As matchweek nine of this enthralling Premier League season rolls around we have a host of excellent games to look forward to this weekend.
Champions Arsenal will look to bounce back after a humiliating defeat away to Fleetwood in midweek but will have to travel to Anfield and take on a Liverpool side who look to have finally hit form, winning their last five games in all competitions.
Manchester City welcome third place Brighton, who have been the surprise package of the season so far. There is a London derby as Tottenham take on Crystal Palace.
Perhaps the most anticipated game is the 12:30 Saturday kick off between old rivals Chelsea and Manchester United.
The once perennial title challengers both find themselves struggling so far this season, albeit United much more so, and will be desperate to pick up three points.
Sofascore have put together a combined XI of the best-performing players from both squads, with average ratings accrued from all competitions this campaign. So, who has made the cut? Daily Mail Sport takes a look.
Goalkeeper – Senne Lammens (Man United)
Between the sticks is Manchester United’s big Belgian, Senne Lammens. The 24-year-old has been a breath of fresh air at Old Trafford after United after the struggles of his predecessor Andre Onana.
Onana who had some memorably poor performances in both the Champions League and Premier League during his two year spell in Manchester.
Lammens appears to have dropped off in form slightly from the end of last season but has still been solid considering his club’s shocking form.
He gets the nod ahead of his Belgian compatriot Mike Penders who has had a tricky first few games in blue, and Emi Martinez who is still sidelined with a head injury he sustained away at Everton.
Sofascore rating: 6.89
Senne Lammens is yet to keep a clean sheet in the Premier League this season as United have conceded 13 goals already
Centre-back – Wesley Fofana (Chelsea)
The first of our three central defenders is Chelsea’s £70million man, Wesley Fofana.
A big-money signing from Leicester City in 2022, Fofana has only really begun to make regular appearances for Chelsea in the past year and has been a fixture when fit in Xabi Alonso’s back-three system, starting all four games he has played.
Despite a number of lacklustre performances, most recently a nightmare at Anfield in midweek, overall the Frenchman has looked solid, winning 66 per cent of his defensive duels and 70 per cent of his aerial battles.
Sofascore rating: 6.92
Centre-back – Harry Maguire (Man United)
Playing through the middle of our back three is Harry Maguire.
Nobody in Manchester United’s leaky defence has truly shone this season with the Red Devils already conceding 13 goals in the Premier League and six in the Champions League.
Nevertheless Maguire makes the cut, partially due to both sides not having performed at the back this season. Maguire has improved in possession hugely, registering a 90 per cent pass completion rate and a 100 per cent dribble success score.
Sofascore rating: 6.89
Centre-back – Lisandro Martinez (Man United)
Lisandro Martinez completes our defence despite his recent controversy.
Earlier this month Martinez found himself in hot water after making some serious criticism of Manchester United’s transfer business – or lack of – and sporting director Jason Wilcox, but his personal performances have remained steady.
The Argentine scored a freakish own-goal away to Fulham in a 1-1 draw in September but has for the most part avoided any major errors at the back and certainly cannot be blamed for United’s catastrophic start to the season.
Sofascore rating: 7.16
Defensive midfielder – Jordan Henderson (Chelsea)
When veteran Jordan Henderson was brought in over the summer many fans assumed he would play a bit-part role. Instead, the 36-year-old has become a regular starter for Alonso’s team.
The Englishman has started every game for Chelsea since making his debut against Brentford and has been excellent, especially at home to Bournemouth in which he bagged a brace in a rampant 5-1 win.
Questions will be asked over whether he will be able to sustain this form over the course of the season given his age but for now he makes it into our XI with the highest average rating out of the lot.
Sofascore rating: 7.68
The former Liverpool skipper as been a revelation at the Bridge this season, the only question is whether he keeps it up
Defensive midfielder – Kobbie Mainoo (Man United)
Partnering Henderson is another Englishman who has rediscovered form this season but under different circumstances.
After a period out of favour with ex-manager Ruben Amorim, Kobbie Mainoo became the catalyst in his side’s stellar end to last season. But this campaign his lack of ‘dynamism’ has been criticised by former player and now pundit Gary Neville.
Many have questioned if a midfield two of Mainoo and Youri Tielemans is sustainable due to the pair having similar profiles, and a combination of Mainoo and Carlos Baleba lacks experience.
Carrick has stuck with Mainoo thus far and individually he has earned solid ratings. He beats out Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo to a place in the XI.
Sofascore rating: 7.30
Right Midfielder – Pedro Neto (Chelsea)
Pedro Neto has transformed his game under his new gaffer as an auxiliary wing-back.
The Portuguese has enjoyed his best start to a season at Chelsea since he joined the club for £65m back in 2024, scoring four and assisting one in eight games for the Blues so far.
He has also looked capable defensively in his new wing-back role in Chelsea’s 3-4-2-1 formation with 55 defensive contributions and 29 ball recoveries this season.
Sofascore rating: 7.17
Left Midfielder – Morgan Rogers (Chelsea)
If some places in this team are close calls, there is no questioning this man’s inclusion. The Blues’ £117m summer acquisition has so far looked worth every penny, lighting up the Premier League as one third of Chelsea’s deadly front three.
The England star has five goals and has provided five assists in all competitions this campaign and appears to be that final piece of quality Chelsea have so desperately needed in attack.
Rogers has enjoyed a number of particularly memorable performances including his relentless showing at home to Leeds, where he assisted four goals, as well as his outing against Bournemouth in which he ran the game for 80 minutes and scored one.
Sofascore rating: 7.33
Best friends Morgan Rogers (right) and Cole Palmer (left) also make the combined XI
Attacking Midfielder – Bruno Fernandes (Man United)
At the beginning of the season, Bruno Fernandes would have been nailed on for this combined XI.
Just 12 games in, his inclusion may surprise a few. There is no questioning the man’s ability but there have been serious concerns over whether his actions reflect what is expected of a United captain.
Fernandes has been very outspoken about the state of the club and the management of the squad and has subsequently had ‘clear-the-air’ talks with his boss.
The Portuguese international remains, however, one of the most talented midfielders in the Premier League and even with all of his issues off the pitch, he continues to contribute on it with four goals and one assist in all competitions.
Sofascore rating: 7.15
Bruno Fernandes was benched for United’s 3-0 loss at home to Bournemouth but is back in for Saturday’s visit to Chelsea
Attacking Midfielder – Youri Tielemans (Man United)
One has to feel a bit for Youri Tielemans. As a top talent entering the twilight of his career he has walked into an absolute car crash at Old Trafford.
And he has gone from a stellar season getting Champions League football with Aston Villa to sixteenth place with United in October. He is yet to wow the Stretford End.
Similarly to Kobbie Mainoo, the midfielder has been critiqued for his lack of running, with United sat third from bottom in the rankings when it comes to ground covered.
All the same, he has registered 371 passes – well above the league average – and has a completion rate of 89 per cent.
Sofascore rating: 7.09
Striker – Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
It is safe to say we are unlikely to see Palmer play up front this season but to fit the Blues’ talisman in we have had to put him up top.
With Palmer fresh off the back of his first red card in senior football in Chelsea’s 2-0 home defeat by Tottenham, it is easy to forget the start the Englishman has had to this campaign.
Seemingly energised after his omission from England’s World Cup squad, the forward has looked back to his best at times.
He has racked up four goals and three assists so far and will be desperate to make an impact on his return from suspension against his boyhood club.
Sofascore rating: 7.39
Sofascore’s combined XI for this the grudge match of the weekend
