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Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney could be recalled after he was only named as a substitute against Stoke.
Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger returns from suspension and defender Matteo Darmian could be available following a hamstring injury.
Chelsea will be without striker Diego Costa, who is suspended for accumulating five bookings this season.
Eden Hazard could return to the starting line-up after making his comeback from the bench on Saturday.
Editor’s Note: Is Louis Van Gaal one game away from the sack? No one is quite sure but defeat at home to Chelsea this evening will surely edge him closer to the dreaded exit door.
United haven’t won in 5 league matches, have lost their last 3, are 7th in the league and have been knocked out of the Champions League the evidence in the case against Van Gaal and with Jose Mourinho waiting in the wings the pressure is certainly on the Dutchman to deliver something in the way of results and fast.
They looked considerably abject in their defeat to Stoke on Saturday Lunchtime but truth be told they have looked pretty average in their last 5 matches with the goals all but drying up. This United side lacks any flair and creativity with the middle of the park looking incredibly laboured but there is going to be no overnight fix and Van Gaal is going to have to conjure up something pretty special as he goes up against his old Dutch adversary Guus Hiddink and his Chelsea side.
Chelsea slipped up (literally) at home to Watford on Saturday as Guus Hiddink wasn’t able to get his second stint at the club off to a winning start. That said it was one of the better Chelsea performances of the season but the Defensive frailties were still in place as Watford managed to get level and then in front only for Diego Costa to restore parity.
Unfortunately for Chelsea they will be without Diego Costa who picked up his fifth booking of the season and therefore misses out through suspension. That will ask the question who will lead the line for Chelsea this evening, could even Radamel Falcao be in line for a return to Old Trafford were he had a pretty unforgettable loan spell last season.
This is a game that Louis Van Gaal simply can’t afford to lose and therefore I think his tactics will set out to do exactly that, coupled with Chelsea not having Diego Costa I can see these two factors cancelling each other out and a draw will be the outcome. Will that draw be enough for Van Gaal to keep his job at Old Trafford or will the United hierarchy decide that with a New Year should bring a new face at the helm.
