Chelsea-Manchester United summary: score, goals and highlights - Premier League 2021/22

Premier League table

After dominating most of this game Thomas Tuchel and his squad will see the result as a massive two points dropped.

United worked hard to deny them opportunities but can thank a huge slice of fortune for them not having been put to the sword at Stamford Bridge.

Many people see this season's English top flight as a race between three clubs, and as we pass a third of the competition being played, only two points separate them.

Full-time

Goals: Jorginho (69' pen); Sancho (50')

Peep, peep, peeeeeep! It's all over.

Rudiger to win it....

It's over the bar!!

What a chance, with what was the last kick of the game. A perfect cross from Pulisic on the right lands at an unmarked Rudiger around seven yards from goal.

The defender catches it sweetly on the volley but it flies high into the stands. Heads in hands and massive sighs of relief all round.

United then Chelsea get a chance to break, both feeling like a winner is still up for grabs, both breaking down before they've even started.

Has Anthony Taylor just remembered he needs to up his card delivery?

Jorginho is booked for a foul in the middle of the park on Van de Beek. Then Bailly gets one for time wasting.

Ronaldo involved again, sprinting down the left wing and attempting to cut back in to get a shot away. Corner instead.

Meanwhile, on the sideline is an angry German, and the ref comes over to book Chelsea's coach.

It took quite some time for McTominay to get back to his feet but he's playing on.

Ronaldo though, arguing away about the time, gets booked.

Five minutes to be added but expect more...

McTominay has just put his head on the line there, quite possibly unintentionally, to block a firm shot.

The Scotsman has done well today and is currently getting some treatment.

Van de Beek is on for the final minutes, Fernandes making way.

Fred could've won it

What a chance for United to do the unlikely!

Mendy's short pass out from his goal is weak and the Brazilian intercepts. Pass to Ronaldo or lob the keeper are both available to him. He goes for goal and gets nowhere near.

Cristiano was less than pleased with his choice.

United are working really hard to close down space but their hosts are still throwing in a selection of crosses from both sides of the penalty area.

It feels like a back six in front of De Gea...but an unlikely point is within their grasp.

Here comes Lukaku...and it's Werner making way.

Werner has another great chance but his effort is deflected away, and Chelsea are turning the screw once again, in search of the winner.

They'll be reminded that both their expected title rivals blew United away in recent weeks.

Tuchel changes things up:

Mount and Pulisic ON

Hudson-Odoi and Alonso OFF

Lingard replaces Rashford for United

Fernandes booked, harshly in my view, for a stretching challenge. Foul, yes, booking, no.

United have just won their first corner of the game!

Telles kisses the ball before placing it but the delivery is dealt with well by the defence, who try to break away.

There's a confidence about United in the middle of the park that was missing before, whether due to having someone of the status of Ronaldo on the field or simply because they are still level with the league leaders and the end of the game is nearing.

Jorginho from the spot

Penalty to Chelsea

After some consistent pressure from the hosts, and several corners, Chelsea are awarded a spot kick as Wan-Bissaka thwacks through Silva in a clearance attempt.

Sancho groove

Did he just need a new driver at the wheel?

Cristiano Ronaldo comes on for the goalscorer Sancho

Rashford gets a chance to stretch his legs as another long pass sends him into the relatively open left wing.

There is a choice to be made as he reaches the corner of the penalty box: go alone or cross to teammate. He chooses neither and loses control of the ball as defenders catch him up.

Oooh! There's a Portuguese player getting some notes from Carrick on the sideline.

Chance for Werner...

...you know what happened next!

A corner for the hosts falls to Werner coming in at the back. He has time to sort himself out by still manages to totally miscue his effort. He needs a new club to refind his scoring form.

Are Chelsea rattled? (It's a little early for that)

Reece James decides to clip the legs of Rashford as he runs away. Card was an easy decision.

Sancho gives United the lead

Not much action to report off in these opening minutes of the second half. Then Rashford goes and gets himself booked.

Cristiano vs Messi: Ballon d'Or

I spotted this at half-time. Question has to be, how on earth will either of them get close again given current circumstances?

Dominant but level

WIth xG numbers of CHE 0.86-0.02 MUN you'd be forgiven for thinking that 0-0 is not far off the right scoreline.

Chelsea's 10 shots to 1 and 16 touches to 2 in the opponent's box along with almost two-thirds possession and 13 crosses to none - as well as just the plain evidence of our eyes - would suggest otherwise.

Half-time

Given what we have seen, United's clear and obvious plan today was to stop Chelsea scoring. Anything else would be a bonus.

Based on that, you could argue it's all going to plan.

Peeep! Anthony Taylor brings the half to an end.

The free-kick delivery is good, missing everyone in the packed area but almost bouncing through to catch out De Gea. He is forced to concede a corner and that is then cleared. Break time coming up.

McTominay is the first player into the book today, with the ref letting the game flow as much as possible. As we enter a minute of added time, this free kick could be Chelsea's last chance of the half...

Penalty claim from United as Fred goes down in the Chelsea area under pressure.

Taylor correctly tells the Brazilian to get back to his feet, and does well not to mock him for falling over.

More half opportunities present themselves to the hosts but they can't make the most of them, James being keen to get involved at the fun end of the pitch.

Then, the lesser-spotted United attack is seen, a long ball over the top for Sancho finds its target and only poor control by the talented youngster gives Mendy the advantage to come out and collect.

That suck-them-in-and-go-long-to-our-speedsters appears to be United's tactics today.

The latest chance falls to Hudson-Odoi.

He dribbles his way to the top centre of the United penalty area, ignoring the decoy runs from his teammates, but his strike is not clean and the Spaniard with the gloves is down to catch.

What an effort from Rudiger!

From the edge of the box he hits a powerful right-foot curler which smacks off the crossbar.

Upon second viewing, it's that man De Gea who gets a touch.

Loved that! It was like being back in the school playground.

Jorginho is down on the ground with a selection of others from both sides, scrapping for the ball. Picture a game of Hungry Hippoes but of the animal heads were million-euro-insured legs.

Referee Taylor allows play to go on, ending only with Matic taking out Rudiger with a less child-like challenge.

Far be it for me to point out how obvious Chelsea's tactic in the last few minutes was, but it worked.

Tidy passing around the halfway line tempted in the press from more and more shirts in red...and then one pass over them set Reece James free out wide. His cross is finally dealt with well.

Rangnick influence?

Carrick applauds his players there and it really felt like it was a 'that's what I asked for' type response.

Fernandes collected the ball centrally, just inside the Chelsea half, and drew players towards him as he moved forward into the space before laying it out to Sancho who gives it straight back.

The Portugal star then attempts an audacious effort but yanks it wide. First sign of something intentional.

Wan-Bissaka and Alonso are having a great old ding dong.

Nothing of great note happening at the moment as both sides jostle to find gaps.

Hudson-Odoi and Ziyech do combine once again but the latter's effort doesn't have United's stopper overly concerned.

The home crowd has quietened somewhat since that opening flurry of chances.

De Gea stats

Marcotti has been one of many getting involved in the De Gea stats debate.

The guests to Stamford Bridge have a small period of play, which is certainly positive for them. Then, however, Chelsea win the ball back and heads are quickly up to exploit even more space.

A long through-ball is almost perfect for the speedy Werner to latch onto - the defence completely destroyed by it - but De Gea is alert and clears from about 35 yards.

Chelsea are dominating these early minutes, as expected, and appear to be targeting United's defence through the centre, at least for the moment.

The visiting side have a 4-3-3 set-up with Fred on the left of a middle three. Fernandes looks to be playing as a false nine, with the pace of Sancho and Rashford wither side. I quite like that, but sense that most of their time will be without the ball.

Hudson-Odoi thwarted

First really good opening goes to the Blues, Hudson-Odoi being played into the inside left channel.

He appears to have acres of room and an abundance of time to sort out his feet and get a shot away. De Gea, as I'm likely to say a lot, is the saviour.

Rolling the ball to Werner for a tap in was another option. Far far too easy.

Chelsea get us going and ensure they get plenty of touches of the ball across as many players as possible.

United attempt to press - this set-up is all about legs and effort - but space is still opening up for the hosts.

Ziyech is found with a neat through ball from Alonso but a deflection makes it an easy save for De Gea.

Players take the knee and then we're off.

OK, the teams are out on the pitch and it's almost time to get this show on the road.

How it stands: Man Utd

Mid-table mediocrity is not something you would expect from one of the most expensive squads ever assembled. Yet, here we are.

This may only be Carrick's second game, but it could also be his last if new interim boss Ralf Ragnick can get his work permit sorted ahead of Arsenal match.

How it stands: Cheslea

Normally when I show a graphic with these two sides, they are both in the same section of the table. Due to their rather different starts to the season, I'll have to use two.

As you can see here though, Liverpool and City are breathing down the neck of the leaders, but a home win here with reopen the gap.

Man with the whistle

Anthony Taylor is the man in the middle today.

The Englishman is actually from Manchester and in 2013 became a FIFA listed referee.

Cristiano out!

The local press in Manchester have been capturing the responses from fans after news came through of Carrick's Cristiano call.

Benching the club hero for such a huge game has not gone down well with many.

The other changes from the UCL clash see Eric Bailly, Nemanja Matic, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford come into the side, meaning the suspended Harry Maguire, Donny van de Beek, Anthony Martial and the aforementioned Cristiano Ronaldo have dropped out.

The social media reaction seemed to disagree with the decision. I, for one, believe it to be a good call. That said, I don't think it'll help them win the game, it'll just give them a chance.

My prediction: Chelsea to win by two.

Pitching up

A few of the players checking out today's turf.

Starting XI: Man Utd

De Gea, Wan Bissaka, Lindelof, Bailly, Telles, Matic, Fred, McTominay, Sancho, Fernandes, Rashford

A few obvious names missing (as expected).

Subs: Jones, Mata, Martial, Greenwood, Lingard, Dalot, Henderson, Van de Beek, Cristiano Ronaldo

Starting XI: Chelsea

Mendy, Chalobah, Silva, Rudiger, James, Alonso, Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek, Ziyech, Hudson-Odoi, Werner

Not a bad starting side, but it's when you consider the strength of the bench that you appreciate they have a real shot at big silverware this season:

Subs: Kepa, Christensen, Lukaku, Pulisic, Niguez, Barkley, Mount, Azpilicueta, Havertz.

It appears that team news is coming in now...

United arrival

Here are the players getting to Stamford Bridge.

How will confidence be feeling?

United ready

In their midweek Champions League game against Villarreal, The Red Devils came away with a 2-0 victory. Positive result ahead of today's game, you'd say, right?

Well, I was there and can tell you that it was far from convincing, some may even call it yet another robbery against the Yellow Submarines. From that performance, I'd expect Michael Carrick to make a number of changes to the starting line up. We should know very soon.

Stamford Bridge is ready

Have you ever been here? (You can let me know your experience of Premier League grounds in the comments section).

There has been a lot of snow around England today - Burnley vs Spurs was even postponed because of it - but the sun is shining here. We will definitely be going ahead.

Chelsea vs Man Utd live: welcome

Hello and a very warm welcome to you!

What a game we have in store for you here as league leaders Chelsea play host to a Manchester United team that has a variety of problems, but also a new manager, or should I say 'managers'. More of that in a bit.

Sit back with your favourite beverage and get ready to enjoy this one.