Chelsea 2-2 Manchester United
One man was always going to be at the centre of attention, even if he preferred not to be.
And events in the closing stages of this lunchtime Premier League thriller ensured that Jose Mourinho will be again.
He was naturally incensed when Marco Ianni, a member of the Chelsea staff, goaded him as he sat unmoved by the hosts’ late equaliser.
And where referee Mike Dean found so much stoppage time is something even Einstein may have struggled to work out.
However, once the dust settles, the under-pressure manager (who later received an apology from Maurizio Sarri and his assistant Ianni) can be very happy with this result and the way his side fought back.
If anything, this shows that there is much to be positive around at Old Trafford despite conceding a 96th-minute equaliser to Ross Barkley which rescued a point for the home side in an absorbing encounter.
Highlights of the game
As Premier League 2018 highlights go, this game will feature highly when a season review is compiled.
That should be no surprise to SBOBET fans, for if anyone needed a reminder of the rivalry and how Chelsea had fared better in this fixture in recent years, the evidence was clear.
Premier League 2018 betting odds both on Sarri’s side, and Mourinho’s future would no doubt have altered again during a first half in which Chelsea had led at the break through a 21st-minute goal.
It was a moment which summed up the frustration many United fans feel about their French midfielder Paul Pogba.
A Willian corner was delivered into the danger zone, and Pogba was caught napping as Antonio Rudiger was given time and space to power home a free header.
Few could argue that Chelsea deserved their interval lead, but whatever Mourinho said at half-time seemed to re-energise his side.
Ten minutes after the restart, Luke Shaw – fresh from signing a new contract at the club – caused havoc in the home defence with a cross and, while Kepa Arrizabalaga pushed out Juan Mata’s effort, the ball came back in and, with Marcos Alonso down, Anthony Martial coolly levelled.
Then, in the 73rd minute, Mata got to the ball ahead of the rash David Luiz. Marcus Rashford sent Martial away, and the Frenchman showed world-class skill to use Cesar Azpilicueta as a decoy and bent the ball brilliantly past Arrizabalaga.
There were literally seconds remaining when Barkley bundled the ball home from close range after Luiz’s header hit the post, and David De Gea pushed away Rudiger’s follow-up – a goal which served as a reminder to club chief executive Ed Woodward why the manager so wanted to strengthen his defence in the summer transfer window.
Mourinho played down the incident which followed, something which reflected badly on Sarri’s assistant, although he couldn’t resist showing three fingers at the home fans who taunted him to remind them of the three Premier League titles he won while in charge at Stamford Bridge.
Despite the late setback, this was a good result for United and Mourinho. Martial has scored more goals in all competitions for United (40) than any other player since his debut in September 2015.
Here was further proof why he should always be in the starting line-up.
Key statistics
Manchester United last won at Stamford Bridge in Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season in charge before retirement, a 3-2 victory in the 2012-13 campaign.
United have lost 18 Premier League games against Chelsea, more than versus any other side.
Chelsea have now gone their opening 10 matches unbeaten in the Premier League for only the third time, having done so in their title-winning seasons of 2005-06 and 2014-15. Their manager then was Mourinho.
Nine of Chelsea’s 20 league goals this season have been scored after the 75th minute.
United have kept just one league clean sheet this season and conceded 16 goals.
Chelsea have lost just two of their last 36 Premier League games in which they’ve scored the first goal. They are also unbeaten in their last 10 matches in which they’ve opened the scoring.
Top of Form
What’s next?
There’s no respite for United.
They welcome Cristiano Ronaldo and a Juventus side flying in Serie A to Old Trafford on Tuesday night (October 23) in the Champions League before another home encounter, this time against Everton, next weekend.
Belarusian hopefuls FC BATE Borisov are the next visitors to Stamford Bridge in the Europa League before the Blues make a tricky trip to Turf Moor to face Burnley in the Premier League next weekend.
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