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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Daniel Murphy

Eriksen over Fred - Manchester United XI that fans want to see vs Chelsea

Manchester United fans want to see Christian Eriksen return to the starting XI in place of Fred for Saturday's clash with Chelsea.

It's a somewhat surprising call as Fred put in a Player of the Match showing in United's galvanising victory over Tottenham. The Brazilian bounced back from a terrible showing against Newcastle to register an all-action display in which he grabbed the opening goal and helped United win with his high-octane pressing and incisive distribution.

However, Erik ten Hag's side did miss Eriksen's guile and ingenuity in the goalless stalemate with the Magpies as he missed out through illness. He returned to the bench on Wednesday and came on as a late substitute but is now fully fit. Some United fans want to see the elegant Dane return to the starting XI despite Fred's great display.

READ MORE: Ten Hag explains why he dropped Ronaldo for Chelsea fixture

However, after that, there are no other changes needed. United put in their best performance yet under Ten Hag against Spurs and if they put in a similar level of display against Chelsea they could very well leave Stamford Bridge with three points. The Blues are yet to find their groove under new manager Graham Potter.

Chelsea drew 0-0 with Brentford on Wednesday and were poor against a struggling Aston Villa despite grinding out the win. Though it remains early in the season, the game could have big ramifications in the top-four race and United will leapfrog their old foes into fourth if they win.

With the stakes reasonably high, United fans want the rest of the team to stay the same as the one that played so well against Tottenham. That means the defence will remain as Diogo Dalot, Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw, while Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro will join Eriksen in the middle.

With Cristiano Ronaldo not involved after he refused to come on against Spurs and Anthony Martial sidelined, there are few options in attack but it would stay as Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Antony anyway.

Starting XI United fans want to see vs Chelsea: De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Fernandes, Sancho, Rashford.

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