Good afternoon everyone. Build-up is ticking along nicely ahead of kick-off. And the lineups have only added to the sense of intrigue surrounding this. Diego Costa is NOT included in the squad after struggling with a virus and Loic Remy is out because of a groin problem. So, Didier Drogba will lead the line for the visitors today. Felipe Luis replaces the suspended Cesar Azpilicueta.

Falcao doesn’t make United’s squad either due to injury while Wayne Rooney is still suspended. Phil Jones also misses out.

So, Van Gaal looks to match Chelsea’s 4-2-3-1 and includes Marouane Fellaini from the start. He sits alongside Daley Blind while Adnan Januzaj, Angel di Maria and Juan Mata are behind Robin van Persie. At the back, Chris Smalling partners Marcos Rojo with Rafael and Luke Shaw on either flank.

Manchester United: De Gea, Rafael, Smalling, Rojo, Shaw, Blind, Fellaini, Mata, Januzaj, Di Maria, Van Persie.

Chelsea: Courtois, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Felipe Luis, Fabregas, Matic, Willian, Oscar, Hazard, Drogba.

The last time United beat Chelsea at OT was 3 and a half years ago. It’s a game probably best remembered for THAT miss by Fernando Torres but here’s a recap for you.

Gary Neville saying pre-game that Fellaini’s inclusion could be because of the physicality of the Chelsea side, namely from set-pieces. It’s a solid point – Cahill, Terry, Matic, Ivanovic, Drogba – it is imposing. But after his goal against West Brom, many have argued for Fellaini to be used closer to the opposition’s box – a la his Everton days. But hard to see him anywhere but deep-lying midfield today.

Many will argue that the majority of his set-ups have been mis-hits shots but hard to disagree that Di Maria is United’s most important player right now. He’s started his career at the club superbly and if they are to get anything from this game, they’ll need the Argentine to keep up his terrific form.

Big game for Daley Blind, I feel. With Nemanja Matic playing so well for Chelsea so far this season, a lot has been said about United lacking the same type of player. After popping up with a crucial goal to salvage a point against West Brom, Blind will certainly feel good and should be full of confidence. But up against Matic and Fabregas today, he’ll need to be at his best to avoid the game by-passing him.

Before the game, we were treated to some odd scenes from the SKY cameras of Mourinho and Van Gaal hugging each other (twice). We get it – they worked at Barca together. Mourinho certainly has a lot of respect for LVG and vice versa but the build-up has been overshadowed by this stuff, I think. When quizzing Mourinho pre-match, Geoff Shreeves asked him why he had so much respect for LVG. The answer was a little odd:

Teams are in the tunnel and we’re just moments away from getting started here, folks. How do we think it’s going to play out?

AND WE’RE OFF! 

3 mins - First slip at the back from United as Rojo cheaply gives the ball away in a dangerous position. Oscar’s shot is deflected out for a corner by Smalling.

4 mins – CLOSE! It all starts with Di Maria racing up the right side. Mata then sends it wide, it’s slipped into Van Persie who can’t quite get a shot away but it breaks for Fellaini who tries to back-heel it past Courtois but the keeper smothers. United recycle and Mata clips it a great ball to the far post for Di Maria to volley – but it’s just over. Good stuff from United.

Mata is deeper than expected so United keeping a 4-3-3, in theory. Janauzaj and Di Maria are wide with RVP through the middle though Mata does have plenty of freedom and has popped up in a few positions already.

9 mins – Good strength from Blind in midfield to break up play. Mata races clear on the left, feeds Shaw on the overlap and his cross is only half-cleared. It falls to Di Maria who winds up the shot but it’s pretty awful and skews well-wide.

It’s a love story…

Shaw has been involved quite a bit in the opening 11 or so minutes. He gets on the overlap again and is slipped through by Janauzaj but Ivanovic does well to stretch and get a touch on it. Meanwhile, at the other end, Rafael has been given a yellow card after hauling back Hazard.

14 mins – Chelsea force a number of corners in quick succession but United deal with every one quite comfortably.

Pretty muted start from Chelsea, it must be said. Giving United a lot of respect in the opening exchanges. To their credit though, the hosts have made sure not to allow Fabregas or Hazard much time on the ball and Drogba has been anonymous so far.

19 mins - Di Maria is barged off the ball by Matic and from the resulting free-kick, the Argentine picks out the head of Smalling but the defender can’t quite get a proper contact on it. Really nice delivery though.

Plenty of hard work in that United midfield – Blind, Fellaini and Mata all hounding and harassing Fabregas when he takes possession. Also, second yellow card of the game has just been shown to Drogba after a foul on Mata.

23 mins – VERY CLOSE! Best chance of the match so far as Januzaj plays through Van Persie with a gorgeous pass. Courtois is off his line and makes a great save. Again though, United recycle and from the right side, the cross finds the head of Van Persie who loops a header towards goal and very nearly catches Courtois – the keeper though does well to get up and grab.

Pretty accurate…he’s shown well for the ball, his touch has been good and he’s gone close a couple of times.

30 mins – We’ve reached the half-hour mark and Manchester United have been very impressive. They’ve kept their shape, not made any silly individual errors (except for Rojo early on) and went close through Van Persie. Chelsea certainly missing the nuisance-element that Costa brings and they’ve been very passive, allowing United to dictate the rhythm.

34 mins – Just moments after talking about a lack of individual errors in this United performance, Rojo again slips-up and Willian almost gets through. But for some good defending by Smalling, it could very well have been the opening goal.

36 mins – PENALTY CLAIM! Last weekend, we saw Ryan Shawcross penalised for shirt-pulling in the area at a set-piece. Here, Smalling is a lucky boy because as a free-kick is swung in, he makes no attempt to play the ball and is clearly all over Ivanovic. The Serb is furious and wants a penalty but Phil Dowd waves it away.

41 mins – VERY CLOSE! Oscar races through the right channel and picks it up after Rojo loses the run. He cuts a smart ball back to the unmarked Drogba who fires a low strike towards the near post but it’s too close to De Gea who gets down well and makes a decent stop.

44 mins - Free-kick for United in a very dangerous position here…

…and that’s what you call an anti-climax. Mata is teed up on the edge of the area and blazes a wayward strike high and wide.

AND THAT’S HALF-TIME! 

This is a decent, old-fashioned type Premier League game. It’s arguably United’s best performance of the season and they’ve almost capitalised on Chelsea affording them far too much respect. Van Persie forced Courtois into an excellent stop while they’ve had plenty of joy down the left with Shaw and Januzaj combining well on a few occasions. Elsewhere, it’s been pretty dogged – Blind, Fellaini and Mata all contributing to a solid midfield display. There have been some nervy moments – Rojo twice has surrendered possession in dangerous areas while Smalling probably should’ve been penalised for fouling Ivanovic in the area.

Chelsea are certainly missing Costa with Drogba struggling to impose himself. He did force De Gea into a solid stop but perhaps the Drogba of old would’ve rippled the net. Elsewhere, Fabregas has found the going tough and Hazard has been well monitored. Having forced a litany of set-pieces though, it seems likely that they could nick a goal from a corner or free-kick. For that to happen, Fabregas needs to improve his deliveries – they’ve been far too patchy so far.

Here’s Smalling on Ivanovic. He’s very lucky.

A nice contrast here – United doing very well defensively in shutting out Chelsea’s most important players.

Jose talking to Phil Dowd in the tunnel as the teams walk out for the start of the second half. Ryan Giggs does likewise.

AND THE SECOND HALF IS UNDERWAY! 

49 mins - Good start by Chelsea and they almost get Hazard in after nice work in the right channel between Drogba and Ivanovic. In the end, Rafael does well to marshall the Belgian as he’s about to pull the trigger from close range.

52 mins – CLOSE! United force their first corner of the game and Chelsea can’t properly clear it. Van Persie tees it up for Fellaini on the edge of the area but there’s a lot of bodies in front of him and he skews it wide.

53 mins – GOAL! DROGBA! Well, De Gea makes a superb stop to deny Hazard from close range when it really should’ve been a goal. But from the resulting corner, Drogba rises highest at the near post to flick home a header. It takes a touch off Van Persie but that’s a hugely important goal here.

A lot has been said about Rafael marking Drogba at the corner but United have been doing it all throughout the game. It was obviously a strategy – certainly not something that happened by accident. Still, unusual, to say the least.

Here is the game’s opening goal…

This is perfectly placed for Chelsea now. They can slow things down and frustrate United, the home side having to force the issue and take more risks.

Oscar has a little hack at Smalling and picks up a yellow card for his troubles.

62 mins - United need some fresh bodies now. Van Persie looks exhausted and we could see James Wilson introduced. Given the circumstances of the game right now, United desperately missing Rooney and Falcao.   

66 mins - Di Maria has been disappointing this afternoon. So much was expected of him but he’s probably not 100% fit. With United picking up a free-kick in a really dangerous position, he smacks it straight at the one-man wall! From the corner that follows, Smalling can only head wide.

67 mins – SUBSTITUTION! Wilson (on) – Mata (off) 

The youngster, a gifted goalscorer, replaces the Spaniard. United go with two up top and Van Persie has some help in the final third now.

Also, confirmation that Ivanovic picked up a yellow card for his challenge on Di Maria moments ago that led to the Argentine’s poor free-kick.

69 mins – CLOSE! Ivanovic tears through the right channel and charges into the area at pace, ensuring no one can tackle him for fear of conceding a penalty. He whips a shot towards the far corner but it skips right across and misses the upright – barely.

Oh and please excuse me missing a Chelsea substitution moments ago as Mikel came on to replace Oscar.

15 minutes for United to rescue something here. But it’s looking unlikely. Hazard races up the left wing and is pulled back by Fellaini – he’s been booked for his troubles.

79 mins – CLOSE! United test Courtois again – Shaw is a bright spark and cuts inside before slipping Van Persie through. He gets away from Cahill and rifles the shot towards the near post but the keeper gets down and blocks with his leg. Better from United and Chelsea can’t get out of their penalty area at the moment.

80 mins – First real sign of Wilson’s talent. He gets on the end of an in-swinging cross from the right side and tries to loop his header over Courtois. Gets too much on it and it ends up on the roof of the net.

Just over 5 minutes of normal time left and it’s looking like a Chelsea win here. United will need something special if it’s to be anything else.

Hazard is the latest player to get booked after a cynical foul on Rafael. Free-kick to United – good position. But Phil Dowd has given a free-out after spotting a foul in the area.

90 mins – SUBSTITUTION! Schurrle (on) – Hazard (off)

The Belgian made the goal, really. Cutting through the United defence and forcing De Gea into a wonderful save. From the corner, Drogba scored. Anywya, he’s been impressive here – certainly winning the ‘battle of the playmakers’ with Di Maria having struggled.

92 mins – Di Maria cracks a low strike towards goal. It’s well-struck but straight at Courtois, who makes a comfortable save.

94 mins – GOAL! VAN PERSIE! An incredible few minutes. Firstly, Ivanovic needlessly takes down Di Maria as he’s isolated on the touchline and trying to get a cross in. He’s already been booked and Dowd dishes him another and Chelsea are down to 10.

From the free-kick, Courtois makes a superb save from Fellaini’s close-range header but Van Persie smashes home the rebound to equalise!

AND THAT’S FULL-TIME!

If I was Jose Mourinho, I’d be docking Ivanovic a week’s wages. A pointless foul on Di Maria saw him concede a free-kick in a dangerous area and pick up his second yellow card. That created a bit of panic in the Chelsea defence and when Fellaini’s header was beaten away by Courtois, Van Persie reacted quickest to thump home.

What does that all mean? Well, Chelsea don’t go six clear. They remain top, four points ahead of Southampton. United are in 8th, ten points behind Jose Mourinho’s side.

Van Persie: “Overall we had more chances than them so it’s a mixed feeling. If you come back in a game like this, it gives you a boost. But if you look at the table, we wanted to win today. We’re confident on the ball and we’re playing better. It’s a long way, it’s not even halfway so yes, we can catch Chelsea.”

In the SKY studios, Graeme Souness says it’s a ‘big improvement’ from United with Jamie Carragher saying United did ‘very well’. They’re still a long way off and, compared to last season, United are worse off points-wise. But, performance-wise, it’s a lot better. Plenty of positives. For Chelsea, they’re still well in control though maybe Mourinho will be worried by how Fabregas was a little anonymous. Elsewhere, he’ll be delighted that Drogba again came up trumps and that Hazard was a stand-out again. Courtois, by the way, was named Man of the Match.

Thanks for staying with us all throughout our coverage. We’ll be back with plenty more reaction over the next while.