According to a report by London Evening Standard on Thursday, October 29, 2026, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso could make changes to his starting lineup when his team welcome Manchester United to Stamford Bridge for their Premier League encounter on Saturday, October 31. Cole Palmer is expected to return to the starting eleven, providing the Blues with a major boost ahead of the important fixture.

Nevertheless, Alonso has fresh injury concerns to address after Maxence Lacroix reportedly suffered a possible hamstring injury during Chelsea's Carabao Cup defeat to Liverpool on Wednesday. The defender's condition could influence the manager's defensive selection as preparations continue for the weekend showdown.

Chelsea will enter the match under pressure to secure a positive result after losing their last two games. Their latest setback came against Liverpool at Anfield, where they were knocked out of the Carabao Cup after a penalty shootout. The Blues must now shift their focus to the Premier League, where another difficult challenge awaits them against Manchester United.

Palmer's anticipated return is one of the most encouraging developments for Chelsea. The England international missed the Liverpool game because of suspension after receiving a red card during the match against Tottenham. Having completed his one-match ban, the attacking midfielder is expected to be available again and could bring additional creativity, attacking movement and goal threat to Chelsea's forward line.

However, uncertainty remains over Lacroix's availability. The French defender was unable to continue against Liverpool after picking up the suspected hamstring problem before half-time. Alonso has indicated that further medical assessments are needed to establish the seriousness of the injury and determine how long the player might be unavailable. Chelsea will be hoping the issue is not serious enough to rule him out of the Manchester United encounter.

The Blues also have other injury problems that could affect their selection. Reece James is expected to remain sidelined until the new year following knee surgery, while Joao Pedro is facing several weeks out after sustaining a thigh injury. Jamie Gittens is another player currently recovering, having suffered an ankle problem while on international duty with England Under-21s.

Malo Gusto and Moises Caicedo are additional concerns following physical problems during the Carabao Cup encounter. Chelsea's medical team will need to assess both players before the weekend match to determine whether they can feature against Manchester United.

On a more positive note, Emiliano Martinez could return sooner than initially expected after undergoing surgery for a broken jaw. Jorrel Hato and Pep Chavarria are also hoping to be available again after missing Chelsea's trip to Anfield. Their potential returns could give Alonso more options as he attempts to assemble a competitive squad for Saturday's contest.

Chelsea will be eager to respond to their recent disappointments by producing a strong performance against Manchester United. With Palmer potentially returning and several players facing late fitness assessments, Alonso's final selection will be crucial to the team's chances of getting back to winning ways.

Chelsea Predicted Lineup: Penders; Acheampong, Colwill, Fofana, Neto; Caicedo, Henderson; Hato, Palmer, Rogers; Welbeck.