It is a set-up the boss used on occasion last season, including in the FA Cup semi-final victory over Man United at Wembley.

Today he has chosen Reece James and Ben Chilwell as the two wing-backs. Cesar Azpilicueta returns to the side to join Thiago Silva and Kurt Zouma in central defence.

Jorginho and N’Golo Kante are the central midfielders, with Christian Pulisic and Kai Havertz expected to flank Timo Werner ahead of them.

Chelsea (3-4-3): Mendy; Azpilicueta (c), Thiago Silva, Zouma; James, Jorginho, Kante, Chilwell; Havertz, Werner, Pulisic.

Subs: Caballero, Rudiger, Kovacic, Mount, Ziyech, Abraham, Giroud.

Manchester United (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire (c), Shaw; McTominay, Fred; Mata, Fernandes, James; Rashford.

Subs: Henderson, Tuanzebe, Matic, Van de Beek, Greenwood, Pogba, Cavani.

The referee is Martin Atkinson.

Stats recap

Chelsea v Man Utd is most played fixture in all competitions between top-flight sides in the Premier League era. Saturday will be our 82nd such meeting.

The Blues have won two of our last three away Premier League games against the ‘Big Six’ clubs – wins at Tottenham and Arsenal and defeat to Liverpool.

Manchester United are looking to win three consecutive league games against Chelsea for the first time since September 1965.

Last season Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side secured their first league double over Chelsea since 1987/88, winning 4-0 and 2-0.

They are aiming to keep three consecutive clean sheets against Chelsea in the league for the first time since April 1925.

Man United are unbeaten in the past seven Premier League meetings at home against Chelsea, winning three and drawing four.

Chelsea have scored 45 away goals in the Premier League since the start of last season. Only Man City (49) have netted more in the same period.We have kept one clean sheet on the road since the beginning of last season in the Premier League (21 games), conceding an average two goals per game.Chelsea will be aiming to start a Premier League season undefeated in our opening three away games for the third time in the past four seasons.