3-4-2-1: Conte Makes 3 Changes | Expected Chelsea XI vs Man Utd

Chelsea will be looking to cement their position in the top four with a positive result when they take on Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.

Here is the side we think Antonio Conte will pick for the game:

Goalkeeper: Barring a late injury, Thibaut Courtois is certain to keep his place between the sticks with Willy Caballero on the bench.

Defence: Gary Cahill was dropped for the 1-1 draw with Barcelona in midweek but the skipper could be handed a recall this weekend with Antonio Rudiger the man most likely to make way.

Andreas Christensen’s sloppy pass led to the Barca equaliser on Tuesday night but Conte had defended the young centre-back and he’s fully expected to keep his place at the heart of the back three.

David Luiz has once again been ruled out through injury but Cesar Azpilicueta is certain to keep his place on the right-side of defence.

Midfield: N’Golo Kante will almost certainly retain his place in midfield after another all-action display in midweek but we could see a change with Danny Drinkwater coming in for Cesc Fabregas.

Conte is expected to play with three in attack so he may want to deploy Drinkwater alongside Kante to offer extra protection to the defence with Fabregas named among the substitutes.

However, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Ross Barkley will once again miss out as the duo have failed to recover from their respective injuries.

Victor Moses should continue in the right wing-back position while Marcos Alonso is also expected to keep his place meaning Davide Zappacosta and Emerson Palmeiri will have to make-do with places on the bench.

Attack: Conte went with Eden Hazard in the false 9 role in the Champions League last time out but Alvaro Morata is pushing for a recall after recovering from a niggling back injury.

Olivier Giroud is also in contention to start up front but I think Conte may opt for the pace of Morata with Giroud used as an impact substitute.

Hazard will therefore drop back in to a more natural attacking midfield role while it will be difficult to leave Willian out the team as he’s in excellent form right now. Therefore, Pedro may have to make do with a place on the bench.

Here is how we think Chelsea will line-up:

CHECK OUT OUR PREDICTED MAN UTD XI HERE