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Louis van Gaal will stick to his bold attacking principles, despite growing concerns over the porousness of Manchester United’s defence.

The Dutchman was left frustrated as he watched West Brom ruthlessly expose his side’s deficiencies in Monday night’s 2-2 draw at the Hawthorns.

But he remains convinced that an emphasis on United’s strengths going forward remains the best policy.

In fact Van Gaal has charged his front players with the responsibility of providing more cover for a defence that has kept just two clean sheets in nine games in all competitions this season.

West Brom became the fourth team to score two or more against United this term as Stephane Sessegnon and Saido Berahino capitalised on the uncertainty that has been a hallmark Van Gaal’s rear guard since taking over at Old Trafford.

But ahead of the visit of Premier League leaders Chelsea - who are also the top scorers with 23 goals - the United manager put the onus on his Galacticos such as Angel di Maria, Radamel Falcao and Robin van Persie to help keep Jose Mourinho’s side at bay.

He believes it was the failure to defend from the front that cost them victory against West Brom.

“I am always thinking it starts in the attack and how the attackers are defending,” he said.

“You could see that in first goal.”

It was also evident how West Brom manager Alan Irvine identified Luke Shaw and Marcos Rojo as weak links, with his side repeatedly targeting the space between the two left-sided defenders.

Mourinho, who claims 36-year-old Didier Drogba is his only fit striker ahead of the showdown at Old Trafford, is sure to study tapes of Monday’s match and to pin-point areas for Eden Hazard, Cesc Fabregas and Willian to expose.

A crippling injury list has contributed to United’s problems at the back, with Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans all sidelined in the early weeks of the campaign.

But the back four selected by Van Gaal against West Brom, with Jones and Rojo in the centre and Rafael and Luke Shaw at full back, could arguably be described as his strongest.

Which is why it will have been so concerning for him to see Shaw frequently dragged out of position and Rojo looking nervous when put under pressure.

United haven’t kept a clean sheet in their last four games.

Their last one came in the 4-0 win against QPR more than a month ago.

Van Gaal has at least been boosted by the clearing up of his injury list.

As well as Jones’ return to action on Monday, following a hamstring problem, Michael Carrick was named in the squad for the first time this season after an ankle operation.

Smalling was also on the bench after missing the last three games with a thigh injury.

United are hopeful that Di Maria will recover from the knock that forced him to come off after 76 minutes against West Brom.

Van Gaal could not confirm the extent of the damage on Monday - but the Argentine has been monitored at the club’s Carrington training base this week.

Due to it being an impact injury, it is believed he will have a good chance of being available to face Chelsea.

Falcao is also likely to start after being named on the bench at the Hawthorns due to jet lag.

The Colombian had been on international duty in America the previous week.

United can at least rest assured that the 28-year-old loan signing from Monaco will not suffer the same problem during the next international break after it was confirmed that Colombia will face America in a friendly at Fulham’s Craven Cottage on November 14.

Falcao, who scored his first goal for United in the 2-1 win against Everton at the start of the month, came on as a 72nd minute substitute at West Brom.