Chelsea v Man Utd Predicted Lineups: Palmer Returns, Fernandes Back and Four Selection Calls

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Chelsea against Manchester United is a game neither manager can afford to lose, and the team sheets on Saturday will tell a large part of the story before a ball is kicked. Chelsea need a response after losing 2-0 at home to Tottenham and then going out of the Carabao Cup on penalties at Liverpool on Wednesday. United need almost anything after eight games without a win in all competitions, a 4-1 Champions League defeat at Como and a 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth in the league.

This is a predicted lineup guide, not a confirmed team sheet. Both clubs train on Friday, and late fitness tests can change a side. Where the previews disagree, this article says so, rather than pretending one version is settled. The consensus is clear on the big calls, though. Palmer returns for Chelsea, Fernandes returns for United, Mike Penders stays in goal for Chelsea, and Senne Lammens stays in goal for United.

What is the predicted Chelsea lineup?

Chelsea are expected to line up in Xabi Alonso's preferred 3-4-2-1 shape, with Penders in goal behind a back three. The most common predicted side across NBC Sports, Sports Mole and the Chelsea previews published on Friday is: Penders; Josh Acheampong, Levi Colwill, Jorrel Hato; Pedro Neto, Moises Caicedo, Jordan Henderson, Malo Gusto; Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers; Danny Welbeck.

There are two genuine selection disputes in that side. The first is at centre back. Maxence Lacroix is out with a hamstring injury, so Alonso must pick a third defender alongside Colwill and Acheampong. NBC Sports has Hato, if fit, in that role, while other previews have Wesley Fofana there after his difficult night at Liverpool. Hato missed the Liverpool cup tie, which is why Fofana remains a live option. The second dispute is at wing back. Gusto is expected to be available, but Marco Palestra impressed as a substitute at Anfield, and one Friday preview has Palestra starting on the left. Pep Chavarria is another option on that side in some predicted sides.

In midfield, Caicedo is the key fitness question for Chelsea. One Friday preview reports he played through discomfort against Liverpool and is a doubt, while NBC Sports says he and Gusto should be good to go. Given the importance of the game, most previews still have Caicedo starting alongside Henderson, who has made an impressive start to his Chelsea career. Romeo Lavia completed his first 90 minutes in over three years on Wednesday, so he is more likely to be a substitute than a starter, with Marco Palestra and Emmanuel Emegha also likely to play big minutes off the bench.

Up front, the picture is simpler. Joao Pedro is out for a few weeks with a thigh injury, Alonso confirmed on Tuesday, so Welbeck is expected to lead the line again. Palmer returns after serving his one match suspension in the cup tie at Liverpool, and Rogers joins him underneath Welbeck. Emegha had a nightmare debut against Liverpool, according to Friday previews, but Alonso may still give him a chance from the bench if Chelsea need a different kind of striker late on.

What is the predicted Manchester United lineup?

United's predicted side is less settled, because Michael Carrick has two shapes to choose from. NBC Sports predicts a hybrid back three that becomes a back four out of possession, the system that worked well in the recent draw at Leeds. That side is: Lammens; Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez; Noussair Mazraoui, Carlos Baleba, Youri Tielemans, Diogo Dalot; Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha; Bryan Mbeumo.

Other previews, including Sports Mole and 101 Great Goals, predict a 4-2-3-1 instead: Lammens; Mazraoui, Maguire, Martinez, Dalot; Andrey Santos, Baleba; Amad Diallo, Fernandes, Cunha or Mason Mount; Mbeumo. The players are largely the same. The argument is about shape, and about whether Fernandes plays as a number 10, as a second striker, or out wide if Cunha does not start.

Three United calls are close to consensus. First, Fernandes returns. Carrick has confirmed his captain will be back in the starting side after sitting out the Bournemouth defeat, following clear the air talks earlier in the week. Second, Martinez returns at centre back after featuring off the bench against Bournemouth following a thigh injury. Third, Lammens keeps his place in goal. Beyond that, the midfield is the debate. Santos and Baleba are becoming the favoured pairing, according to several previews, because Kobbie Mainoo has only just returned to training after a muscular complaint and may not be ready to start. One Friday preview, however, has Mainoo starting alongside Baleba, with four changes expected from the Bournemouth side. Treat Mainoo as in contention, not as a confirmed starter.

Amad Diallo is the other swing player. NBC Sports has Mazraoui at right wing back for defensive cover, with Amad as an impact substitute late on. Other previews have Amad starting on the right. Marcus Rashford remains a major doubt with a hip injury, and is more likely to be a bench option at best than a starter.

Who is definitely out for both sides?

Chelsea are without Joao Pedro for a few weeks with a thigh injury, Reece James after knee surgery, and Emiliano Martinez after surgery on a fractured jaw. That is why Penders, 21, continues in goal. Lacroix is out with a hamstring injury, which is the main reason the Chelsea back three is so hard to predict. Gittens and Chavarria have also been recovering from injuries, although Chavarria appears in some predicted sides.

United are without Benjamin Sesko, who is sidelined until January with a shin injury, Manuel Ugarte with a knee injury, Patrick Dorgu with a thigh injury, and Luke Shaw with a knock. Those four are confirmed absentees in every preview. Rashford is a doubt with a hip injury, Mainoo is a doubt for a start after returning to training on Wednesday, and that leaves Carrick short at full back in particular. Dalot is expected to start on the left in the absence of Shaw and Dorgu, which is why Yoro is likely to be preferred again on the right side of the defence.

The table below sums up the consensus predicted sides and the main doubt in each team.

| Team | Consensus predicted side | Main doubt | | Chelsea, 3-4-2-1 | Penders; Acheampong, Colwill, Hato; Neto, Caicedo, Henderson, Gusto; Palmer, Rogers; Welbeck | Third centre back, Hato or Fofana, and Caicedo fitness | | Manchester United, hybrid back three | Lammens; Yoro, Maguire, Martinez; Mazraoui, Baleba, Tielemans, Dalot; Fernandes, Cunha; Mbeumo | Mainoo start or bench, and Amad start or impact substitute | | Manchester United, 4-2-3-1 alternative | Lammens; Mazraoui, Maguire, Martinez, Dalot; Santos, Baleba; Amad, Fernandes, Cunha; Mbeumo | Shape, and whether Mount keeps his place |

When is the game and how can I watch it?

Chelsea against Manchester United kicks off at Stamford Bridge on Saturday 31 October at 12:30 London time. In the UK it is live on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate on HBO Max, with coverage starting at 11:00. Kickoff is 13:30 in Berlin, Paris, Madrid, Rome and Amsterdam, 08:30 in New York and Toronto, 05:30 in Los Angeles, and 17:30 in Karachi. In Canada, DAZN lists the game at 08:30 Eastern. The UK is now on GMT and the United States is still on daylight time until Sunday morning, so check local listings if you are outside those zones.

What about Liverpool against Arsenal on Sunday?

The weekend does not end at Stamford Bridge. Liverpool host Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday 1 November at 16:30 London time, and the injury news there is even more stark. Arsenal are without Bukayo Saka, who is out until December with a quad injury suffered against Bayern Munich, and without William Saliba, who is not expected back from a long term back issue until after the international break. Max Dowman is suspended for three matches after Arsenal's appeal against his red card in the Carabao Cup defeat by Fleetwood Town was rejected, according to Friday reporting.

Declan Rice, Noni Madueke and Riccardo Calafiori are all doubts for Arsenal. Rice has a small thigh issue and could return, Madueke has an ankle issue, and Calafiori was a surprise omission against Everton. Arteta's pre match press conference on Friday was expected to give further clarity, so treat those three as doubts, not as confirmed outs, until the team news is confirmed. Liverpool have their own concerns, with Jeremie Frimpong sidelined, Dominik Szoboszlai doubtful, and Hugo Ekitike and Conor Bradley out, although Florian Wirtz returned against Chelsea after an ankle knock.

That is why Saturday matters so much for the table. Manchester City host Brighton on Saturday afternoon after losing their perfect start at Aston Villa. Tottenham host Crystal Palace on Saturday evening after their win at Chelsea. City and Arsenal both sit on 21 points, Liverpool are fourth on 15 points, Chelsea are fifth on 13 points, and United are 16th on seven points, just one point above the relegation places. A Chelsea win would keep Alonso's side in touch with the top four. A United win would change the mood around Carrick completely. A draw helps neither manager much, but it would at least stop United's losing run in the league.

What should fans watch for on Saturday?

First, watch the United midfield. If Mainoo starts, United should keep the ball better. If he is only on the bench, Santos and Baleba will need to control the game against a Chelsea side that presses hard at home. Second, watch Palmer. With Joao Pedro out, Palmer becomes Chelsea's main creator and finisher, and United will have to decide whether to man mark him or trust their shape. Third, watch the first 20 minutes. Chelsea have started slowly in recent home games, and United have conceded early in several defeats. The team that scores first at Stamford Bridge will have a huge advantage, because confidence is fragile on both sides. Fourth, watch Fernandes. If he starts, the clear the air talks will look like a genuine reset. If he is on the bench again, the story will run all weekend, whatever the result. Carrick has already confirmed Fernandes returns, so the question is now where he plays, not whether he plays.

Related live posts: Chelsea v Man Utd: Carrick, Mainoo, Palmer and Saturday, and Carrick Stays for Chelsea: Why United Kept Him and the Three Games That Decide His Future.

Sources: NBC Sports, Chelsea v Manchester United predicted lineups, 29 October 2026; Sports Mole, Manchester United predicted lineup, 29 October 2026; 3 Added Minutes and Chelsea Chronicle via Yardbarker, Chelsea predicted lineups, 30 October 2026; LiveScore, BBC and Sports Mole, Liverpool v Arsenal injury news, 29 to 30 October 2026.