Manchester United 4, Chelsea 0
Marcus Rashford scored either side of Anthony Martial’s tap-in while Daniel James added a fourth on his Manchester United debut against a Chelsea side who failed to take their chances at Old Trafford.
Embed from Getty ImagesManchester United’s starting XI against Chelsea was just 24 years and 227 days, the youngest of any team in the opening round of the 2019-20 Premier League season.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire made their debuts for Manchester United while Daniel James was named on the bench alongside youngsters Mason Greenwood and Axel Tuanzebe. Andreas Pereira was handed a starting berth in midfield with Nemanja Matic on the bench.
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard was short of senior options in key areas after the departure of Eden Hazard and David Luiz together with injury to N’Golo Kante.
He named Emerson Palmeiri, Mason Mount, and Tammy Abraham in his starting XI with new signing Christian Pulisic on the bench alongside former Derby County loanee Fikayo Tomori while N’Golo Kante was only fit enough for the bench.
Chelsea enjoyed more possession and shots on goal but naivety at both ends of the pitch cost them on a day when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men ruthlessly exploited mistakes to finish off Frank Lampard’s fledgelings.
Chelsea should have scored in the first half but Abraham and Emerson hit the woodwork.
Kurt Zouma’s mistake handed United a penalty which put them into the lead courtesy of Marcus Rashford instead.
David De Gea bailed out his team with saves from Pedro. Ross Barkley, and Emerson but Chelsea lost concentration when United counter attacked.
This cost Chelsea very dearly with Anthony Martial, Rashford again, and finally James – on as a late substitute for his own United debut – finishing off the visitors with well taken goals to leave Old Trafford rocking again.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 4, Chelsea 0
David De Gea: 7. Had to be alert for Chelsea pot shots, saved from Pedro twice, Ross Barkley, and Emerson amongst others as Chelsea ramped up the pressure. Saved by the woodwork twice too.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka: 7. Quiet start but came into his own with some good defensive blocks and
Harry Maguire: 8. Comfortable start at the back marking Tammy Abraham, and clearing loose balls. Robbed his man of the ball to start the counter attack that led to Anthony Martial’s goal.
Victor Lindelof: 7. Solid defensive performance.
Luke Shaw: 7. Was put under constant pressure by Chelsea.
Scott McTominay: 6. Patrolled a deep lying midfield holding role.
Paul Pogba: 7. Quiet game for the French midfielder who was in a deeper role but he still came up with a sumptuous ball for Marcus Rashford’s second goal and laid on Daniel James’ goal when he finally dropped the shackles and went upfield.
Andreas Pereira: 7. Pushed up behind the forwards and provided a cross for Anthony Martial’s goal.
Jesse Lingard: 6. Operated wide and centrally but had a quiet game.
Anthony Martial: 8. Was a constant danger, had a shot saved by Arrizabalaga and scored United’s second goal from Perreira’s cross.
Marcus Rashford: 8. Buzzed around dangerously and won the penalty that he converted himself confidently. Burned his way through the Chelsea defence for a second after a great Pogba pass.
Daniel James (on for Andreas Pereira, 74): 7. Grabbed a late deflected goal on his debut for the Reds to get the Stretford End singing
Juan Mata (on for Anthony Martial, 86): Too late to mark
Mason Greenwood (on for Marcus Rashford, 86): Too late to mark
GOALS – Manchester United 4, Chelsea 0
Man Utd 1, Chelsea 0: 18. Marcus Rashford sent his spot kick into the left corner beyond the grasp of Kepa Arrizabalaga after Chelsea lost the ball and Kurt Zouma clumsily brought down Rashford in the area
Man Utd 2, Chelsea 0: 65. Andreas Pereira’s cross from the right went in off Anthony Martial from 5 yards out after a quick counter attack with Tammy Abraham losing the ball in front of the United goal.
Man Utd 3, Chelsea 0: 67. A long ball from Paul Pogba released Marcus Rashford who galloped upfield and slotted past Kepa 95 seconds later.
Man Utd 4, Chelsea 0: 81. Paul Pogba raced upfield, found himself in traffic and laid the ball off to Daniel James whose strike went through Emerson’s legs and beat Kepa.
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 4, Chelsea 0
Man Utd: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Lindelof, Shaw, McTominay, Pogba, Pereira (James 74), Lingard, Martial (Mata 86), Rashford (Greenwood 86)
Man Utd Subs not used: Romero, Young, Matic, Tuanzebe
Booked: Lingard 48 (foul on Kovacic), Lindelof 69
Goals: Rashford 18 pen, 67; Martial 65; James 81
Chelsea: Arrizabalaga, Azpilicueta, Christiansen, Zouma, Emerson, Jorginho (Kante 73), Kovacic, Barkley (Pulisic 58), Pedro, Mount, Abraham (Giroud 66)
Chelsea Subs not used: Caballero, Alonso, Caballero, Kenedy, Giroud, Tomori
Booked: Zouma 36 (foul on Andreas Pereira), Jorginho 52 (foul on Jesse Lingard), Abraham 57 (foul on Scott McTominay), Kante 90 (foul on Daniel James)
Referee: Anthony Taylor