Manchester United could have Ruben Amorim on the touchline this weekend when they take on Chelsea at Old Trafford. 

The Red Devils are looking to appoint their replacement for Erik ten Hag after the Dutchman was sacked by the club on Monday morning. 

Man United are set for a new era with Ten Hag sackedGetty

Ten Hag’s spell in Manchester was brought to an end with his side sitting 14th in the Premier League following their worst-ever start to a season. 

And it’s Chelsea who will face them in their first top-flight game under new leadership, with the Blues coming into this game off the back of a 2-1 win against Newcastle. 

Enzo Maresca has his men enjoying their football and a win against their rivals would keep them in the early chasing pack for the title. 

Man United vs Chelsea: Rushing for Ruben

United are working towards trying to get new manager Amorim in place in time for this game, talkSPORT understands.

The Red Devils are in advanced talks with Sporting after verbally agreeing personal terms with Amorim to succeed the sacked Ten Hag.

United met the Portuguese boss last week to lay the foundations for him to take charge and now they have met his £8.3million release clause.

If he is to join the club ahead of this clash, it will make a huge impact on Old Trafford. 

There’s no doubt that the fans will be up for it and they will want to see their side begin a new era with a win against a huge rival. 

Ruud van Nistelrooy is in interim charge for now, meaning even if Amorim isn’t appointed in time, there will be a new leader in the dugout. 

Beginning life with Ten Hag with three points is crucial to relighting some hope at the club that their season can begin to move in a positive direction.

Amorim is in line to become the next Man United manager

Despite trailing in stoppage time, Chelsea won their last Premier League game against Man Utd 4-3 in April. They last won consecutive league meetings with the Red Devils in March 2011 (a run of three).

Manchester United are unbeaten in their last 11 home league games against Chelsea (W5 D6), and are looking to win three in a row against the Blues at Old Trafford for the first time since January 1957.

Man United vs Chelsea: Predicted line-ups

United could set up in a brand new system should Amorim be appointed, with a three-at-the-back formation expected.

The Sporting boss is known to play a 3-4-3 and he isn’t likely to change. So how would United line up? 

Well, Kobbie Mainoo, Harry Maguire, Mason Mount, Antony, Luke Shaw and Leny Yoro all remain sidelined with injuries so they won’t feature for now. 

Andre Onana will stay in goal while a back three could be made up of Matthijs De Ligt, Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof. 

At wing-back, Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui will comfortably slot in. 

Captain Bruno Fernandes would likely have to move forward while Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte or Christian Eriksen compete for the two midfield spots. 

Marcus Rashford could fall victim to the system and drop out, with Alejandro Garnacho providing more threat so far this season.

And Rasmus Hojlund would make up the front three while Joshua Zirkzee and Amad Diallo challenge for a spot. 

As for Chelsea, Maresca admitted he felt ‘shame’ for leaving stars out of his squad, but that’s not expected to change this weekend. 

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Benoit Badiashile, Axel Disasi and Ben Chilwell are all going to find it hard to make it into the Blues’ line-up. 

A back five of goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella are likely to start. 

Although Malo Gusto could feature on either side of the defence. 

In midfield, Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia have formed a partnership with Enzo Fernandez not starting either of the last two league games. 

In front of them, it’s going to be Cole Palmer who is continuing his incredible form. 

Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson seem like shoo-ins too while Pedro Neto, Jadon Sancho and Mykhailo Mudryk compete for a spot on the left wing. 

Cole Palmer has been directly involved in 33 Premier League goals for Chelsea in 2024 (21 goals, 12 assists). Only two players have had more goals and assists in a year for the Blues – Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in 2001 (25 goals, 11 assists) and Didier Drogba in 2010 (22 goals, 13 assists).

Erik ten Hag lost 32% of his Premier League games in charge of Man Utd (27/85), the joint highest percentage along with David Moyes (11/34). Seven of his 27 defeats came via 90th minute winners, the highest percentage (26%) of any manager to lose 20+ games in Premier League history.

Chelsea’s Wesley Fofana has been yellow carded in each of his last six Premier League appearances, only the fifth player in Premier League history to do so. The only player to be carded in seven games in a row is Joey Barton for QPR in 2014-15.

Man United vs Chelsea: What has been said? 

European football expert Kevin Hatchard believes that Amorim is the man to turn things around at Manchester United.

“I can completely understand why they’re going for him,” Hatchard said on talkSPORT Breakfast.

“He’s been one of the most enterprising young coaches in European football for quite some time now.

“When you think of Amorim, the thing to remember is that he was promoted from within at Braga, and within two months he’d already delivered their first win at Benfica for 65 years.

“I think he won his first game 7-1 and so, in his first few months at Braga, he’d done enough to convince Sporting to pay €10million to get him out of his contract.

“So you knew already this was a guy who was doing special things, really, really quickly.

“Having got to Sporting, he managed to get them to fourth and in his first full season, he delivered the Primera Liga title for the first time in 19 years.

“This is a guy that delivers, but he delivers quickly and that’s what Man United need if they’re going to save this season.”

Amorim’s track record stands him in good stead to be the perfect appointmentGetty

Cole Palmer scored in both of Chelsea’s Premier League games against Man Utd last season, including a hat-trick in a 4-3 win at Stamford Bridge. The only Chelsea players to score in three consecutive Premier League games against the Red Devils are Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (2000-2001) and Juan Mata (2012-2013).

Only Southampton and Crystal Palace (6 each) have scored fewer Premier League goals this season than Manchester United (8). The Red Devils have underperformed their expected goals by 6.8 (xG of 14.8), the worst differential of any side in 2024-25, while since 2022-23, only Everton (-26) have underperformed their xG more than Man Utd (-17-9 – 123 goals from an xG of 140.9).

Man United vs Chelsea: How to follow 

This Premier League clash will take place on Sunday, November 3. 

Kick-off at Old Trafford is scheduled for 4:30pm. 

The game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. 

talkSPORT will also keep you up to date with all the goals as they go in the Sunday Session with Sam Matterface. 

And on talkSPORT.com you can follow live updates of the game in out dedicated Premier League live blog. 

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. 

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.