Three players have extra motivation to score in Manchester United vs Chelsea fixture

Manchester United host Chelsea this Thursday evening in the Premier League. The fixture has been a title decider in the past but the landscape of English football has changed in the past 10 years.

United go into the game on the back of two defeats, at Liverpool and Arsenal, while Chelsea beat West Ham late on, thanks to a Christian Pulisic goal.

Over the years a number of players have played for both teams - with players often keen to shine against their old club when they come up against each other - but which current players have played for the two clubs and scored for both?

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Romelu Lukaku

The current Chelsea striker had a two-year spell at United between 2017 and 2019 making 66 appearances, scoring 28 times. He joined the Red Devils for a fee of £75 million from Everton.

During his first season, he scored against his former club Chelsea in a 2-1 victory. However, during his second season, he went on a 12-game goal drought that coincided with the sacking of Jose Mourinho.

Last summer he rejoined Chelsea from Inter Milan on the back of winning the Serie A title but has failed to get any real consistency in his game, scoring only five times in the Premier League. His long-term future is uncertain.

Juan Mata

Mata joined Chelsea in 2011 from Valencia and was part of the Chelsea side that won their first Champions League trophy in 2012. In his 82 appearances for the Blues, he scored 18 times, including the winner for Chelsea at Old Trafford in 2013; a game that is remembered for David Luiz smiling on the ground after United defender Rafael was sent off.

It was Mourinho who sold Mata to United during his second spell at Chelsea.