Cole Palmer’s hat trick outshined Alejandro Garnacho’s third brace of the season as Chelsea overcame a blown two-goal lead to beat Manchester United 4-3 courtesy a pair of stoppage-time goals at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.
Two sputtering big-name projects clashed and Erik ten Hag will be answering difficult questions after a 3-2 lead after 90 minutes disappeared via a questionable Palmer penalty — his second of the game — and a wickedly-deflected winner.
WATCH CHELSEA vs MANCHESTER UNITED FULL MATCH REPLAY
Conor Gallagher scored Chelsea’s other goal, and the win boosts the Blues to 43 points and 10th place on the table. Chelsea are two points behind seventh-place West Ham and five behind Man United with a match-in-hand.
Bruno Fernandes joined Garnacho on the score sheet for United, whose 48 points are nine behind fifth-place Tottenham with just eight matches left in the Premier League season.
Names bring spice, players provide chances
Chelsea versus Manchester United is always going to bring eyeballs to screens and stadia, but these iterations of the celebrated Premier League clubs provided entertainment in a different way.
Neither the Blues nor the Red Devils were in control of the ball, looking more like their disappointing records than their celebrated badges. And while it felt like Erik ten Hag would find the seat under his chair befitting a Red Devil, he’ll leave celebrated his team’s fightback while Mauricio Pochettino answers questions about his project.
Iffy midfield defending allowed shooting lanes a-plenty, as the teams combined for 47 shots. Chelsea took 28 of them and got 10 of them on target. The Blues are won 12 corners to Man United’s 3, and you’d have to say the Blues just about deserved all three points. They just needed 11 minutes stoppage time and a razor-thin penalty decision to get them.
Chelsea vs Manchester United player ratings (fotmob.com)
Chelsea vs Manchester United player ratings (fotmob.com)
Chelsea vs Manchester United player ratings (fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Chelsea go to Sheffield United at 12:30pm ET Sunday, two hours after Man United host Liverpool.
How to watch Chelsea vs Manchester United live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 3:15pm ET Thursday
TV Channel: USA Network
Online: Watch online via NBC.com
Chelsea vs Manchester United live updates — By Nick Mendola
Chelsea vs Manchester United final score: 4-3
Goalscorers: Gallagher (4'), Palmer (pen 20', pen 90+10', 90+12'), Garnacho (34', 67'), Fernandes (39')
Chelsea stoppage-time penalty! Chelsea 3-3 Manchester United
Noni Madueke is clipped by Diogo Dalot, and VAR has a looooong look but upholds the call.
Cole Palmer’s at the spot again to face Onana. Same spot, same finish. 3-3.
Alejandro Garnacho makes it two! — Chelsea 2-3 Manchester United
Garnacho’s perched atop the ad boards again, celebrating a goal.
Antony plays an unreal cross from the right, bending around the Chelsea backs, and Garnacho heads it past the onrushing Petrovic.
Still 23 minutes to go in London!
Pair of Manchester United subs
It’s a third sub for United after Jonny Evans replaced an ailing Raphael Varane at halftime.
Rasmus Hojlund comes off for Marcus Rashford, while Evans leaves the pitch for Willy Kambwala.
Halftime — Chelsea 2-2 Manchester United
2-2, but should it be?
Chelsea was in control early and their two-goal lead feels more deserved than the deadlock, but mistakes can cost any team in this Premier League.
United are leading in shot attempts 13-11 and both clubs have put four efforts on target. United have held 53% of the ball and Chelsea lead 1.52-0.89 in xG.
Bruno Fernandes goal — Chelsea 2-2 Man Utd (39th minute)
Antony sprays a pass wide to Alejandro Garnacho, who has two players at the other side of the 18.
Rasmus Hojlund lets Garnacho’s cross through the Fernandes, who heads a pretty ball past Petrovic.
Level!
Alejandro Garnacho goal — Chelsea 2-1 Man Utd (34th minute)
A terrible giveaway from Moises Caicedo allows Alejandro Garnacho a red carpet toward Djordje Petrovic’s goal.
Garnacho rolls it low to Petrovic’s left, and the Blues’ lead is trimmed to one.
Cole Palmer penalty goal — Chelsea 2-0 Man Utd (19th minute)
Marc Cucurella surges into the Man United box and Antony’s only hope to deprive him danger is a desperate challenge.
It does not come off.
Cole Palmer goes to the spot and rolls it the other way from Onana. 2-0.
What were we saying about Gallagher? Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd (4th minute)
Man United turns the ball over in the midfield and quick as a wink there’s Malo Gusto on the right flank.
Gusto’s pass into the box takes a turn off Raphael Varane and Conor Gallagher snatches at the ball, getting enough to beat Andre Onana.
1-0, Blues!
It’s a big one for both teams
Thiago Silva and Raheem Sterling on the bench again, as Mauricio Pochettino is trusting others to lead and captain Conor Gallagher plays in the hole.
Erik ten Hag prefers Antony over MArcus Rashford, while Raphael Varane starts next to Harry Maguire with Victor Lindelof and Lisandro Martinez out of the lineup.
Chelsea lineup
Petrovic, Gusto, Disasi, Badiashile, Cucurella, Caicedo, Enzo, Gallagher, Palmer, Jackson, Mudryk.
Manchester United lineup
Onana, Dalot, Maguire, Varane, Wan-Bissaka, Casemiro, Mainoo, Fernandes, Antony, Garnacho, Hojlund.
Chelsea focus, team news
OUT: Christopher Nkunku (thigh), Levi Colwill (foot), Reece James (thigh), Malo Gusto (hamsting), Romeo Lavia (hamstring - out for season), Wesley Fofana (torn ACL - out for season), Lesley Ugochukwu (hamstring) | QUESTIONABLE: Ben Chilwell (knee), Carney Chukwuemeka (knock), Robert Sanchez (undisclosed)
Manchester United focus, team news
OUT: Anthony Martial (groin), Victor Lindelof (thigh), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Luke Shaw (thigh), Lisandro Martinez (calf) | QUESTIONABLE: Altay Bayindir (undisclosed)