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The FA Cup tie pitting Chelsea against Manchester United tonight will be a game where there’s all to play for.
Chelsea is on the back of a disappointing spell that even saw them lose 4-0 and 6-0 to Bournemouth and Manchester City respectively. On the other hand, Manchester United finally lost a game since the appointment of Ole Gunnar as their manager. They lost by two goals against PSG in the Champions League.
The FA Cup tie will be a chance for both teams to restore their pride in front of their fans with a win. The game will not be easy and whichever teams the managers send out in this tie, will be expected to perform.
Manchester United will be without Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial as the manager confirmed they will miss the game. They will also be without long term absentees like Antonio Valencia and Marcus Rojo.
The two defenders won’t give the manager much to think of, but the Martial and Lingard, who have been crucial to how United have played under Solskjaer will give the Norwegian a lot to contemplate on.
The manager has already confirmed that those injuries will give way to teenage talents Angel Gomes and Tahith Chong to stake a claim for first team football, but as talented as they are, they are still raw and inexperienced. The manager would have rather done with the injured duo in this tie.
The two injuries will also provide a chance for the likes of Alexis Sanchez to stake a claim for a starting role in this side. In this game against it is clear that the forward line is going to be reshuffled
The defence may also be reshuffled a bit so as to give some players some much-needed game time.
The team is likely to continue lining up in a 4-3-3 formation that can alternate to a 4-3-2 or a 4-4-2 diamond.
Here's how the team will likely look like.
Chris Smalling should be given some game time so as to build his fitness; he’ll also help United with defending set pieces as that has proved a problem this season for them. Alexis Sanchez should get the nod on the left in the absence of Martial and Lukaku should be played in the striker’s position.
Sergio Romero has been playing in the domestic cups, but David De Gea should definitely take up the role in between the sticks in this tie to provide stability in this team.
Marcus Rashford should be played on the right, but might come in centrally often in much like Lingard has been doing for United. He’ll be splitting Lukaku who’ll be moving to the right with Sanchez to his left. All things considered, United are expected to line up in the following manner.
David De Gea; Ashley Young(c), Chris Smalling, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw; Nemanja Matic, Ander Herrera, Paul Pogba; Marcus Rashford, Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez.
