Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea
Chelsea earned a deserved draw at Old Trafford today to put them in control of the Premier League race for a top four place, but they needed a helping hand from Manchester United’s goalkeeper.
David de Gea has been Manchester United’s best player for three seasons, but he’s suffering a crisis of confidence and spilled a ball to hand Marcos Alonso an equaliser, after Juan Mata had given the Red Devils the lead.
After losing the Manchester Derby to a much better side, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made five changes and demanded a response from his players; and they had a good first half but their keeper’s error changed the course of the game. Much of the recent Premier League 2019 news has surrounded the dramatic decline in fortunes at Old Trafford over the last few weeks, after OGS had made such an impressive start to his career as boss.
And the home fans must have feared the worst, but with Eden Hazard having an uncharacteristically quiet game, the Blue onslaught never really came, though the visitors had the better of the second 45.
Highlights of the game
Manchester United started well and was rewarded by an early goal. Romelu Lukaku lifted a ball through for Luke Shaw, and the wing back pulled it back for Juan Mata to finish coolly past three Chelsea players on the line. That was just the start the home fans wanted and the pre-match edginess in the Stadium was lifted as they found their voice.
The home team continued to play the better football, but midfield enforcer Nemanja Matic was a lucky boy when he stuck an arm in the face of Cesar Azpilicueta and should have received at least a yellow card, but the officials missed it.
Red Devils’ keeper David de Gea has been the subject of speculation of a summer move to Real Madrid and that seems to have affected his form in recent weeks. So when Anton Rudiger tried his luck from 30 yards Marco Alonso anticipated a fumble, and when De Gea obliged the Spaniard finished cleverly.
It was a little harsh on the Red Devils who had played pretty well in the first half, with the often criticised Romelu Lukaku putting in one of his best halves of football since his £75 million move from Everton.
Maurizio Sarri had to lift his side after a disappointing home performance against Burnley last week, but he can’t have been too happy with the opening half and was relieved the Blues went in level.
The second half was a different story, with the visitors dominating, although De Gea wasn’t really tested again until the final moments. He did make a smart save when Willian fired a low ball across the six yard box.
As the game threatened to fizzle out the announcement of seven minutes of injury seemed to lift the home crowd; and they were on their feet when Marcus Rojo got his head to a corner but Pedro was well placed to clear off the line.
Then at the other end Gonzalo Higuain almost won it at the death when Pedro put him through with a beautiful ball and De Gea redeemed himself with a save.
The Spain Number One has built up plenty of credit in his years at Old Trafford, but his form is a real worry, while for Chelsea, it looks like when Hazard is quiet they can have all the attacking intent in the world, but the cutting edge isn’t there.
Key Statistics
The Manchester United vs Chelsea odds pointed to a close encounter with the draw at pre-match odds of 3.10, and so it was. United edged the possession with 51 per cent of the ball, but the Blues won the shot count with 16 to seven, but only three on target to the Red Devils’ five.
Manchester United only have two clean sheets at home all season, and that is the lowest in the league.
And this was the first away game Chelsea had played against one of the Top Six without losing, so that has to be a success for Sarri…of sorts!
What’s next?
Spurs surprise home defeat to West Ham has left the race for the Champions League places open, with four teams chasing two spots; though Spurs and Chelsea are in the box seats. There’s more drama to come over the next two weeks for SBOBET Premier League fans, that’s for sure!
Manchester United’s final two games are against relegated Huddersfield and then they have a final match at home to Cardiff City. That should be six points, but with Chelsea three ahead it’s unlikely to be enough.
The Blues have a Europa League semi-final first leg against Eintracht Frankfurt this week, and then it’s back to the Premier League final push at home to FA Cup finalists Watford.
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