Three points of emphasis with a big three points on the line this Saturday for Manchester United.
Bruno Fernandes
The captain will most likely start the game after sitting out last week. He hasn’t started this season well, but this isn’t the first time. He started poorly two seasons ago before enjoying a fantastic second half, especially in the Europa League. United are their best when Fernandes is in form, and at their worst when he looks lost. Regardless of all that’s transpired so far this season,
United need an in-form Fernandes to get back to winning ways.
Kobbie Mainoo
Mainoo is unlikely to start the game, but his return is fantastic news following two awful performances. He was one of the bright spots in the early weeks of the season before the downward spiral of the last two weeks. Michael Carrick hasn’t got the sack yet, and no one believes that it’s because he has the board’s backing, but any analysis will reveal that his fragile squad has been hampered by injuries to key players. We’re also yet to see him play alongside Carlos Baleba for long periods, who, despite an inconsistent start, hasn’t looked off the pace like the two other midfield signings from this summer. There’s a lot of potential there.
Weakened Chelsea
Joao Pedro was Chelsea’s best player last season and has started this one on fire as well, but he won’t be available for this match due to injury. With Cole Palmer struggling to hit the form he showed two years ago, there’s an opportunity for United to turn their season around. Morgan Rogers has hit the ground running, but he has overperformed his underlying numbers and tends to be a streaky player. Chelsea aren’t a good opponent on most days, but United couldn’t have asked for a better time to play them.
