Manchester United ended Chelsea’s unbeaten run in the Premier League with a thrilling 2-1 victory at Old Trafford on Thursday night. Scott McTominay scored a brace for the hosts, while Cole Palmer netted for the visitors in a match that had plenty of drama and controversy.
The first half was a cagey affair, with both teams struggling to create clear-cut chances. Chelsea had more possession and shots, but United defended well and looked dangerous on the counter-attack. The best opportunity of the half fell to Cristiano Ronaldo, who was denied by a superb save from Edouard Mendy after a clever pass from Antony Santos.
The second half was more open and entertaining, as both teams went for the win. Chelsea broke the deadlock in the 60th minute, when Marcos Alonso volleyed in from close range after a flick-on from Kai Havertz. The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but the VAR overturned the decision and awarded the goal to Chelsea.
However, United responded immediately, as McTominay equalised two minutes later with a powerful header from a Nemanja Matic cross. The Scottish midfielder then completed his double in the 69th minute, when he latched onto a loose ball in the box and smashed it past Mendy.
Chelsea tried to find a way back into the game, but United held firm and defended with passion and determination. The visitors had a penalty appeal turned down in the 79th minute, when Reece James went down under a challenge from Diogo Dalot, but the referee waved play on. James then hit the post with a curling shot in the 87th minute, as Chelsea’s frustration grew.
All of us rn: pic.twitter.com/lHQbFk1OBN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 6, 2023
United held on for a vital win, which boosted their hopes of finishing in the top four. The result also ended Chelsea’s 13-match unbeaten run in the league, and reduced their lead over second-placed Liverpool to two points. United moved up to sixth place, level on points with fourth-placed Arsenal, but with two games in hand.
The match was also a personal triumph for United manager Erik ten Hag, who had faced criticism for his team’s poor form and performances. The Dutchman outwitted his counterpart Thomas Tuchel, who suffered his first league defeat as Chelsea boss. Ten Hag praised his players for their character and quality, and dismissed the claims of a crisis at United.
He said: “I’m very proud of the team. We showed a lot of spirit and a lot of courage. We played with intensity and we created chances. We deserved to win. We are not in a crisis. We are in a good position. We have to keep working hard and keep improving.”
Tuchel, on the other hand, was disappointed with his team’s display and result. He said: “We are not happy with the performance. We made too many mistakes and we were not clinical enough. We have to accept the defeat and learn from it. We have to bounce back and show a reaction.”
The Premier League title race is now wide open, with four teams separated by just four points. Chelsea, who have 66 points, are still the favourites, but they face tough fixtures against Liverpool and Manchester City in January. Liverpool, who have 64 points, are also in the mix, but they will lose some of their key players to the Africa Cup of Nations next month. City, who have 62 points, are not giving up, but they need to rediscover their form and confidence. United, who have 55 points, are the dark horses, but they have shown that they can beat anyone on their day.
The next few weeks will be crucial for all the title contenders, as they will face each other in a series of blockbuster clashes. The first one is on Boxing Day, when Liverpool host Chelsea at Anfield. It will be a vital game for both teams, as they will look to maintain their momentum and challenge for the title.
The Premier League title race is heating up, and it promises to be one of the most exciting and unpredictable in recent history. Manchester United have beaten Chelsea 2-1, and they have also announced themselves as genuine contenders. The question is: can they keep it up?
