HAVE WE ARRIVED at must-win territory for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Manchester United?
They head to Stamford Bridge in danger of being cut off in the race of Champions League football. Chelsea occupy fourth spot at the moment, with United in ninth, six points behind.
Chelsea have impressed at times this season but have yet to beat a top-half side at home, while United haven’t won a league game here since Alex Ferguson was in charge.
Welcome to The42’s live coverage of Chelsea v Manchester United in the Premier League, and you can get in touch with us by emailing gavincooney@the42.ie or dropping a comment below the line.
Kick off is at 8pm – team news is coming up.
Team News
Chelsea
Willy Caballero continues in goal, preferred to Kepa. With Tammy Abraham injured, Michy Batshuayi starts a league game for Chelsea for the first time in more than two years.
T E A M 🤝 N E W S
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 17, 2020
Thoughts? #CHEMUN pic.twitter.com/h0uxLMEVSq
Manchester United
Eric Bailly makes a rare appearance for United, while Bruno Fernandes continues in midfield. New signing Odion Ighalo makes the bench.
Here's your #MUFC XI for tonight's game at Stamford Bridge 🔴#CHEMUN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 17, 2020
The legendary Harry Gregg will be remembered ahead of kick-off. He passed away earlier today, at the age of 87. Read about his remarkable life here.
“A heroic figure, he saved people’s lives, and he will never be forgotten” says Solskajer of the late Harry Gregg.
Elsewhere, he confirms that Victor Lindelof is out with illness. Eric Bailly replaces him.
United’s new boy warms up with the squad.
Well, with just over 10 minutes to kick off in one of United’s biggest games of the season, Mino Raiola has helpfully just released this statement about Paul Pogba.
Context is Solskjaer’s saying yesterday that “I’ve not spoken to Mino that is for sure. And, no, I haven’t sat down and told Paul to tell Mino what he should say. Paul is our player and not Mino’s.”
Raiola – the eternal bore – has responded by saying “Paul is not mine and for sure not Solskjaer’s property, Paul is Paul Pogba’s.”
Hopefully this transfer won’t drag too far into the summer and United can soon be rid of this posturing nonsense.
Paul is not mine and for sure not Solskjaer’s property, Paul is Paul Pogba’s. pic.twitter.com/CvBHW8mj8U
— Mino Raiola (@MinoRaiola) February 17, 2020
Lampard justifies picking Willy:
“It’s not an easy decision, but I have to go on form: what I see on the training and off the pitch. It doesn’t mean anything long-term.”
The teams are in tunnel, so we’ll be getting underway pretty shortly.
Roy Keane gives his pre-game prediction to Sky: “I’ll go for United. With my heart rather than my head.”
We’re off!
It’s been a decidedly unkempt start, with both sides giving the ball away like it’s going out of fashion.
Close! Chelsea pass the ball well, and Kovacic spreads the ball from the left to Reece James, who finds room just inside the box and rifles a low shot just beyond De Gea’s post!
United win a corner. They play it short before hoisting it into the box for Maguire, whose header is hacked clear.
Now Willian goes close! Kovacic is the game’s dominant player so far, and as he drives at the United defence, United respond by fouling him. The referee waves advantage, and Pedro steered a pass wide for Willian, who cuts inside and curls a shot just over the bar.
Eek – nightmare for Chelsea. N’Golo Kante is off with a muscle injury. Chelsea still don’t have his replacement – Mason Mount – ready, so for now they play with 10 men.
United almost make hay – Fred’s shot is blocked by Rudiger for a corner. Mount finally comes on.
The corner is half-cleared, but Brandon Williams subsequent shot is hopelessly errant and is easily cleared.
The United fans are enjoying City’s Champions League ban…
“This is how it feels to be city,” sing the travellling MUFC fans. “This is how it feels to be small. This is how it feels when your passport’s back in the drawer.”
— Andy Mitten (@AndyMitten) February 17, 2020
Jorginho plays a one-two with Batshuayi – the second pass sending the striker behind the United defence – that might have been effective had Batshuayi expected it. Instead, he slipped and the ball ran harmlessly out of play.
Wan-Bissaka gets sloppy, and is caught dawdling along the end-line by Pedro. The latter fizzed a cross into the box, but United clear.
Chelsea broadly on top so far.
Fred wins the ball in a challenge with Kovacic, and then loses it 30 seconds later in a challenge with Kovacic. Chelsea break, but Pedro is ultimately dispossessed by…Fred.
James prods a delightful ball inside James for Martial, but the striker’s shot is tame and easily blocked.
Hmmm. Harry Maguire survives a VAR review of a tangle with Batschuyai, in which the defender seemed to flick his studs out at the striker. Son, you may remember, got pinged for something similar against Chelsea in December.
United fail to clear a corner, and inexplicably allow the ball bounce for Willian at the right edge of the six-yard box. He pulls the ball back for Batschyai – unmarked, four yards from goal – but the pass is poor, and too far behind the striker.
That’s another let-off for United.
Batshuayi misses a sitter! Mount pull back to the penalty spot, and he plants a shot wide of the post. Dreadful effort.
Azpilicueta is forced to block a Wan-Bissaka cross for a corner.
Fred took the corner, and he hit the first man. This game has been of frighteningly poor quality so far…
United break and Williams’ cross for James in the area is hacked behind for a corner by Kovacic.
Here comes Fred again. Will he manage to clear the first man?
He did! But the corner was easily headed clear by Christensen, and Fernandes’ follow-up shot from distance skewed badly wide.
32 minutes in, nobody has had a shot on target yet.
How did Harry Maguire get away with this!?
Has Harry Maguire got away with one here? 👀
— Sky Sports MNF (@SkySportsMNF) February 17, 2020
📺 Watch #MNF live on Sky Sports PL or follow here: https://t.co/loP3696X2c pic.twitter.com/Tlr3MwQ7lI
Pinball in the area as United make a hames of clearing the ball. Kovacic again drives at the defence, and slips a pass through for Azpilicueta which Bailly does well to intercept and steer away for the game 459th corner.
It goes short, and Willian takes a tumble on the edge of the box as Fernandes cuts across him. Much to the ground’s fury, Willian is booked for diving. Pretty harshly, it has to be said.
United’s best chance! Martial closes in on goal from the left, but rolls an unconvincing shot wide of the far post with his right foot.
Shaw sends a cross into the stand. This game. It’s dreadful.
Willian overruns the ball into Matic’s path. Matic then strides forward and overruns the ball into Pedro’s path.
Still we wait for a shot on target, as we edge slowly to half-time.
Chelsea stitch a few neat passes together, but Azpilicueta’s low cross is blocked.
Among United’s problems.
Martial has fantastic pace and looks a real threat when running with and onto ball but he is so inadequate at protecting it with his back to play. Frustrating to watch #CHEMUN
— Stephen Elliott (@SleevesElliott) February 17, 2020
GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 Manchester United (Martial)
A goal! Out of nothing! Wan-Bissaka skips by Willian and curls a terrific cross into the box for Martial, who nips ahead of Christensen to steer a superb header inside the far post, giving Willy no chance!
We have three added minutes. Both sides have been pretty dreadful to this point, but that was a moment of great quality from United. Chelsea haven’t shown that they’re capable of similar…but they need to find something soon.
Batschuyai misses another chance – at a narrowing angle, he scuffs a tame shot wide of De Gea’s far post. He looks dreadfully short of confidence.
HT: Chelsea 0-1 Manchester United
And that’s the break, to a smattering of boos at the Bridge. It’s been largely awful, but Martial found the game’s only moment of quality – and shot on target! – to give United the lead.
We’re back in a few.
We’re back underway!
Another enforced change for Chelsea – Kurt Zouma is on for the injured Christensen.
Christensen is gone off with a suspected concussion, while Kante left early in the first half with a muscle injury. Not ideal with Bayern on the horizon…
Anthony Taylor books Rudiger for a cynical body check on Fernandes.
Batshuayi courts the groans and jeers of his own fans, as he gives the ball away with a strange, aimless flick in midfield. The ground is close to openly turning on him; he’s had a very poor night so far.
Willian hoists an awful cross to nobody, and holds his hand up in apology. More groans from the Chelsea fans – they are not enjoying this at all.
The game is again stuck in one of those awful spells in which nobody can keep hold of the ball. Luke Shaw the worst offender, as he dribbles infield and knocks the ball miles ahead of him.
Mason Mount makes space in the box and shoots! It’s brilliantly saved by De Gea, who touches it on to the pos-ah, wait, the ref has just blown for a handball by the hapless Batshuayi.
Better from Chelsea, and a Pedro shot from point-blank range is blocked by Wan-Bissaka for a corner!
Goal disallowed by VAR!
The corner is volleyed into the bottom corner by Kurt Zouma, but after a quick review at Stockley Park, the goal is chalked off as replays show Azpilicueta shoving Brandon Williams in the back!
Fred definitely nudged – albeit far less conspicuously – Azpilicueta in the back and in the direction of Williams, but Chelsea’s protestations come to naught.
It remains 1-0!
It’s kicking off here now. Martial is clattered by Zouma along the touchline, and amid the ensuing pushing and shoving, Fred is booked. Zouma picks up a yellow card as well.
Chelsea force another corner…
..which Shaw heads clear.
The post-game viewing on Sky will likely be better than what’s been on offer so far.
Roy Keane Q&A 🤔
— Sky Sports MNF (@SkySportsMNF) February 17, 2020
Ever wanted to ask Roy Keane a question - now is your chance
Tweet q's below and the former #MUFC captain will answer the best after #CHEMUN on MNF pic.twitter.com/ttv8IVsh1m
Pedro is caught dawdling on the edge of the box, and hauls down the energetic Fred. It’s just outside the box.
Fernandes’ free-kick smacks the post!
Clever effort by the new midfielder, who tries to catch Willy out at his near post – Fabio Aurelio-against-Petr-Cech-style for the boomers reading – but is denied by the frame of the goal!
Fred whips a cracking cross into the box, which Zouma heads behind for another United corner.
GOAL! Chelsea 0-2 Manchester United (Maguire)
It’s another great headed goal! Fernandes flights a corner to the back post and Maguire runs across the defender and heads into the bottom corner!
Chelsea could have done lots to prevent that goal – put someone on the post for a start – but they will be furious that Maguire was on the pitch to score that goal.
Lampard sends for Olivier Giroud in response, and Batshuayi jogs off to a few boos and mass indifference.
Another Maguire header – again from a Fernandes free-kick – is headed behind beneath his own crossbar by Azpilicueta.
This time, Chelsea deal with Fernandes’ corner.
They need something to happen in the attacking third: they’ve done nothing in the last 10 minutes or so.
What a challenge by Eric Bailly!
Giroud flicks the ball in behind for the rampant Kovacic, but as the midfielder draws his boot back to shoot, Bailly flies over and blocks the ball behind for a corner.
And – eeek – Kovacic is limping away from the challenge.
Dear oh dear, Willian’s corner hits the first man, and Stamford Bridge groans in unison.
Kovacic looks to be okay, good thing given Chelsea have used all of their substitutes.
Brandon Wiliams is booked for a foul on Willian.
Chelsea have another goal disallowed by VAR!
More frustration for Chelsea. Giroud stoops at the near post to head in a Willian cross…but he’s offside! It was narrow – about half his right boot – so Chelsea have a second goal chalked off.
Wan-Bissaka and Azpilicueta square up after a challenge, with the United full-back booked.
Change for United – Andreas Pereira comes on for Daniel James, who was fairly anonymous.
Chelsea force a corner off Wan-Bissaka, and the ball pinballs around the area until United finally clear via a blocked shot. Jorginho then spins the ball left for Willian in acres of space, and his cross is prodded tamely goalward by Azpilicueta, and the ball is gathered by De Gea.
Another Chelsea corner. Willian needs to find a good delivery at some point…
More penalty box pinball, and eventually Pedro’s shot is blocked behind for another corner, which Maguire heads clear.
Bruno Fernandes, however, is then penalised for a high boot as Reece James arrived onto to the ball, so Chelsea have a free-kick in a dangerous position.
Mount hits the post!
Mount does what Fernandes did earlier and tries to catch the ‘keeper out at his near post, and just like Fernandes, he clatters the woodwork!
The game is stopped now, as De Gea is holding his shoulder having collided with the post.
Change for United – a debut for Odion Ighalo! He replaces Martial.
Five added minutes, and De Gea looks fine to play them.
One last change for United – Fernandes off for Diogo Dalot.
Ighalo denied by Willy!
The striker is put one-on-one by Fred, but his shot is blocked by the goalkeeper.
Close to a dream debut.
Maguire whacks the ball into the stand under pressure from Giroud.
What’s that about the table never lying?
Since beating Crystal Palace on November 9, Chelsea have taken 15 points from 13 games, fewer than Newcastle and Watford. They're *still* fourth.
— Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85) February 17, 2020
FT: Chelsea 0-2 Manchester United
Big win for United, with the gap between these sides chopped to three points. It was a pretty low-quality game, with United edging the better moments and benefitting from a curious VAR call on Harry Maguire in the first half.
Thanks for following, bye!
