Chelsea 2-0 Manchester United: Premier League Match Report

Manchester United in poor form came into the match with no wins in their last eight matches, which included two Premier League 1-1 draws, against Leeds United away at Elland Road and against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford, and three cup defeats: 0-2 away to Atletico Madrid and 1-4 away to Como 1907, both in the Champions League, and a 0-3 home defeat to AFC Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup last time out.

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso started with a 3-4-2-1 formation with Mike Penders in goal as Emi Martinez was still absent injured, then a back three of Josh Acheampong, Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill, then a four man midfield of Pedro Neto, captain Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia and Marco Palestra, then two attacking midfielders in Estevao and Cole Palmer with Morgan Rogers up front for the Blues. Chelsea made three changes with Maxence Lacroix, Jordan Henderson and Jorrel Hato replaced by Marco Palestra, Estevao and Romeo Lavia.

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick started with Senne Lammens in goal, then a back four of Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and Diogo Dalot, then two holding midfielders in Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba, then three attacking midfielders in Amad, captain Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha with Bryan Mbeumo up front. Manchester United made one change with Youri Tielemans replaced by Bruno Fernandes.

Manchester United kicked off the first half after a Remembrance minute's silence and the Last Post played on a bugle to a quiet crowd at a sunny Stamford Bridge.

Both sides started slowly but steadily, but there seemed to be much more urgency about Manchester United than Chelsea during the opening 15 minutes of the game.

Chelsea scored in the 15th minute through Estevao but he was in an offside position so the goal did not count. Chelsea had a corner cleared in the 17th minute and Manchester United's fast counter attacking break saw Bryan Mbeumo find Bruno Fernandes with a lovely pass, but his left footed shot was fired high and wide of the target in the 18th minute.

Amad saw a left footed shot from just outside the Chelsea penalty area well saved by Mike Penders in the 29th minute from an assist by his captain Bruno Fernandes.

Chelsea came forward through Cole Palmer in the 30th minute but Manchester United defended strongly with ten men behind the ball at all times. United forced a corner in the 31st minute after another fast counter attack. Bruno Fernandes took the corner at the Matthew Harding Stand end of the stadium. It came to nothing and the ball was recirculated with another cross into the Chelsea penalty area aimed for Harry Maguire, which was headed out for another corner by Wesley Fofana.

From the resultant corner, taken again by Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha bundled the ball home from a Harry Maguire header, but after a VAR review the goal was ruled out for offside in the 35th minute.

Manchester United came forward again in the 38th minute and Amad saw a left footed shot on target cleared for another corner by Wesley Fofana. Bruno Fernandes took the corner and his cross found Diogo Dalot, who crossed to the back post for Harry Maguire, but his header was put out for another corner by Levi Colwill.

A Chelsea corner in the 42nd minute taken by Estevao was headed by Marco Palestra into the path of captain Moises Caicedo and his weak effort hit the post and was then cleared by United.

Then in the 44th minute Amad missed with a left footed shot when one on one with Mike Penders, with Wesley Fofana in close pursuit. Estevao on a fast counter attack down the right flank saw a right footed shot on target saved by Senne Lammens in the 45th minute.

Manchester United were up for the challenge of saving Michael Carrick's job with a good first half showing and some good pressure on Chelsea, but come half time the teams went in level at 0-0.

Chelsea kicked off the second half with the score 0-0, with neither side making any half time substitutions.

Chelsea took the lead in the 50th minute with Morgan Rogers shooting home left footed from inside the Manchester United penalty area after dribbling from just inside the United half, passing three Manchester United defenders before scoring to make it 1-0. The assist was from Romeo Lavia with the pass to Morgan Rogers.

Lisandro Martinez was yellow carded for a shirt tug by referee Peter Bankes in the 57th minute. Manchester United manager Michael Carrick made the first substitution with Kobbie Mainoo coming on for Carlos Baleba in the 58th minute.

Chelsea pressed for a second goal. Wesley Fofana was fouled by Lisandro Martinez and after a review the Argentine was given a second yellow card and sent off in the 63rd minute. Chelsea were awarded a penalty which Cole Palmer took and slotted home to make it 2-0 in the 64th minute.

Harry Maguire was yellow carded in the 65th minute. Manchester United brought on Mason Mount and Ayden Heaven in the 66th minute for Andrey Santos and Matheus Cunha. Kobbie Mainoo was yellow carded in the 70th minute.

Chelsea thought they had gone 3-0 up in the 71st minute but Estevao was offside when shooting at the back post so the goal was chalked off.

Chelsea replaced Marco Palestra with Pep Chavarria in the 74th minute. The game was well done by then for the visitors, who went to five at the back. Bryan Mbeumo was yellow carded for a foul in the 81st minute.

Estevao saw a left footed shot on a fast counter attack saved by Senne Lammens in the 84th minute. Estevao then saw another left footed shot pushed away by Senne Lammens in the 85th minute as Chelsea went in search of a third goal.

Chelsea brought on Valentin Barco, Danny Welbeck and Malo Gusto in the 86th minute for Pedro Neto, Moises Caicedo and Estevao.

There were ten minutes of added time at the end of the 90 minutes. In the 90th+1 minute Bryan Mbeumo saw a left footed volley thunder against the crossbar and bounce away. Cole Palmer fired a left footed shot wide in the 90th+2 minute as Chelsea came forward on a fast counter attack after clearing a corner, but it was another chance wasted.

Chelsea's final substitution was Geovany Quenda, who came on for Cole Palmer in the 90th+6 minute.

Chelsea travel to Sunderland next whilst Manchester United play AS Roma in the Champions League in the week before hosting Aston Villa at Old Trafford next weekend.

Chelsea surely condemned Michael Carrick to the sack after another woeful performance by Manchester United, whose troubled season continues after failing to win for a ninth time.