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AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Chelsea v Man United, Premier League

Chelsea took on Man United, as the Londoners looked to give their title bid a big boost.

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Hello, and welcome to today’s liveblog.

We’ll have the team news for you shortly.

Here are the teams…

 

We’re underway…

Big chance for United!

Shaw crosses for Rooney, who places a shot just wide.

It hits off the back of the goal, and De Gea starts celebrating, thinking it’s gone in.

Hazard crosses to Fabregas, who goes past Herrera all too easily.

However, it’s a difficult angle for the Spaniard and De Gea saves his shot relatively comfortably.

Here’s De Gea celebrating what he thought was a goal.

Cheers Geoff / Vine

Paddy McNair has started this game well.

The Northern Irishman has looked confident in possession and even gone past one or two Chelsea players on occasion.

United have started this game well, enjoying the better of the territory

Their dominance is also reflected by the fact that the Red Devils have had 63% possession so far.

Chelsea clear a corner, but Mourinho will surely be concerned.

United have been comfortably the superior team so far.

Ivanovic gets a good block in to stop Young from crossing, conceding a corner in the process.

United continue to probe, but how often have we seen Chelsea start slow this season, only to emerge victorious?

A poor cross from Mata gives Chelsea a chance to counter attack.

The only thing United are currently lacking is incisiveness in the final third.

De Gea struggles to palm away a Fabregas corner.

Chelsea’s best chance today could come from set pieces.

A sudden Chelsea break causes panic in the United defence.

De Gea comes out to intercept a cross and appears to do so, just outside the box, with his arm.

The referee ignores Chelsea fans’ protests, however.

CHELSEA 1-0 MAN UNITED (HAZARD)

A beautiful backheel by Oscar sets up Hazard.

The Belgian runs through on goal and puts it through De Gea’s legs.

Falcao had been brushed off the ball all too easily by Terry in the build up.

Chelsea have been better in recent minutes and the goal appears to have further enlivened the Blues.

United will feel hard done by given how well they started, but face a test of character now.

Here’s a look at that wonderful Hazard goal.

Sultan Rafique / Vine

A good passing move almost ends in a United goal.

Some good passing by Rooney and Herrera ultimately sends Falcao through, but Courtois claws the ball away in the nick of time.

HALF-TIME: CHELSEA 1-0 MAN UNITED

So half-time, and Chelsea hold a slender advantage thanks to Eden Hazard’s opportunistic strike.

United were comfortably the better team in the opening stages, but the Londoners have shown why they’re likely champions, producing a resilient display that has seen them increasingly grow into the game.

Louis van Gaal will be disappointed his side didn’t take full advantage of their dominant period and were ultimately punished as a result.

The second half is underway…

Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Chelsea v Manchester United - Stamford Bridge PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Jose Mourinho watches on.

Chelsea are keeping the ball well at the moment.

The goal has definitely lifted Jose Mourinho’s side’s performance considerably.

Another good break by Chelsea spearheaded by the magnificent Hazard.

Gary Neville describes the Belgian international as the best attacker on the field.

So close!

Chelsea break and Hazard narrowly fails to turn in Drogba’s deflected effort, hitting the bar from close range in the process.

Ivanovic is booked after bringing down Shaw on the edge of the area, as the youngster tries to accelerate past him.

The United full-back has looked sharp today.

Good attempt by McNair as Courtois is forced to parry his powerful shot away.

Luke Shaw then crosses for Mata, who can’t quite connect properly with the ball.

United are on top again, and looking increasingly menacing.

Fellaini lays it off to Rooney, whose shot is deflected wide.

Oscar did well to partially block the English striker’s shot.

This second half has illustrated why Chelsea have only conceded seven goals at home in the league.

They have defended superbly so far.

As I type, Ramires replaces Oscar, who had that wonderful assist for the goal.

There’ll be a double change for United.

Di Maria replaces Ashley Young and Mata is off for Januzaj.

Chance for Falcao as Fellaini finds him with a low cross.

Gary Cahill is alert to the danger however, as he sticks a leg out and blocks the Colombian international’s attempt.

Britain Soccer Premier League AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

(Chelsea’s John Terry, left, vies for the ball with Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney)

Great ball by Fabregas to find Hazard.

The Belgian’s attempted through pass to find Drogba is well intercepted, however.

It’s been a less than predictable and very entertaining game, and 15 minutes still remain.

Falcao rolls Zouma, but his finish is a little sliced and he hits the woodwork as a result.

Looks like being another ineffectual day for the Colombian at this point.

Tyler Blackett has replaced Luke Shaw.

The youngster has been excellent today, but is still not 100% fit, seemingly.

It’s basically been a case of defence v attack in the last few minutes, with the game being played almost entirely in Chelsea’s half.

Still though, there is no sign of the Blues wilting.

As I type though, Rooney gets a free header from a cross that goes just over.

Great through ball from Di Maria to find Falcao, but the striker is correctly adjudged to be just offside.

It just hasn’t been the Colombian’s day.

Another great block from Terry to deny a Di Maria effort.

The centre-back has been at his imperious best today.

Gary Neville has named Eden Hazard as the man of the match.

He took his goal well, and invariably posed a threat in attack, so it seems a justifiable choice.

Hazard has just received what looked like an accidental knee in the head from Smalling.

There will be four minutes of stoppage time.

Mikel is replacing Fabregas, while Willian is also set to come on for Chelsea in place of Hazard.

Chelsea looked to have killed this game now.

Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Chelsea v Manchester United - Stamford Bridge PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Something tells us Fergie isn’t smiling right now.

Herrera is correctly booked for diving in a desperate attempt to win a penalty.

Cahill is clearly not happy with the Spaniard’s action.

FULL-TIME: CHELSEA 1-0 MAN UNITED

John Terry tells Sky that Chelsea were “relieved” to see Wayne Rooney in midfield.

He admits the Londoners’ performances have “dipped” of late, but says the fact that they are still picking up points is a “sign of champions”.

So Chelsea eke out another slender victory.

United may feel they deserved more from the game, and certainly had the majority of possession and territory in the match.

However, Chelsea defended impeccably, as they have done for much of the season, with the Red Devils looking short of ideas and a little desperate at the end, as Herrera’s poor dive illustrated.

All in all though, this game was won by consistent defensive excellence, coupled one ingenious moment of skill in which Oscar set up Hazard brilliantly to put Mourinho’s men ahead.

Right, that’s all from me.

Thanks for reading and commenting. We’ll have more reaction to follow shortly.

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