Cole Palmer saw red quite literally in the defeat to Tottenham last weekend but today he's back in the Chelsea team and will be looking to make amends.

Here's what Xabi Alonso has had to say about his number 10: "We have spoken about the game and things we can improve.

"But, we always do. We don't want it repeated but for him it is the first one. So we have talked more about football because Cole is a smart guy."

Image source, Getty Images

The Manchester United boss will be in charge at Stamford Bridge on Saturday despite a run of eight games without a win in all competitions. Captain Bruno Fernandes could also feature after "clear-the-air talks" with his head coach.

Fernandes was dropped for the home defeat to Bournemouth after criticising Carrick's tactics in the Champions League loss at Como, but the Portugal international's influence and ability will probably be needed if United are to alter their downward trajectory.

The Red Devils have won only 29% of their 17 Premier League games without Fernandes starting since he joined from Sporting Lisbon in 2020, in comparison to winning 49% of 233 when he does start.

Even if the manager-captain row has been resolved to the point of Fernandes returning to the team, wholesale improvement across the board is also necessary with United facing the prospect of failing to win nine matches in a row for the first time since 1988.

Dion Dublin
Former Man Utd and Aston Villa striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Reuters

On Man Utd warm-up...

There is not enough effort. They deserve to get started on - they have not been playing well. There is enough talent there to not play that way. It is about the players having a bit of pride.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport Manchester United reporter at Stamford Bridge

Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick says ‘hard conversations’ are needed sometimes for any team to reach its optimum level.

United seem to have been in chaos since Lisandro Martinez spoke out against the club’s recruitment strategy following the 2-0 defeat by Atletico Madrid earlier this month.

The 4-1 defeat to Como, followed by a 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth have left Carrick hanging to his job by a thread.

The United boss held clear-the-air talks with skipper Bruno Fernandes on Wednesday, and he must hope his side deliver a winning performance at Stamford Bridge which would end their eight-match run without a win.

Carrick tried to portray a ‘business as usual’ stance in his news conference on Thursday but he accepts life cannot always be easy.

“It's pretty clear,” he said. “It's not always rosy and nice conversations between anyone, whether that's between me and the players, between me, (director of football) Jason (Wilcox) or (chief executive) Omar (Berrada) or the owners.

“It's the truth, it's the hard truth at times and it's what we need to move forward.”

Xabi Alonso isn't exactly having the best of times at Chelsea at the moment and could really do with three points today.

The Blues were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Liverpool on Wednesday and were beaten on home turf by rivals Tottenham last Saturday.

Image source, Getty Images

Simon Stone
BBC Sport Manchester United reporter at Stamford Bridge

There are not many Manchester United fans in the away section at Stamford Bridge just now but there was an audible 'Bruno, Bruno' from them when Bruno Fernandes led the outfield players out for their warm-up.

I suspect there will be a unified effort to get management, players and fans moving in the same direction at least for the start of today's game at Stamford Bridge.

Manchester United are staring at the possibility of a nine-game winless streak in all competitions for the first time since 1988-89.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

Manchester United could end today in the Premier League bottom three, if results go against them.

That'd be a proper Halloween scare for the United fans.

Manchester United are winless in their last eight games in all competitions (D3 L5). They last had a longer run in October/November 1988 with nine.

Manchester United's last four Premier League results don't make for pretty reading at all. Just the three points.

Throw in a 4-1 loss away at Como in the Champions League, too.

Chelsea

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso, speaking to TNT Sports: "We are back in Premier League mode, so it is the most important.

"For sure, today is a big one. We need a good game and a good performance."

On Estevao starting: "Because he is ready, because he has been preparing and training well. Today he is needed, and we hope he enjoys his game and that he can have a good impact."

On whether Morgan Rogers will be the main centre forward: "Too early to tell, so we will see. It could, but we have options."

On Jordan Henderson's exclusion: "He is ill, no injury, but he was not feeling well yesterday, and today he had a fever."

On Man Utd: "We expect a tough game, and intense game against United. They are a big team and good players, so we will need our best."

It was a huge call from Manchester United boss Michael Carrick to drop captain Bruno Fernandes in the 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth.

But the two have held clear the air talks and he is back in the starting XI this afternoon.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport Manchester United reporter at Stamford Bridge

When the Manchester United squad arrived a few of the players came straight out and had a look at the pitch.

Matheus Cunha wandered on with fellow Brazilian Andrey Santos and started pointing to the end where he scored the winner last season, as if to say 'this is what I did'.

It was a superb finish from a Bruno Fernandes cut back.

What United - and Michael Carrick - would give for a repeat of that today.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport Chelsea reporter

Chelsea are beset with injuries before this one but there is the additional problem that Jordan Henderson is a surprise absentee through illness.

Romeo Lavia comes into his place in midfield after his first 90 minutes since joining Chelsea in the penalty shootout defeat at Liverpool on Wednesday.

Joao Pedro, Emiliano Martinez, Maxence Lacroix, Jorrel Hato, Reece James, Jamie Gittens and Aaron Anselmino are also out.

Manchester United

Image source, PA Media

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick, speaking to TNT Sports: "There is no hiding from the fact that we want to win games.

"Today is another opportunity, a tough game to come down here and try to get the three points. We have prepared well and trained well - the boys are ready."

On Bruno Fernandes: "Of course, Bruno is an important player. He has proved it for some time. He proved last season what he could do, and he has proved it for so long at this football club. He will do it again, no doubt about that."

On experience within the team: "Experience helps. It can help and I think we have got a good balance within the group with that. We have had a tough time results wise, but the boys are going into this game with quite a clear mind and we know what to do.

"More about us, and what we bring to the game ourselves. We can't control what they bring to the game. We have got to be the best version of us, if we're close to that, we will have a good chance of winning the game."

Glenn Murray
Former Brighton striker on Premier League Kick-Off

It is a football club that isn't united in their process.

We saw back in the day, where Jaap Stam released his book, and it was 72 hours later he was out of the door. There was one man in charge and that was Sir Alex Ferguson.

Managers have less power in a football club now because of the way they have been set up. You wonder who is going to be making the decisions at Manchester United.

If I am the manager of a football club, you have got to act with integrity.

Your manager and captain are normally pretty in sync.

For me, Bruno Fernandes cannot be the captain of the football club.