MANCHESTER UNITED 2, CHELSEA 1
Goals by Romelu Lukaku and Jesse Lingard ensured that Manchester United overhauled Willian’s first half opener for Chelsea to reclaim second spot from Liverpool after the Reds overcame a moribund start to finish at a canter against their visitors.
Chelsea had an 85th minute equaliser by Alvaro Morata ruled out for a very close offside decision as the visitors piled people forward but the Reds held on.
Victory for Jose Mourinho meant that Chelsea had failed to win after taking the lead first in a Premier League game for the first time in 22 games but respectful handshakes both before and after the game meant that potential flashpoints were kept away from the pitchside.
Both sides made just two changes from their midweek Champions League games.
After recent dramas involving the Frenchman, Jose Mourinho recalled Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial for the injured Ander Herrera, and Juan Mata.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte added Danny Drinkwater and fit-again Alvaro Morata to his side with Pedro and Cesc Fabregas stepping down to the bench.
Eden Hazard’s cross field pass fell to Marcos Alonso whose volleyed cross back into the danger area was thrashed onto the crossbar by Morata after just four minutes. The Belgian saw his follow-up tipped over by De Gea.
Chelsea were the better side in the first half tactical posturing, with more possession, better risk taking and importantly, a day extra rest. Whenever United had the ball and tried anything they came up against a blue wall – their attempted shots blocked and little encouragement from the home supporters.
United’s first shot on target came in the 28th minute – a tame shot by Alexis Sanchez’ standards, easily collected by Tibaut Courtois after a trickle of a square pass by Anthony Martial at the end of a run up the left hand side which the Reds had largely tried to exploit.
There was a flicker of danger in the 32nd minute after Pogba had been brought down while trying to build up speed with the ball but he was brought down by N’Golo Kante 35 yards out.
United blew the chance of a set piece goal and instead allowed Willian to counter attack from the edge of his own box after Victor Moses had won a high ball, finding the ever dangerous Eden Hazard who slipped his marker and passed the ball back to Willian.
The Brazilian had completed a length of the pitch run to collect the return pass, make his way into the area, and lash it past De Gea from 12 yards out with little intereference.
It was a simple counter attack using just two players but leaving a trail of disinterested Reds players in his wake who didn’t sense the danger until too late.
The sloppiness continued with a loose pass from Matic allowing Hazard and Morata to race upfield until the Italian went down a blind alley.
United caught a break before half time, however, when United pressure in front of the Chelsea box saw Kante and Drinkwater sucked out of position following Drinkwater’s attempted clearance.
There was a quick passing combination involving Sanchez, Anthony Martial and Romelu Lukaku in the box, the pinged ball bypassing all the Chelsea defenders, before the big Belgian held off Marcos Alonso to hit the equaliser from close range.
It was the big Belgian’s first goal against a top eight side this season despite hitting 13 league goals out of a tally of 22.
Chelsea remained the more dangerous of the sides though, with Marcos Alonso’s delivery from the left a threat but the work rate from both sides increased in the second half.
Manchester United improve in the second half to beat Chelsea with a late Jesse Lingard goal
Chelsea were not finding the space to attack in the second period, though Drinkwater had a shot saved by De Gea who had the sun in his eyes while Chelsea were creating chances for Willian.
Mourinho made the first change of the match, with Jesse Lingard replacing Martial after 64 minutes.
United continually improved as the second period progressed, with Sanchez’ cross allowing Lukaku to try an audacious scissor kick volley which was tipped over by Courtois in the 68th minute.
A minute later, and with the low winter sun in his eyes, De Gea saw a Willian free kick late and almost spilled it into his own net.
Chances were emerging at either end, and Pogba’s chipped pass into the area was headed to safety by Antonio Rudiger.
Pedro replaced Eden Hazard in the 73rd minute as Conte saw the game drifting United’s way – a strange choice with United in the ascendancy – and the Reds struck shortly after the departure of Chelsea’s best player.
Jesse Lingard put the Reds back into the lead at the end of a period of United play with Lukaku going wide on the right and crossing for the United sub after McTominay had found him.
Stung by the shock of going behind, Chelsea reacted with Willian’s shot saved by De Gea before Olivier Giroud replaced Victor Moses as Chelsea had to go all out attack with Cesc Fabregas replacing Drinkwater a short while later.
Mourinho’s immediate reaction was to bring on Eric Bailly for Sanchez as Old Trafford finally started to sing up with a lead to protect.
Morata had the ball in the back of the United but was contentiously declared offside with four minutes to go.
And with time running out and Chelsea committing everyone forward to attack United managed to see the game out without any other controversy – not even a touchline spat between the two managers who shook hands after the game.
MATCH STATS
Man Utd: De Gea, Valencia, Lindelof, Smalling, Young, McTominay, Matic, Pogba, Sanchez (Bailly 80), Lukaku, Martial (Lingard 64)
Man Utd Subs not used: Pereira, Mata, Carrick, Rashford, Shaw
Bookings: Valencia, Matic
Goals: Lukaku 39, Lingard 75
Chelsea: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Christiansen, Rudiger, Moses (Giroud 78), Drinkwater (Fabregas 80), Kante, Alonso, Willian, Morata, Hazard (Pedro 73)
Chelsea Subs not used: Caballero, Zappacosta, Cahill, Palmieri
Booked: Kante, Morata
Goal: Willian 32
Attendance: 75,060