The tunnel doors opened onto Old Trafford at full voice.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Onana.
Dalot — Maguire — Lindelöf — Shaw.
Demien — McTominay.
Antony — Bruno — Garnacho.
Højlund.
McTominay settled in beside him rather than Mainoo, confirming which of Tuesday's combinations Ten Hag had gone with — the running beyond Chelsea's midfield that gave United another way to punish Caicedo and Enzo whenever either of them stepped toward Demien.
Chelsea lined up in their familiar 4-2-3-1, Caicedo and Enzo screening in front of the back four, Palmer just ahead of them in place of the suspended Gallagher, Sterling and Mudryk wide, Jackson leading the line alone.
"United have come through Istanbul and Newcastle inside a week," the commentator said as both teams took their positions, "and Demien Walter's been at the center of both. Chelsea have the pace and the technical quality to make any loose midfield battle dangerous, though — this won't be as simple as the form table suggests."
