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The dreaded international break is finally over and the first Premier League fixture that awaits us is a tasty one.
An unbeaten Chelsea side welcomes an out of sorts Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in Saturday's early kick off. The clash has numerous storylines embedded in it which makes it all the more intriguing.
Saturday will witness Jose Mourinho's fourth visit to the Bridge since he left in acrimonious circumstances in 2015, and he is yet to win there with United. The Red Devils' season has been a frustrating one and a win against Chelsea will be a strong statement of intent.
Mourinho's counterpart Maurizio Sarri is flying right now, with the Blues second to leaders Manchester City on just goal difference. The Italian's philosophy has not taken long to take roots, and Eden Hazard has been the standout beneficiary.
The players on both the sides have experienced contrasting campaigns thus far. Let us take a look at the combined XI from both the teams, based on this season's form.
Goalkeeper: Kepa Arizzabalaga
The choices made here are solely based on this season's form, which gives the spot to Kepa, rather than his compatriot De Gea.
Kepa has five clean sheets to De Gea's one, and he has conceded five goals to De Gea's 13. Now the team in front of them obviously makes the difference, but the save percentages are in Kepa's favour as well.
The Chelsea man has a save percentage of 78% compared to 64% for De Gea. His passing accuracy is miles better, 81% compared to his compatriot's 55%. De Gea is perhaps the better goalkeeper at this moment, but judging solely by the eight league games, Kepa clearly trumps him.
Left-back: Luke Shaw
United's defence has been shambolic at times, but that is not a good reflection of Shaw's performances this season. He has endured a tough time under Jose Mourinho, but his hard work and determination have ensured an upturn in fortunes.
Shaw has had more tackles and interceptions than any other United player this season. He has made nine key passed from the left-back spot, a tally which is only bettered by two other teammates.
It looks as if he has finally gained Mourinho's trust, and aged just 23, Shaw has been one of the bright lights in a dark United season thus far.
Centre-backs: David Luiz and Antonio Rudiger
The choice for the central defenders was made easy due to essentially no credible candidates from Manchester United.
Luiz and Rudiger have marshaled the Chelsea defence well and their five goals conceded has been bettered by just Liverpool and Manchester City. Among defenders, only Aymeric Laporte has completed more passes than these two, and this quality is one favoured by Sarri.
This duo has started each of the eight games thus far, and Chelsea have benefitted hugely from their solidity at the back. Luiz is prone to the odd mistake, but even he has ramped up his game. How they deal with Romelu Lukaku on Saturday will be interesting to watch.
Right-back: Cesar Azpilicueta
Azpilicueta has had to change his role with the team upon Sarri's arrival, but he has handled the transition seamlessly.
The Spaniard leads his side for tackles and interceptions, and he is still a very staunch defender to get past. His versatility is especially a bonus for managers, and so is his consistency. The right-back slot is not a perfect one for 'Dave', but he's doing a better job than most nonetheless.
Central midfield: Jorginho
Jorginho followed Sarri from Naples to London, and he has morphed into a vital component of this Chelsea side. He has completed a staggering 853 passes in eight games thus far, and he has been the heartbeat of the Blues' midfield.
A technical and clever player, he circulates the ball very effectively. Chelsea's 62.7% possession is second only to Manchester City, and much of it has been down to the Italian pulling the strings in the centre of the park.
Right midfield: N'Golo Kante
Kante has not been made use of effectively this season, as Sarri's approach keeps Chelsea in possession of the ball for the majority of the time. But he has carried his changed role to great effect, playing the right side of the midfield for a change.
His tackling and intercepting self has taken a step back, but he is developing his attacking game. Kante's shots per game have risen, and his tackles and interception numbers have waned as well. Despite this, his intensity and work rate is just as vital for Chelsea.
Left midfield: Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba has come under the radar due to his possible future moves as well as his exploits on the pitch, but he has still had a better campaign than the likes of Mateo Kovacic and Fred.
He has been the creative force at United, and no one has more than his 12 key passes. He also leads his side for dribbles, and he has two goals and two assists to his name in the league.
The Frenchman's attitude has come under question at times, but with his quality, he can surely make the impact on Saturday
Left winger: Eden Hazard
Hazard has been the league's outstanding player this season, and he is arguably playing his best football since moving to London.
The Belgian is the top scorer in the league with seven strikes, and has three assists as well. Surprisingly, he has not taken the most shots, as eight others have taken more than his 23. He has completed the most dribbles with 22, and only five players have bettered his 17 key passes.
The United backline will have a tough task on their hands as they hope to contend the recently crowned Player of the Month.
Striker: Romelu Lukaku
Neither one of Chelsea's strikers have impressed, and Lukaku has consistently performed despite his team's struggles.
Mourinho has always been able to count on the Belgian's hold up play, work rate, and the constant running in behind defences. He has scored four goals for United thus far, and has been one of the better performers as many of his teammates have come under the microscope.
Right winger: Pedro Rodriguez
None of Alexis Sanchez, Willian, and Marcus Rashford have impressed considerably, so Pedro sneaks into the team.
The former Barcelona man has started just four league games this season, but he has three goals nonetheless. He had suffered an injury last month but he came off the bench against Southampton and is in contention to start against United.
Remember what happened two years ago when Pedro set the tone for an emphatic Chelsea victory? De Gea and company will surely keep a keener eye on him this time.
