Man Utd vs Chelsea LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction tonight after Scott McTominay brace
Erik ten Hag’s men are hoping to bounce back after losing to Newcastle
Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free
Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter
Scott McTominay fired an impressive Manchester United to victory over Chelsea as Erik ten Hag’s side bounced back into the Premier League’s top six.
McTominay scored both of the hosts goals in an entertaining 2-1 win as the hosts found their attacking flow.
After Bruno Fernandes had seen a spot-kick saved, the Scottish midfielder’s neatly-taken volley put the home side into a deserved lead 20 minutes in. Cole Palmer levelled just before half-time, though, as Chelsea rallied, causing regular problems for Ten Hag’s defence.
The Dutch manager responded with a switch at the interval, bringing on Sergio Reguilon and moving Luke Shaw to a central position to secure things at the back.
The move worked, affording McTominay the freedom to stride forward and powerfully direct home an inviting cross from Alejandro Garnacho home to put Manchester United back in front.
And though Armando Broja struck the woodwork with a header later on, Andre Onana was largely untroubled during the second half as the hosts moved ahead of Newcastle. Eddie Howe’s side will go back in front with a win or draw at Everton on Thursday night; Chelsea, meanwhile remain tenth.
Follow all the action from Old Trafford below plus get the latest odds and tips below:
Scott McTominay rescues Manchester United once again as Chelsea sink further into crisis mode
This Manchester United are three points behind champions Manchester City. Turns out they just needed to face a team amid a bigger season crisis, on the pitch at least, than their own.
As their forward line faltered again – strikers have still only found the net once, collectively, in the Premier League at Old Trafford this season – their top goalscorer – yes, you guessed correctly, Scott McTominay stepped up when it mattered to fire them to a crucial victory over Chelsea on a week that has been binfire, even by their standards.
This was, and it is a low bar this term, United’s best showing of the season. The fact the result could easily have gone the other way, given the calibre of chances created by the visitors, tells its own story.
While they are anything but out of the mire yet, Erik ten Hag can still breathe a huge sigh of a relief. United can produce the fine, flowing football the Dutchman promised he would bring. Now, and this is the tallest of orders for a club who have made a habit of the old one step forward, two steps back routine, for some consistency.
Scott McTominay rescues Man Utd once again as Chelsea sink further into crisis mode
Man Utd 2-1 Chelsea: McTominay’s brace earned a much-needed three points for Erik ten Hag’s men
Scott McTominay hopes Manchester United can ‘build on’ impressive Chelsea win
Scott McTominay believes that Manchester United’s win over Chelsea is “something to build on” after firing his side to Premier League victory.
McTominay scored twice as the home side impressed in a 2-1 victory after another difficult week for the club.
Erik ten Hag had been placed under renewed pressure after a flat defeat to Newcastle amid reports that he had lost the support of the dressing room.
But, having banned a number of journalists from his pre-match press conference, the Dutch manager would have been delighted by a vastly improved performance that lifted them into the top six.
Scott McTominay hopes Manchester United can ‘build on’ impressive Chelsea win
The Scottish midfielder scored twice to fire Erik ten Hag’s side to a morale-boosting win
Manchester United beat Chelsea to climb back into top six
Manchester City’s defeat at Aston Villa leaves them just three points clear of their cross-town rivals, with the top of the Premier League table ever more congested.
Two of the top six play tomorrow, with Newcastle’s trip to Everton kicking off 45 minutes before Tottenham’s encounter with West Ham. Villa are up to the heady heights of third - a first ever win over Pep Guardiola for Unai Emery is his side’s 14th in a row on home turf.
Erik ten Hag on Manchester United’s win
“It was about the result, but you need a good performance to get the right result,” the Manchester United manager tells Amazon Prime. “We played three games last week, two very good performances and one bad - everyone is talking about the bad performance.
“They know when they play good and they play bad. They are not robots, they can’t do it every time. But they play for each other. We have a good dressing room. It is not just eleven players - it is about the others on the bench. When we play so many games, we also have to rotate.
“The crowd is always behind us, and we have to please them. That is our demand - to give 100% every time. It is not acceptable when we give less.
“This league is very strong. Everyone can beat everyone. When we don’t bring it, then you get killed.”
Scott McTominay speaks to Amazon Prime after firing Manchester United to victory
“Obviously, I thought we started really well in the game. It was a pretty abysmal display at Newcastle, to be honest. It wasn’t anywhere good enough. To come here tonight and win is something we can build on.
“I’ve always enjoyed getting in the box. Maybe on a different night I could have had one or two more, if I’d calmed down for my last one on a hat-trick. That’s football. I’m obviously delighted to score two. We’ve got to show that consistently, which has not been the case of late.
“The manager, with the way we’ve approached the game. A lot of light training sessions to keep fresh because the games come thick and fast. It’s a night that we should be happy with and one we can build on.
“We just have to take it a game at a time. We’ve got Bournemouth on the weekend which will be another tough test. We’ll just go step by step - we can’t get too carried away because we played well tonight. It’s the next game that is important.”
FT: Manchester United 2-1 Chelsea
Aston Villa, meanwhile, held on to beat Manchester City - and go ahead of their opponents into third. What work Unai Emery has done since arriving at Villa Park a year ago.
FT: Manchester United 2-1 Chelsea
A deserved thee points for Manchester United, very impressive tonight. Chances flowed throughout the 90 minutes, with Scott McTominay taking two of them to secure victory over Chelsea, who never quite found top gear.
Into the top six Erik ten Hag’s side go - though Newcastle will go back ahead of them with a win or draw at Everton tomorrow.
FULL TIME! MANCHESTER UNITED 2-1 CHELSEA
Manchester United 2-1 Chelsea, 90 + 5 minutes
James swings it in, Bruno Fernandes heads away...and that is that!
Manchester United 2-1 Chelsea, 90 + 4 minutes
One last chance for Chelsea - Reece James wins a corner...
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies