MAN UNITED 4, CHELSEA 1
Manchester United secured the point needed to guarantee a top-four spot and return to the Champions League in style with a thumping win against Chelsea.
Indeed, the win leapfrogged Newcastle in to third place as they piled on the misery for hapless Chelsea who have failed to win at Old Trafford for 10 years.
And had United been more clinical in front of goal, they could easily have doubled their total as they extended their unbeaten home run to 29 games in all competitions.
In the end they had to settle for four from Casemiro, Anthony Martial, Bruno Fernandes’ penalty and substitute Marcus Rashford’s 30th goal of the season, the first Reds’ player to achieve the feat for 10 years.
Fernandes and substitute Alejandro Garnacho both struck the frame of the goal and arguably Chelsea’s best player was keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
All Chelsea had to show for their efforts was an 89th minute consolation from substitute Joao Felix, though early in the game they missed some big chances which, if converted, would have put a different complexion on the game.
The contrast could not have been more stark as United are finishing the season strongly in Erik ten Hag’s first campaign as manager.
Chelsea, by contrast, will finish in the bottom half of the Premier League for the first time in 27 years, though interim manager Frank Lampard gave a glimpse into the future.
This was Chelsea’s youngest-ever team for a Premier League fixture at an average age of 23 years and 238 days. They fielded nine players aged 23 or under, only the third time this had happened bhy an team in the Premier League era.
This was Chelsea’s 22nd defeat of the season in all competitions, the most in a single season since 1978/79. This was also a club record 16th defeat in the Premier League era.
Ten Hag said: “This club belongs in the Champions League. It’s not easy in the Premier League so a lot compete for that. It’s massive when you get it done.
“It has been a successful season. The main objective was to qualify for the Champions League and be in the top four.
Embed from Getty Images“We want more. There is a long way to go. We are going in the right direction and we are work in progress.
“This team has made good progress and a lot of players have had good seasons which is a basis to build on.
“We have made progress with the squad, but we need better players if we are to move on.”
Reflecting on the display against Chelsea, ten Hag added: “We showed the winning attitude. Chelsea have outstanding players but in the counter attacks we were really good, really dangerous. We scored four in the end. We should’ve scored more but they could score as well.”
Ten Hag is looking to beat Fulham in their final game, continuing: “Still we can be third in the league. It’s important to keep focus, not getting injuries as well. But also get a home record. It’s going to be an important game, we want to win that game.”
The only dampener for United were injuries picked up by Antony and Luke Shaw with the final of the FA Cup only nine days away.
United were unchanged from the side that started their 1-0 win at Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday.
Rashford returned to the bench after missing the past two games because of a leg issue and illness.
Chelsea made three changes to the side that lost to Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday.
Thiago Silva, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Raheem Sterling dropped out as Carney Chukwuemeka, Mykhailo Mudryk, and Noni Madueke all started.
Chelsea made a lively start as Chukwuemeka fired narrowly over and Mykhaylo Mudryk scuffed a shot wide from six yards inside the opening four minutes.
But it was the Reds who struck the decisive blow taking a sixth-minute lead.
Casemiro stole in unmarked to head home Christian Eriksen’s free kick from six yards. There was an anxious wait for a VAR check for a possible offside against the Brazilian before his seventh goal of the season was confirmed.
Antony and Martial had chances to extend the lead in the opening 20 minutes, Martial let down by a woeful touch with only Arrizabalaga to beat.
United suffered an injury blow mid-half when Antony left the field on a stretcher following a challenge by Trevoh Chalabah with the Brazilian looking to have hurt his right ankle. His initial reaction suggested it was serious.
Rashford was introduced from the bench sooner than expected as he looked for a 30th goal of the season.
Chelsea ought to have levelled in the 32nd minute when Kai Havertz put a free header from six yards well wide from Lewis Hall’s cross.
Conor Gallagher had a glorious chance to equalise in the first of six added minutes caused by the injury to Antony.
Gallagher was out clean through by a great Enzo Fernandez pass only to drag his shot wide from six yards when he ought to have buried it in the net.
United doubled their advantage in the fifth minute of stoppage time when Casemiro’s through ball released Sancho who squared a pass for Martial to have the simplest of tap-ins at the far post for his ninth goal of the season.
There was a second Reds’ change at the break as the injured Shaw was replaced by Tyrell Malacia.
And it ought to have been 3-0 early in the second period when Victor Lindelof and Sancho set up Fernandes whose shot struck the top of the upright.
There was also a big chance for Eriksen who couldn’t finish Malacia’s fiercely driven cross from two yards with Casemiro firing the rebound narrowly wide.
Chelsea kept battling and had big chances to get back into the game as Gallagher’s deflected shot was pushed around the post by David De Gea who then made an important double save to deny Lewis Hall and Mudryk.
United made two further changes with 20 minutes left as Martial and Eriksen made way for Garnacho and Fred.
The Reds made it three with 17 minutes left through a Fernandes penalty after the Portuguese was tripped by Wesley Fofana.
It was a wretched spell for Fofana who was also at fault for United’s fourth goal five minutes later. Playing a pass out from the back, Fernandes intercepted the ball and played in Rashford who slalomed past Fofana and Arrizabalaga to walk the ball into an empty net.
And it was almost five when Rashford set up Garnacho whose effort from the edge of the box struck the crossbar.
United’s fifth and final change with five minutes left saw Fernandes replaced by Scott McTominay.
Chelsea were rewarded for their efforts with an 89th minute goal from Joao Felix as the substitute ran from half way to the edge of the box before finding the bottom corner with a well-struck drive.
United almost added a fifth when Garnacho’s effort struck the legs of Arrizabalaga and looped over the crossbar.
And the Chelsea goalkeeper denied McTominay at the death as the Reds kept pressing forward.