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Kick off is at 2.05pm.
Chelsea team: Courtois; Azpilicueta (c), Christensen, Rudiger; Moses, Drinkwater, Kante, Alonso; Willian, Morata, Hazard.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 25, 2018
Subs: Caballero, Cahill, Zappacosta, Emerson, Fabregas, Pedro, Giroud. #MUNCHE pic.twitter.com/OVUncUfBN2
Today's #MUFC starting XI - and it looks like 4-3-3 for the Reds!
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 25, 2018
🔴 #MUNCHE 🔵 pic.twitter.com/h2Ri0JDeM8
So, today’s teams are:
Man United: De Gea, Valencia, Lindelof, Smalling, Young, McTominay, Matic, Pogba, Martial, Lukaku, Sanchez.
Subs: Bailly, Mata, Lingard, Carrick, Rashford, Shaw, Joel Pereira.
Chelsea: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, Moses, Kante, Drinkwater, Alonso, Willian, Hazard, Morata.
Subs: Caballero, Fabregas, Pedro, Giroud, Zappacosta, Cahill, Emerson.
👋 Hey, #MUFC! pic.twitter.com/fPftfhEVGp
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 25, 2018
So, how do we see this one going? Following Liverpool’s 4-1 win against West Ham yesterday, the Reds inched up into second spot ahead of Manchester United.
Because of their slightly superior goal difference, should United fail to win today Jurgen Klopp’s side will remain ahead.
United have beaten a direct rival just once this season — a 3-1 win over Arsenal back in December — with their record against the top six poor this campaign.
Chelsea have enjoyed a decent spell of form following dismal back-to-back defeats to Bournemouth and Watford, beating West Brom and Hull City before a dramatic 1-1 draw at home to Barcelona midweek.
They are just three points behind United and with a win today can go level on 56 points.
The warm-up is in full swing! #MUNCHE pic.twitter.com/4Yb5MxlwJg
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 25, 2018
The warm-ups are finishing up and we’re now just 15 minutes from kick-off.
Kick-off: We’re underway at Old Trafford!
A promising early move from Chelsea right from tip-off. Eden Hazard leads the charge forward and floats the ball out wide towards Victor Moses.
He takes on Ashley Young, twisting left and right looking for an angle, but his cross comes off the player and out for the game’s first corner.
It’s a poor delivery and the move comes to nothing for the visitors. United happy now to take command of their first spell of possession, stroking the ball in and out of midfield between Scott McTominay and Nemanja Matic sitting deep.
CHANCE! Ooooh what an electric start we are having here. Alvaro Morata crashes an almighty effort clanging off David De Gea’s post from just inside the box following a sweet delivery from Marcos Alonso.
United bodies looked dumbfounded and no-one bothered to track Eden Hazard on the rebound — the Belgian nicked the ball up into the air, forcing De Gea to tip it over.
Two shots in quick succession for the visitors and this game has exploded into life.
SO CLOSE! A brilliant move by the Blues nearly ends in a goal as Alonso's volleyed cross is smacked against the crossbar by Morata! Then De Gea tips Hazard's follow-up over.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 25, 2018
0-0 [4']#MUNCHE
A free-kick in a promising area from the boot of Alexis Sanchez floats over everybody’s head and comfortably into the arms of Thibaut Courtois. United are yet to surface a shot on goal to test the Belgian number one after 10 minutes.
The game has slowed into a lull the last few minutes. The camera panning to pick up Wayne Rooney smiling in the Old Trafford crowd has been the most eventful occurrence of the last five minutes.
Another lively move forward for Chelsea instigated by Willian on the edge of the box.
Morata has also been lively as a sort of target-man holding the ball up in front of goal, but this time the ball comes to Hazard who curls a harmless cross into the path of De Gea, who gathers with ease.
Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte aren’t the best of friends (to put it mildly) but they did stumble through a cold, brief, uncomfortable handshake before kick-off.
A foul by Matic earns Chelsea a free-kick 40 yards from goal along the wing. Willian delivers a curling cross, but once again it fails to beat the first man and is headed clear with ease.
This game started with a bang, but it has dropped in quality this past little while. We need a goal. Or at least a bit more urgency.
The ball falls to a looming Romelu Lukaku inside the box — he does well to take possession and arrow a shot on goal with two defenders either side, but it deflects off a Chelsea body and away. A first chance on goal for Jose Mourinho’s side in this game then.
CHANCE! Goodness me, Alexis Sanchez really should have done an awful lot better there. United very much in the ascendency now and with the Chilean bearing down on goal you would have bet your house on him putting it away.
The forward’s balance after dribbling into the box defied him at the very last second and all he could manage was a weak toe-poke right at Courtois, who gathered relieved the effort didn’t have a bit more power behind it.
N’Golo Kante receives the game’s first yellow card as he drags at the back of Paul Pogba as the French international ran towards goal.
Yellow card for Kante who brought Pogba down as he burst through central midfield.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 25, 2018
0-0 [30'] #MUNCHE
GOAL! MAN UNITED 0-1 CHELSEA (WILLIAN 32)
IT'S THAT MAN AGAIN! WILLIAN STRIKES!
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 25, 2018
0-1 [32'] #MUNCHE pic.twitter.com/kDKZFUJGrr
Chelsea race into the lead and what a goal it was! Willian is the player that starts the move inside his own half and his lung-busting run was rewarded with a pass from Eden Hazard.
Willian sized up the chance and struck a powerful strike straight through David De Gea. The United goalkeeper should have done an awful lot better there, but take nothing away from the Brazilian winger who did superbly.
It’s all Chelsea now as they come searching for a second straight away. Marcos Alonso has been surging forward all afternoon — he finds himself in possession on the edge of the box and curls a strike just over the bar.
Oooh football friends.
GOAL! MAN UNITED 1-1 CHELSEA (LUKAKU 39)
39' - GOOOAAALLLLLL! #MUFC 1 Chelsea 1.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 25, 2018
GET IN! @RomeluLukaku9 equalises! #MUNCHE pic.twitter.com/Fyu3ynmOT9
We. Have. Goals! Man United are level and this game has finally found that bit of quality that was lacking.
It’s a brilliant assist from Anthony Martial who slides a clever pass to Romelu Lukaku inside the box — the Belgian doesn’t need an invitation and jinks the ball past Thibaut Courtois to bring his side back into this game.
An excellent finish for a player so often criticised for not performing against the top sides.
The game is finely poised now heading towards the break. Chelsea have looked the more impressive with Hazard visibly up for this game threatening on every counter-attack, but that goal conceded against the run of play will certainly dent the visitor’s confidence.
United only had a single shot on target before Lukaku equalised — but as they say the only statistic that matters in football is the one on the scoreboard at the end of 90 minutes.
There will be two minutes of additional time to come at the end of the first half.
HALF-TIME: MAN UNITED 1-1 CHELSEA
HALF-TIME@RomeluLukaku9's 13th #PL goal of the season cancels out @willianborges88's opener at Old Trafford#MUNCHE pic.twitter.com/SINEV8WgDE
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 25, 2018
Second-half: We’re back underway!
Despite Romelu Lukaku’s late leveller, Jose Mourinho emerged from the break with a dour scowl across his face. His side have sat back in these early exchanges, as Chelsea look to wrestle back the lead after a first half in which they were largely much the better side.
A chance goes begging for Chelsea as Alvaro Morata is sent through free on goal. The pass is a little bit too wide and he must bring possession back towards goal.
By the time he does so, bodies in red jerseys have raced back in time to easily block his shot to safety.
It’s been a cagey six or seven minutes since play resumed. End-to-end, too, as both sides fancy three points may be up for grabs. United are chasing Liverpool in the table, and Chelsea are chasing United.
No matter what the result today the top four will continue to be a bunched trio jostling to overtake one another. Three points will see United re-claim second but a win for Conte’s men will see them level on points with United.
Finely balanced.
Close! Danny Drinkwater finds a pocket of space outside the box and decides to let fly. His shot doesn’t have a huge amount behind it, but it does force De Gea to spill it back into the danger zone.
Morata senses a tap-in, but the Spaniard just can’t quite get to the ball first and it’s booted into touch.
Drinkwater forces an uncomfortable save from De Gea from outside the box after we worked a free-kick short.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 25, 2018
1-1 [57'] #MUNCHE
At the risk of rebranding as one of those accounts that tweet bland stuff about Man Utd and get 6k RTs, whatever his other flaws may or may not be, Pogba weights his passes beautifully.
— Rory Smith (@RorySmith) February 25, 2018
Alexis Sanchez takes possession 30 yards from goal following some neat passing play across the midfield. He sees a pocket of Thibaut Courtois’s goal unguarded and fancies a go at goal — but his effort lacks any vigour and drags sheepishly wide of the post.
Chelsea have won their last 22 #PL games when they've scored first...
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 25, 2018
Will they make it 23❓
Find out ➡️ https://t.co/CxUIQsM5kC #MUNCHE pic.twitter.com/7qgFYBnrGj
WHAT A SAVE! Thibaut Courtois pulls a stop right out of the top drawer.
Romelu Lukaku tried the spectacular with a stunning scissor-kick inside the box, but the Belgian goalkeeper was on-hand to produce a fine piece of athleticism and tip the ball over the bar.
Two of the world’s best goalkeeper’s on display today.
A fine piece of skill from Paul Pogba there. The French midfielder took command of the ball 25 yards from goal before scooping an almost inch-perfect ball over the top into the path of Alexis Sanchez.
There was just too much on it through, and it peters wide.
GOAL! MAN UNITED 2-1 CHELSEA (LINGARD 75)
75' - GOOOOAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL! #MUFC 2 Chelsea 1.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 25, 2018
IT'S #JLINGZ! @JesseLingard #MUNCHE pic.twitter.com/3tlOnJ762e
United have taken the lead! Two goals without reply has Jose Mourinho’s side on course for a massive three points which will see them back into second place.
Romelu Luakaku has his name all over this game and it is he who provides the cross which substitute Jesse Lingard heads home from close range.
An excellent cross and an even better finish from Lingard, who is only on the pitch a little over 10 minutes.
Substitution for Chelsea: Olivier Giroud replaces Victor Moses.
Chelsea sub: Olivier Giroud is on for Victor Moses.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 25, 2018
2-1 [77'] #MUNCHE pic.twitter.com/ffy39o4gWD
Substitution for Man United: Eric Bailly replaces Alexis Sanchez.
80' - A second change for #MUFC: @Alexis_Sanchez is replaced by @EricBailly24, who makes his 50th appearance for the club. Fabregas is on for Drinkwater. #MUNCHE pic.twitter.com/4q34APPXuh
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 25, 2018
Substitution for Chelsea: Cesc Fabregas replaces Danny Drinkwater.
A third and final Chelsea sub: Fabregas is on for Drinkwater.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 25, 2018
2-1 [81'] #MUNCHE pic.twitter.com/yY76UiSLNh
Five minutes to go as Chelsea continue to haul forward in search of an equaliser. Matic goes in the referees book for a yellow card, as Mourinho’s men put their backs up against the wall and try to see this one out by any means possible.
It’s still tense but United don’t look too panicked as the seconds tick away.
Antonio Conte has introduced Pedro and Olivier Giroud but they have had little real impact. Cesc Fabregas has a killer pass in his armoury but there is no flow about Chelsea right now and the fight looks out of them.
Will there be late drama?
There will be four minutes of additional time to come at the end of the second half.
An outstanding individual run from Romelu Lukaku sees him chest the ball down inside his own half as United were under pressure and then power through the entire Chelsea defence on his own.
Incredible tenacity to get his side out of danger there.
FULL-TIME: MAN UNITED 2-1 CHELSEA
FT: #MUFC 2 Chelsea 1.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 25, 2018
We love it! 😎 #MUNCHE pic.twitter.com/vky3E9hpJo
FULL-TIME Man Utd 2-1 Chelsea
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 25, 2018
Romelu Lukaku and Jesse Lingard both net as the hosts record a fine comeback victory#MUNCHE pic.twitter.com/Y2GYgm6sVp
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Really important game for United today after that dismal performance in the CL and slipping to 3rd in the league. They really need the win or their season will start to fall apart
@Jamie Smith: what the f### would you know?
@Jamie Smith: The two most boring teams in the Premier League.
@Jamie Smith: Definitly. The talent is there, it’s the manager’s insistence on playing ultra defensive ball that screws them. The football is deplorable. They won’t finish top 4 IMO !
@Jamie Smith: United are atrocious. Oh and obsessed.
@Jamie Smith: champions ….
@Jamie Smith: are Chelsea a big team Alan. Lukaku scored.
@Jamie Smith: oh no….Lukaku just scored against one of the bigger teams Jamie?!! You’ll have to change your tack on that now! Haha
@Joe Kennedy: I will it’s taken him long enough to score against a top team
I hope the MUFC supporters phone network gets back up and running its been down since yesterday afternoon for some strange reason
@Jamie Smith: Hahahah dont you know it.
@Jamie Smith: nothing wrong with yours that’s for sure alan ! First on anything Utd as always
@Jamie Smith: Oh sure, like that’s never happened to ye all season.
Draw all day.
Jose won’t risk anything and will just stifle Chelsea.
Conte has no plan B – played 3-4-3 for a year and a half now, always the same team and style.
Probably a 0-0 but perhaps a goal each.
Anyone looking for something exciting this afternoon should probably go watch golf or cricket. Perfect game for anyone needing a snooze after their Sunday roast though.
@Eoin Finnega: how’s that working out for you Eoin?
I’ve never wanted both teams to lose like this. Being a pool fan there’s the obvious dislike of United but on the other hand Chelsea and their fans are absolutely toxic . Probably hate Chelsea fans more than United tbh. A draw might be thw right result
@William Motley: Thrilling analysis. All angles covered. Stating the obvious as usual. Nice 1
@William Motley: toxic fans ???? Chelsea well respected in Europe particularly . No baggage with them, no rancid odious history…seeing as you broached the subject ….
@Joe O’riordan: so that wasn’t Chelsea fans racially abusing a man on the Paris metro a few years back…..
@William Motley: pales in significance to your lots exploits…
@Joe O’riordan: you won’t get a rise from me little man
@William Motley: just did …now buy a tee shirt odious individual
@William Motley: speaking of toxic fans didn’t Liverpool fans keep chanting Luis Suarez against west ham yesterday because evra was playing. That’s disgraceful
Dont mind thst clown ….spouts endless rivers of crap
@William Motley: so that’s England’s Envy maureen and Jamie Smyth jesus how many accounts you have
Time for a sunday nap a bore fest on the way.
After all the talk, Pogba left of a 3 man midfield, if he is having spats with the manager, full the finger out. Show United’s supporters your potential and silence all your critics
@Ich bin brendan: and get rid of that poxy hairstyle too, start acting like a professional .
@Ray Farrell: cpuldnt give a muck about hair styles. No one gave about hair styles when perms were the norm, Keegan being one and Souness haircut resembles a not-very-alluring Seventies porn star. Both male and female.
I hope they both lose
Poor Alan/Jamie you will have to change your material now …. BTW Alan have you booked Kiev yet for the CL final ? You were saying yesterday on one of your ‘ other accounts’ that after beating West Ham you were going to book your flights etc for the final
@Johnny Bravo: I’m sure you are more obsessed with Alan than Liverpool or Utd.
@Let free speech live: you should cringe that he’s one of your own. Paints pool supporters in their true colours, United obsessed
@Ich bin brendan: fair obsessed about Liverpool yourself Brendan
@Johnny Bravo: imagine how boring your life would be without me. I only have one account here and I never said I’d book flights
@Mick Power: the last comment I left on a Liverpool article, I was praising their front 3. Alan/nene is beyond. His last persona, he was a lad with mental difficulties getting his dad to assist with his comments. You can’t defend that
@Ich bin brendan: I’m not I said it on here myself, no need for his carry on.
@Ich bin brendan: I think he just pretends to be a pool fan as it makes trolling utd easier for him.
@Jamie Smith: then you admit you did say something about Kiev then Alan …..
A draw for me or united might just sneak a 1-0. Will be a dour enough game I’d imagine
@Paul Mallon: that’s out the window
Tremendous battle between the two heavyweight clubs of the premier league era …
What will Mourinho do? He responded to a question about Sanchez’ role and whether he should be free to roam and do his thing with utter contempt. Yes, a player should track back, but someone with Sanchez lethality should be given carte blanche to do what he thinks best. A win for Chelsea would be our preferred result, but from the neutrals point of view, this needs to be one of the defining games of the season.
Hoping for a great game.
I think Mourinho’s job is on the line regardless of his mega contract.
Poor goal keeping I’m afraid.
Superb game …chelsea so unlucky with highly debatable offside call. Still no shame in defeat …
Morata is so awful. If Chelsea had a Premier League calibre striker Utd would be hammered by now.
Pogba fault for the goal. An absolute cowardly attempt at a header on the Chelsea box. McTominay left William run free too. Pogbas fault.
@Andrew Cosgrave: agree completely I’ve been of the opinion for a long time that Pogba is cowardly which was confirmed again today by his pitiful attempt to head the ball that led to the Chelsea goal.
As usual he shirks it and goes to ground.
@Martin McKenna/Andrew: agreed, pathetic attempt by Pogba, out jumped and out muscled by Moses who is smaller than him. Didn’t even bother to jump. Also, several times in the first half, Martial was free on the left but instead of rolling the ball out to him, Pogba turns back into traffic and loses possession. So fu(king frustrating to watch.
@Sloop John G: sloop I don’t think he could see the ball properly with the sun
Had Willian to score first and doubled money as a free bet seeing as the crossbar was hit. Makes the result hurt that bit less :D
Celtic won. Sankt Pauli beat Holstein Kiel. And Bilbao 2-1 up at half time. Great results.
This is pure s**t !!!!!!!