How Chelsea could line up against man United

The Blues start the 2019/20 campaign away at Old Trafford

Chelsea players will soon be back at Cobham as the club begin their preparations ahead of the 2019/20 Premier League season.

The Blues will start the new campaign with a tricky trip away at Manchester United on the opening day, with a home game against Leicester City just coming a few days after the UEFA Super Cup final against Liverpool in Istanbul.

Chelsea will be hoping to have a new manager in charge before the team arrive back at the club's training base following Maurizio Sarri's exit to Juventus at the weekend.

Frank Lampard is odds-on to return to Stamford Bridge and he is currently priced at 1/20 with Sky Bet for the job.

 

While their top-six rivals will be busy in the transfer market, the club's two-window ban means they will have to go without unless their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport is successful.

That means it will be pretty much the same squad as last season minus Eden Hazard for the new campaign, although the team do have a number of players returning from their respective loan spells that could play a part for the squad going forward.

Reece James, Fikayo Tomori, Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham have all been tipped to have a big future at the club, with Kurt Zouma, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Michy Batshuayi also a few of the experienced players to return after spending the year away from west London.

Christian Pulisic will also be available for the first time after spending the end of last season on loan at Borussia Dortmund following his big-money move from the German club at the turn of the year.

Christian Pulisic in his final game for Borussia Dortmund

So, who could start for the Blues at Old Trafford on the opening day?

Kepa Arrizabalaga is a certainty to start in goal unless he's injured, with Cesar Azpilicueta also keeping his place in the team at right-back given James faces an extended spell out due to his ankle injury.

Andreas Christensen looks set to come in to partner David Luiz after Antonio Rudiger underwent surgery on his knee at the end of last season, while it will be a battle between Emerson Palmieri and Marcos Alonso for the left-back spot.

Midfield looks set to pick itself with Ruben Loftus-Cheek set to be out until around November due to his Achilles injury and doubts over whether or not the club will take up the option to sign Mateo Kovacic on a permanent deal.

 

That means Jorginho, N'Golo Kante and Ross Barkley get the nod unless the new manager springs a surprise by bringing Bakayoko or Mount into the starting XI.

Pulisic will be hoping he has done enough in pre-season to get the nod for his Premier League debut with him, Willian and Pedro fighting it out for the two places out wide due to Callum Hudson-Odoi's injury.

Olivier Giroud also looks likely to lead the line for the Blues against the Red Devils, although Abraham and Batshuayi could give the new boss a potential headache with some good performances in the team's upcoming friendlies.