According to a report by the London Evening Standard on Saturday, October 31, 2026, Chelsea have made a notable change to their starting lineup for the Premier League meeting against Manchester United, handing Brazilian youngster Estevao a starting opportunity while welcoming Cole Palmer back from suspension. However, manager Xabi Alonso remains without several important players because of injury problems.

Palmer missed Chelsea's midweek Carabao Cup encounter against Liverpool, which ended in a penalty shootout defeat for the Blues. His absence followed a suspension resulting from the red card he received during Chelsea's 2-0 loss to Tottenham last weekend.

Chelsea's injury concerns increased during their match against Liverpool when defender Maxence Lacroix suffered a hamstring injury shortly before halftime. Alonso confirmed that the centre-back would be unavailable for several weeks, with his recovery potentially extending beyond November.

There are also concerns that Lacroix could remain out of action until the beginning of next year, creating another defensive challenge for the London club during an important period of the season.

Club captain Reece James is another major absentee and is expected to remain unavailable until January following knee surgery. Meanwhile, striker Joao Pedro continues his recovery from a thigh injury, with Alonso anticipating that he will need several more weeks before returning.

Nevertheless, Chelsea have received some encouraging updates ahead of the Manchester United encounter. Malo Gusto and Moises Caicedo are both available despite experiencing discomfort during the Liverpool fixture. Pep Chavarria has also returned to the substitutes' bench after recovering from his previous fitness concerns.

Goalkeeper Emi Martinez could make an earlier comeback than initially expected after suffering a broken jaw. The Argentine has reportedly consulted a specialist about using a protective face mask following surgery, although Chelsea will need to assess his condition before approving his return.

Jamie Gittens remains unavailable after picking up an ankle injury while representing England's Under-21 team during the previous international break. Jorrel Hato is also missing, further reducing Alonso's defensive options.

Chelsea are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation against Manchester United, with Mike Penders starting in goal. The defensive unit consists of Josh Acheampong, Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana.

Pedro Neto, Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia and Palestra are expected to occupy the midfield positions, while Palmer and Estevao will operate behind Morgan Rogers, who leads the attack.

The substitutes include Sharman-Lowe, Gusto, Subuloye, Chavarria, Barco, Nicoll-Jazuli, Quenda, Welbeck and Emegha.

Despite their injury difficulties, Chelsea will hope the returning players and Estevao's inclusion can help them deliver a strong performance and secure a positive result against Manchester United.