Football fans in the Middle East and North Africa are gearing up for a highly anticipated Premier League clash as Chelsea host Manchester United at their home ground in the ninth round of the competition. The match will be played on Saturday 31 October 2026, kicking off at 13:30 Morocco and Algeria time, 14:30 Egypt time, and 15:30 Saudi Arabia time. The encounter will be broadcast on beIN SPORTS 1 in the Middle East and North Africa, while in Germany and Croatia it will be shown on Arena Sport 1.
Chelsea vs Manchester United: Kick-off Time and Broadcast Channels
The match will take place at Chelsea’s stadium, a crucial test for both teams in the ninth round. Chelsea go into the game sitting fifth with 13 points from 8 matches, while Manchester United are 16th with 7 points. This clash is an opportunity for the visitors to improve their league position, while the hosts aim to keep the pressure on the top places.
Key Absences
- Chelsea: E. Martinez (fractured jaw), Jamie Gittens (ankle injury), Joao Pedro (muscle injury) — one of the league’s top scorers, Maxence Lacroix (hamstring injury), Benoit Badiashile (minor injury).
- Manchester United: Benjamin Sesko (leg injury), Karl Darlow (minor injury), Manuel Ugarte (ACL injury), Patrick Dorgu (hamstring injury), T. Heaton (abdominal injury).
The absence of Joao Pedro is a significant attacking blow for Chelsea as he is one of the league’s top scorers, while Manchester United will be without Ugarte in midfield due to a long-term injury.
Chelsea’s Predicted Lineup
Chelsea are expected to use a 4-3-3 formation, based on the last starting XI they fielded in the match Liverpool vs Chelsea on 28 October 2026 in the English League Cup. With injured players ruled out, the coach may turn to alternatives from the same recent lineup, but these predictions are subject to change due to rotation or fitness updates.
- Goalkeeper: Mike Penders
- Defence: J. Acheampong, Wesley Fofana, M. Gusto (in place of the injured Lacroix)
- Midfield: Moises Caicedo (captain), R. Lavia, Jordan Henderson, P. Neto, M. Rogers
- Attack: Danny Welbeck
Manchester United’s Predicted Lineup
Manchester United are expected to play a 4-2-3-1 formation according to the last starting XI they used in the match Manchester United vs Bournemouth on 25 October 2026 in the Premier League. The absences force enforced changes, but the predictions remain speculative and may change based on the coach’s decisions.
- Goalkeeper: S. Lammens
- Defence: L. Yoro, Harry Maguire (captain), A. Heaven, Diogo Dalot
- Midfield: Andre Santos, Carlos Baleba, Amad Diallo, Y. Tielemans, M. Mount
- Attack: B. Mbeumo
InfoSports Numbers
- Chelsea have collected 13 points from 8 matches (5th place), while Manchester United have only 7 points (16th place).
- In their last two meetings, Manchester United won 2-1 at home against Chelsea on 20 September 2025 in the Premier League.
- Manchester United have lost two consecutive matches before this encounter (0-3 against Bournemouth and 1-4 against Como), while Chelsea drew 1-1 with Liverpool in the League Cup.
Share your opinion on the predicted lineups, follow the official platforms to watch the match, and beware of fake links that may impersonate the official channels.
