Thiago Silva has returned to the Chelsea starting lineup for Saturday's Premier League fixture against Manchester United.

Given the club's hectic schedule, the veteran Brazilian was handed a rest for the midweek draw at Brentford, but the centre-back will feature in the middle of a back three at Stamford Bridge.

However, Chelsea have been handed a blow with Kalidou Koulibaly not present in the squad, presumably through injury, leaving Trevoh Chalobah and Marc Cucurella to make up the remainder of the backline.

In total, head coach Graham Potter has made four alterations to his starting lineup, also handing opportunities to Ben Chilwell, Raheem Sterling and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

As well as Koulibaly, the trio of Conor Gallagher, Kai Havertz and Armando Broja have dropped out of the first XI.

With Cesar Azpilicueta reverting to right wing-back rather than starting in a central three, only Denis Zakaria - usually a midfielder - is capable of acting as backup for the defence.

Chelsea: Arrizabalaga; Chalobah, Silva, Cucurella; Azpilicueta, Loftus-Cheek, Jorginho, Chilwell; Mount, Sterling, Aubameyang

Subs: Mendy, Chukwuemeka, Gallagher, Kovacic, Zakaria, Havertz, Pulisic, Ziyech, Broja

Manchester United: De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Fernandes, Sancho; Rashford

Subs: Heaton, Lindelof, Malacia, Fred, Pellistri, Iqbal, McTominay, Elanga, Garnacho